Parking brake when stored

[Srmva]

Another newbie question. Do you all keep your parking brake on when RV is in storage? Or use wheel chocks?
TIA

[dkoldman]

Originally Posted by Srmva

Another newbie question. Do you all keep your parking brake on when RV is in storage? Or use wheel chocks?
TIA

I don't store my vehicle but I always set my parking brake. It is just instinct for me.

I have chocks but I mainly use to help me stop when parking in tight area. If area was unlevel I would use the chocks too.

[16ACE27]

I only use my parking break when required for leveling.

Parking brakes have their uses, but those uses have greatly diminished since the advent of the automatic transmission with Park pawl. Now the newer cars have electric parking brakes and some of those are even automatic taking the choice away from the driver.

[David_Reaves]

Originally Posted by 16ACE27

I only use my parking break when required for leveling.

This is the key for me. If I stop while enroute, I rarely, if ever, use the parking brake. When I arrive at a destination, the parking brake is required to use the levelers. Since I always use the levelers to help support the open slide, it's always on at the campground.

[dkoldman]

Originally Posted by 16ACE27

I only use my parking break when required for leveling.

Parking brakes have their uses, but those uses have greatly diminished since the advent of the automatic transmission with Park pawl. Now the newer cars have electric parking brakes and some of those are even automatic taking the choice away from the driver.

Originally Posted by David_Reaves

This is the key for me. If I stop while enroute, I rarely, if ever, use the parking brake. When I arrive at a destination, the parking brake is required to use the levelers. Since I always use the levelers to help support the open slide, it's always on at the campground.

So you guys don't set your parking brake when getting gas

I agree I don't do the same for Car or SUV unless on a hill, but I guess it is habit that I am glad I have for RV. When I am seated at that Captain Chair all my eyes and focus are on the controls. The more buttons I push, and levers I pull, the more I tend to impress my wife because she will not move until I finish

FWIW, in our SOB, we can't operate Slide or Levelers without the brake being set.

[Srmva]

Thats funny Dkoldman

Yes mine needs its PB set for leveler also, thanks

[ducksface]

It takes a rare instance and a damn steep hill for me to use a parking brake. Then it's to take pressure off of the pawl so the trans will shift out of park.
So,
Much like turning your fridge off when you fuel your rv and THOSE type stories;
You all come up with a few instance of a modern automatic trans vehicle failing the pall
and I could change my mind.


It doesn't hurt anything to use it and it's a great redundancy.
I just don't.

[atreis]

I only use mine on a fairly unlevel site. I never use it in storage, and honestly hadn't even occurred to me. My storage location is very level.

[Chateau_Nomad]

I have a different take. Every time I stop the FIRST thing I hit is the parking brake pedal. Why? If I have a brain fart and somehow forget to shift to park, or an excited 75# dog decides to hit the shift lever and knocks it out of park... or any other numerous anomalies, it ain't moving. And the LAST thing I need 300 miles from home is our motorhome on a YouTube video leisurely rolling across a gas station parking lot.

Now... if the shift lever had some sort of fail safe (yeah I know... the brake pedal). But weird things happen... and one of them is being able to remove the key in any position from my Jeep Wrangler.

One is none (tranny pawl). Two is one (tranny pawl AND parking brake).

[dkoldman]

Originally Posted by Chateau_Nomad

I have a different take. Every time I stop the FIRST thing I hit is the parking brake pedal. Why? If I have a brain fart and somehow forget to shift to park, or an excited 75# dog decides to hit the shift lever and knocks it out of park... or any other numerous anomalies, it ain't moving. And the LAST thing I need 300 miles from home is our motorhome on a YouTube video leisurely rolling across a gas station parking lot.

Now... if the shift lever had some sort of fail safe (yeah I know... the brake pedal). But weird things happen... and one of them is being able to remove the key in any position from my Jeep Wrangler.

One is none (tranny pawl). Two is one (tranny pawl AND parking brake).

Right you are sir, 5 years I have been following that Damn Duck's "One is None" creed and here I find out that he is dissing redundancy. Has Hell frozen over?

But if anyone wanted one good reason... I bet this RV owner wishes he had the habit I do, set the damn parking brake and do so out of habit; just like putting on a seatbelt, how many have ever actually needed the seatbelt; but if you did, you will be glad you had it on.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GdVM8ni2SSg

[ducksface]

Ok,
I have to admit,
The zr2, I have jumped out of it I'll say three times with it running and in gear.
Only tha vehicle and I sure don't know why.

[saddlesore]

Class A SOB... Disc air brakes all around, Use the parking spring brakes every time it's parked

[dkoldman]

Originally Posted by ducksface

Ok,
I have to admit,
The zr2, I have jumped out of it I'll say three times with it running and in gear.
Only tha vehicle and I sure don't know why.

I bought my daughter unit
a new Jeep Grand Cherokee
Had it in driveway putting on tags etc.
Jump in the jeep to move it forward a few feet
Jeep wouldn't move
I struggled
My daughter unit watching
Something wrong
Jeep would not move
So I step out
Thinking Transmission issue
Daughter unit gets out...
We all nervous
So I get back in
shut the door to try again
Jeep goes forward
WTF
Read the Manual
Will not engage if door open
My RV not that Smart,
thats why it is SOB

[ericmac450]

Originally Posted by dkoldman

I bought my daughter unit
a new Jeep Grand Cherokee
Had it in driveway putting on tags etc.
Jump in the jeep to move it forward a few feet
Jeep wouldn't move
I struggled
My daughter unit watching
Something wrong
Jeep would not move
So I step out
Thinking Transmission issue
Daughter unit gets out...
We all nervous
So I get back in
shut the door to try again
Jeep goes forward
WTF
Read the Manual
Will not engage if door open
My RV not that Smart,
thats why it is SOB

Even though my RV, Ford Flex, and older Hondas beep at me, I am still able to move them when the door is open. Half the time I get gas in the RV I have to move up and I just roll forward with the door open.

My storage is beside my house, and it is very flat. I almost never set it there, but I set my parking brake 67.2% of the other times.

[RV Driver]

I have a coach with air brakes, so my parking brake is set every time we stop. And when in storage, after all the air leaks off, it will be applied whether I want it on or not.

However, in my mind this begs the question: Why would you NOT set the parking brake when you park? To have a brake available and not use it seems a bit careless.

[Mark54]

Originally Posted by Srmva

Another newbie question. Do you all keep your parking brake on when RV is in storage? Or use wheel chocks?
TIA

In Vermont, the parking brake is only used when needed- salt water on the cables does them in, and if you park at home and leave it on, it is likely that you'll have to go under with a soft faced hammer and knock the brakes loose as I used to do.

I do lock them when camping to minimise rocking for the P@3 event... otherwise just exercise the cable now and then.

I rely on the parking pawl in the transmission otherwise, unless on a really steep hill, or as I say, at the campsite.

The RV doesn't see salt ever anyways, but the cables can still freeze up. Never use when stored.

[Srmva]

However, in my mind this begs the question: Why would you NOT set the parking brake when you park? To have a brake available and not use it seems a bit careless.[/QUOTE]

Careless? I think not We had 60 m dollar Jets sitting in hangar without the park brake on. We used wheel chocks.

My concern was sitting for an extended time in storage.

But thanks

[ducksface]

The foot parking brake pedal on my small block avalanche jammed while engaged.
Had to cut the cable. Luckily I had the tools with me.

The handle on our Mazda broke the button off one day
Jammed
I had a screw driver I used to disengage.

I drove the gator with the parking brake partially engaged and burnt it out.

Mine is not a case of ignoring
One is none.

Mine is a case of;
Eliminate the potential failure.

I'll say I do not use my brake for the same reason we do not wear a parachute on a commercial flight;
The chances for a complication outweigh the value of the action.


So I will say that your concern is my concern.
A period of time with that brake engaged might allow the mechanism to fail.
Now, how is a good question. Not taking the chance is a good answer.

If you didn't think it might fail due to time you wouldn't have asked.
You think time can be a major factor and I think simple engagement is a simple factor.

I zee no reason to make my vehicle totally immobile by engaging levers and cables and ratchets.
Anyone who has used a
Come a long
Has experienced exactly how pissy that system can get...without warning.
Pawl too tight
Pin in handle too loose
Galled tooth....

[ghnl]

Having grown up in Massachusetts (we're now damn yankees) the rule was either use the parking brake all the time (to keep it 'exercised') or never. The risk of the cable rusting & seizing 'on' was too great.

[Lt Keefer]

I use my parking brake all the time in the RV. My reason is simple, to keep pressure off the pawl. I set the PB, then put it in park. I'm not an expert, it's just past experience with pawl troubles.