poor braking

[Bob Denman]

I agree: it helps to remember the amount of weight that you're moving...

[sanjaun2]

I realize its a heavy rig! Stopping distance and brake pedal force are two different things!

[RGodfrey4]

I use tow haul for braking assist. I turn it off when climbing hills. I discovered if tow haul is on with the V10 Triton when climbing hills it won't down shift and you crawl up hills. Turning it off allows it to shift down sooner at higher speeds so you can keep the momentum up.

[sanjaun2]

I have the Mercedes diesel and do not think I have any tow/haul feature.

[mountainsam]

Originally Posted by Lusitan

My brakes work like a truck's brakes should. Realize that most Sprinter based RVs weigh over 11,000 lbs. Don't expect your Sprinter to brake and stop like a 4,000 lbs daily driver. Pumping the brakes a few times (like truck drivers do) during the braking action makes a huge difference.

Brakes should not require pumping on modern vehicles. Maybe a hit or two on trailer brakes only to prevent a jack knife in slippery conditions. Otherwise a moderate steady pressure is all that should be required. Air brakes are pumped to lower air pressure only for safety checks to ensure the system is doing what it should. Pumping them on the road can lead to brake lock up and disaster.

If they don't feel right head for a good shop pronto.