Tim-n-Deb
Lancaster, CA
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Joined: 03/29/2006
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Just brought home our new motorhome and I have a couple questions (1st DP):
1. MH's with engine/exhaust brakes, do all of them turn on brake lights when they are activated? My wife followed me home and she was concerned that I was riding the brakes on a long downhill (which I wasn't, only using the retarder).
2. Was told by dealer that the engine will only output 40% power in 1st gear. Is this to help on the wear and tear of the tranny? My MH does move a little slow off the line, but picks up in 2nd. Do all MH's limit power in 1st gear?
Thanks for your replies.
Tim
2008 Fleetwood Expedition
FMCA #379187
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BIGDOMINO
Full Timing since July 13th 2007
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Joined: 01/25/2003
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Don't think the exhaust breaks turn on brake lights. Never heard about the 40%. Mine does not seem to work that way.
Good luck.
Steve__
Steve & Toni__
38 foot Monaco knight with every option available.
2001 Honda CRV in tow.
Wife running the show.
95 pound Golden named Max loving the ride.
FULL TIMING AS OF JULY 13, 2007
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tkcas01
Roaming Fulltimer
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Joined: 10/11/2005
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Suggest you have your wife drive out front from now on... 
My 04 Monaco's brake lights illuminate when using the Pac Brake.
It's pretty quick off the line, though.
Working out of my roaming home office... (currently here)
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fcooper
Richmond Hill, Georgia
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Joined: 09/23/2003
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My motorhome will turn on the brake lights when the exhaust brake is activated.
Fred & Vicki
Richmond Hill, Ga
2000 Holiday Rambler Endeavor/330 Cat
2000 Honda Odyssey toad w SMI Silent Partner braking system
Tire Sentry monitoring system
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Fulltimingman
Livingston, TX, USA
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Joined: 11/29/2003
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Tim,
Congratulations on your new motorhome.
1) Not all engine/exhaust brakes activate the brake lights however, many do.
2) Some transmissions are not rated to handle the full torque of the engine in 1st gear and use electronics to back off the power in 1st gear.
Michael Day
Newell Coach
PT Cruiser Turbo
Patrick the Irish Wolfhound
Native Texans
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Diplomat Don
Moorpark, Ca
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Joined: 04/09/2005
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Tim....Congratulations on your new motor home. You should be able to get a good idea how your A/C is working this week by your house
Yes.....The brake lights on most DP's come on when you have the exhaust brake engaged.
A couple of things regarding 1st gear. They are limied to a certain extent so you don't twist the drive shaft into a pretzel when you accelerate. Keep in mind that DP's don't accelerate, they gain momentum. I think if you really stomped on it, it would surprise you that it will accelerate fairky quickly as it starts shifting through the gears.
You also have an "Economy Mode" button on your shifter. When you depress this button, the motor home will shift more quickly through the gears from a dead stop, lugging the engine to a certain extent. It is primarily for rolling hills where it will hold a gear longer before downshifting and will improve your mileage. When driving around town it should be turned off.
You'll probably have a ton of questions and none of them are stupid.....so just keep asking.
Don & Mary
2005 Monaco Diplomat 36SKT
400 Cummins
2007 Dodge Dakota 4WD
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wolfe10
Texas
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SOME motorhomes are wired to turn on the brake lights with exhaust brake-- there is NO STANDARD ON THIS.
Brett Wolfe
1993 Foretravel 36' U-240
Cat 3116, Allison 3060
Caterpillar RV Engine Owner's Club: www.catrvclub.org
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jahapp
Wherever the soft breeze blows
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Joined: 04/10/2004
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Tim-n-Deb wrote:Just brought home our new motorhome and I have a couple questions (1st DP):
1. MH's with engine/exhaust brakes, do all of them turn on brake lights when they are activated? My wife followed me home and she was concerned that I was riding the brakes on a long downhill (which I wasn't, only using the retarder).
2. Was told by dealer that the engine will only output 40% power in 1st gear. Is this to help on the wear and tear of the tranny? My MH does move a little slow off the line, but picks up in 2nd. Do all MH's limit power in 1st gear?
Thanks for your replies.
Tim
Yes, the brake lights are active with the Pac Brake
With your engine, the engine puts out 100% power in any gear. The bigger ISL 400 is detuned for 1st gear as the Allison 3060 will not handle the torque.
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Big Katuna
Deland, FL
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Joined: 12/27/2003
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The turbo has to spool up, too. My brake lights are tied into the PAC brake.
My Kharma ran over my Dogma.
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bullydogs1
New Jersey
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Joined: 06/26/2006
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I can tell you that my brake lights are not wired to the Exhaust Brake and you can put on the cruise control with the exhaust brake in the on position but it won't engage until you step on the brake or turn off the cruise.
Stuart and Stella Denning
2009 Holiday Rambler Endeavor 41SKQ
The 3 Bulldogs (Summer, Sully, and Sierra)
2007 Saturn Vue (TOAD)
I tawt I taw a puddy tat
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