Just read the postings on red arc brake controllers I have one fitted to the challenger and a setting of between 4/4.5 works well but coming down the steep decent on the kings highway I really had to drive my foot practically through the floor to pull the speed down,just wondering what others crank it up too as a guide coming down really steep descents...
You can always get extra braking when descending hills etc when you press hand operated button fitted on unit controller for maximum braking is this working OK?
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I understand where you are coming from Ron. The Challenger's engine braking is woeful. First gear and steep slope with van on board would redline without braking lots.
Cheers, John.
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Don't forget the redrarc has two types of settings. Automatic progressive braking and a nominal manual setting. I would firstly make certain the brakes on the van are adjusted correctly and secondly, you reread the instructions on using the controller.While being a solid state unit it is very sophisticated and should operate trouble free if fitted correctly. The setting you have it on may not necessarily correlate to one on another vehicle.Perhaps all you need to do is crank up the setting. Also as Bazza indicated drop couple of cogs in your rig and don't always rely on the brake pedal.
I understand where you are coming from Ron. The Challenger's engine braking is woeful. First gear and steep slope with van on board would redline without braking lots.
Cheers, John.
That's it John I always use the gearbox in low gears as we all do ,the caravan brakes work like a charm usually only on this occasion coming down that really steep incline have I experienced any problems I know and have read it's not uncommon to increase the bias on really steep inclines ,This is the only timeI have ever felt the need ,I think from now on if I ever use that stretch of road again I will increase the biased a fraction to help the poor old girl out ..
I am using the Redarc brake controller in my Pajero sport and probably run it on a similar setting more than that and the wheels on the van will lock up if you push the pedal too hard. Less than that and it feels like the 2.7T is pushing you down the hill. I use the auto transmission in manual mode and with the 8 speed transmission I will probably drop it back to 4th or even 3rd on a really steep descent I haven't had to crank the controller up yet because that's usually enough to control the speed.
Hi.
IF your controller. and brakes are working properly (Adjusted)
When braking to a stop.
You should "feel" the van brakes coming on.
A fraction before yours.
Sort of a slight "dragging" from behind, initially
ALSO the van should pull up the rig. (On Tandems anyway, 4 brakes)
with the manual lever alone.
I try it occasionally at quiet traffic lights and approaching corners etc.
Plus
I also check brakes EVERY morning when setting off for the day. when cruising.
With tyres.Hitch. lights etc.
Pendulum systems NEED to be manually adjusted. More and less. on steep hills.
Both up and down.
You realise that on first steep hill. Van pushing you Whoops. Manual.
These modern ones. With proper adjustment on brakes.
Should NOT need touching.
Just get instruction or read the book.
Do it on the flat.
I am using the Redarc brake controller in my Pajero sport and probably run it on a similar setting more than that and the wheels on the van will lock up if you push the pedal too hard. Less than that and it feels like the 2.7T is pushing you down the hill. I use the auto transmission in manual mode and with the 8 speed transmission I will probably drop it back to 4th or even 3rd on a really steep descent I haven't had to crank the controller up yet because that's usually enough to control the speed.
Gday...
I am fully aware we all have different driving styles and expectations.
However, I would think 3rd or 4th gear would not in any way be the right gear for a "really steep descent".
If I use the Toowoomba Range descent, Toowoomba>Brisbane, I use first gear and still sometimes require a tiny dab on the brakes on some of the extra pinches.
But then I like to creep down those type of hills with, or even behind, the trucks.
However, on the Palmerston Hwy down from Millaa Millaa I would use 2nd and occasionally 3rd with a few more dabs on the brake than I would use on the Toowoomba Range.
As someone else said before, forget about those behind you, it is safer for all to have complete control of the rig.
[edit: and as Macka sez, you should be able to slide the manual control in the tug and feel the van doing a nice bit of braking - even going down a hill. The manual slide alone should be able to pull the whole rig to a stop on the flat from about 60kph.]
Cheers - John
-- Edited by rockylizard on Friday 29th of September 2017 08:33:09 AM
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What ever you do . Don't cook the brakes . You "should" be going at the speed at the top of the hill the speed you should be going at the bottom . !! Use brakes or keep some braking for emergencies ! Over heated brakes are way less efficient and can have long term damage . Especially drum brakes . The amount of people I see towing with brake lights on all down long hills is amassing !! Just pulling auto or manual into lower gears saves brakes big time !! Was one of the first people at fatal rubbish truck accident on Blaxland Rd a few years ago . The brakes on truck were way overheated !! Don't ever want to see that again !! Doing CPR for the young lady didn't help ! But we tried !! Never leaves you !!
-- Edited by Aus-Kiwi on Friday 29th of September 2017 10:04:42 AM
-- Edited by Aus-Kiwi on Friday 29th of September 2017 10:07:19 AM
Changed to the Red-Arc when updating the Cruiser last year. We tow 3ton of Jayco and have the setting at "3" anymore and it is over the top in terms of pulling you up.
We spent 3 months in Tasmania and fully utilized S Drive in the Cruiser particularly coming down the West Coast of Tassie. We have just come across from Wangaratta to Lake Tyers Beach in North East Victoria and again made good use of S Drive utilizing 3rd gear.
John that's good for your vehicle 4 works perfect for mine ,I like most here crawl down steep inclines using low gears but I think a little extra bias on the setting on increadably steap inclines helps ..
25ton COLES ALLEN mobile crane. V Eagle on the hill rd. going into\out of Adel.
Old Foden chassis. NO power steering. air ASSIST brakes. Second cog, First, you bounced the valves.
Old slow.Long stroker (Was AEC donk then) couldn't hold you back.
I said a little prayer every time I took her over the crest at the pub.
Uphill first. Low. 3 to 5 mph. ALLLLLLl the way up.
I had to roll it into the run off side track every time going down. Cool the brakes off for 1\2 hr. Before going rest of way into city. Or I had nothing at lights at bottom.
ALL smoked. Occasionally one would show flames. they caught fire a coupla times. Carried 6 Dioxide fire ext on rear deck at side. One for each wheel set.
Lovely old girl. One of the best site cranes ever for awkward lifts. Anything. Anywhere. Near as good as a crawler strut jib.
Gone to god now. Probably near as old as me.
They were the days. Hey. Interesting.
-- Edited by macka17 on Saturday 30th of September 2017 08:10:49 AM
Did they make cranes back then ? Lol Ohh the feeling you get when you hit the brakes and nothing happens !! Your sitting in a missile !!! Driving different EPV's. With centre of graphity . Some don't have brakes adjusted properly . Too late when you need them !! Lucky for me I've either driven around some idiot pulling out infront or stopped . These times we don't need pacemakers !!
We have our Redarc set on 4, anything above that & the brakes tend to grab & lock up on gravel.
Our brakes must be working well 'cause on the way back from QLD recently via the outback route a Bustard suddenly appeared on the road around 80 metres in front of us when we were doing 95kph near Charleville. The Bustards OK & so are we.
We like the Redarc fitted to our Nissan Navara much more than the Teckoncha fitted to our previous Ford Ranger.
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