To set the emergency brake or not ?

[NYMINUTE]

Re: To set the emergency brake or not ?

The red light as BoatBuoy mentioned should have caught his attention. One note of caution to all, be sure your e-brake releases. Have had one the stuck. Chocks are my choice

 

[TwoBallScrewBall]

Re: To set the emergency brake or not ?

E brake is great, but the best thing to use is one of those sticks that you wedge against the brake pedal. It holds brake pressure on the pedal, so all four wheels are locked. Can't beat that. That, and the e-brake and a chock or 2 should keep you safe. Should....

 

[lakelivin]

Re: To set the emergency brake or not ?

This happened 20 years ago, so don't know if technology is different today, but parked an automatic on a hill without setting the e brake first. Of course it rolled back a couple of inches and became LOCKED in park. I had to get out and rock the car so that the girl that was with me could shift out of park. I'm sure I really impressed her that date!<br /><br />Don't know how much of an incline it takes before this happens, but since then I've always set e brake BEFORE shifting into park on any incline. <br /><br />And isn't it important to regularly use your e brake for some braking systems? thought it had to do with some type of adjustment that happens when you apply the e brake...

 

[AK_Chappy]

Re: To set the emergency brake or not ?

lakelivin,<br />You better believe it still is the same. I use the e-brake on inclines just for that reason. I can't stand that loud bang as the parking pawl comes out. Makes me think of things breaking.<br /><br />To echo above, if you have ever taken an auto tranny apart and seen what actually holds you in "Park" you wouldn't trust it either!<br /><br />AK Chappy

 

[BigPoppaG]

Re: To set the emergency brake or not ?

I own a 18' SeaRay bowrider. Not only do I set my e/brake but I put the Jeep in 4WD just for the extra pull. Imagine if his truck slipped out of gear and rolled into the drink. I think he would be a little more upset.

 

[salty87]

Re: To set the emergency brake or not ?

state inspection is supposed to catch e-brakes that don't work. i've been told to get my brake adjusted and come back to get my sticker before.<br /><br />you really should take less care of your buddy's stuff from now on, what kind of friend are ya?

 

[jtexas]

Re: To set the emergency brake or not ?

Originally posted by LazyJ:<br /> We made some 50 lb concrete chocks the next day ...troublesome to use but very comforting when launching alone.

A 10" piece of 4 x 4 ripped diagonally makes a fine pair of chocks - add a few feet of cord with staples. Having a pair roped together is handy for chocking the trailer on a flat surface.<br /><br />I place one behind the drivers side front wheel whenever my vehicle is unattended on the ramp. The other is on the floorboard, so I just open the door on the way up the ramp, and pull it in. Fifty lbs of concrete does have a certain feel of security, though.<br /><br /><br />Hey, jackrg, what's your friend's email address? Want us all to send him some anonymous emails to educate him on the subject? We promise not to be mean & ugly about it, just purely educational. <br /><br />I suspect he called and blamed you in a moment of distress, probably regretted it later. Either that or else he's a real piece of work!

 

[backdraft]

Re: To set the emergency brake or not ?

GMC trucks ,99 and newer send out a message to the message board telling you after a short distance, the emergency brake is still on. How do I know?

 

[SS MAYFLOAT]

Re: To set the emergency brake or not ?

I always ask about the brake before using them. I was in a situation at a ramp once where a similar incident happend. Not that the tow rolled into the water, but the tow vehicle never had the ebrake set of years. So when the friend set the ebrake, it stopped everthing including the flow of traffic to the ramp!<br /><br />A vehicle that doesn't use the ebrake often seems to always sieze up the brake cables. Due to that incident (and several others) I always ask if they use their ebrake. If they don't, I won't set it for the fear of them staying on and not being able to release. And yes they can cause a brake fire, not a good situation to be in if there isn't any means of extinguishing it!<br /><br />If your friend is one who does not use his ebrake, I can understand why he was upset. One push of the pedal and now he has problems because of the lack of usage. Replacing ebrake cables can be a major pain as well as expensive.<br /><br />BTW, they had to drag his rig out with a garabage truck. Then a tow truck came to tow his rig home. Truck went on the rollback and the boat on the stinger.

 

[DustyJacket]

Re: To set the emergency brake or not ?

I have AWD, set the emergency brake, put it in Park, leave the engine running with the front windows rolled down, put a chock behind the front driver's side wheel.<br /><br />And, if I am not alone, I have the wife in the driver's seat with her foot on the brake.

 

[jackrg]

Re: To set the emergency brake or not ?

First of all I'd like to thank all who confermed my action as not being to anal, Thanks. I don't think sending informative E-mails would help my situation any right now, But, thanks for offering.<br />In hindsight I guess i could have mentioned to him that his e/brake was on, it just didn't come to mind at the time.