04 Liberty braking question

[04Roadglide]

I tow my 04 liberty behind my class c motorhome. The tow bar has a built in surge function that pulls the brake pedal via a cable run through the firewall. While towing the jeeps transfer case is in neutral and the key is ìn the first position. Does this seem correct? I'm assuming the brakes get boosted only with the engine running? The pedal is hard in this set up, but still provides braking? I think it's assisting with braking but it's hard to tell.

 

[Shankster]

One of the more interesting questions I've read - anxious to hear if anyone can answer. For sure the brakes only get power assist when the engine is running though.

I don't know if this helps, but when I'm towing WITH my Liberty, to check if my trailer brakes are working I push the button on my brake controller to apply the brakes on the trailer without touching the brakes on my Liberty - if I feel braking happening I know my trailer brakes are working. Does your motorhome have any such button?

 

[04Roadglide]

One of the more interesting questions I've read - anxious to hear if anyone can answer. For sure the brakes only get power assist when the engine is running though.

I don't know if this helps, but when I'm towing WITH my Liberty, to check if my trailer brakes are working I push the button on my brake controller to apply the brakes on the trailer without touching the brakes on my Liberty - if I feel braking happening I know my trailer brakes are working. Does your motorhome have any such button?

No, it's all from the surge device in the tow bar. As the hitch compresses on itself a lever on top pivots forward which in turn pulls on a small cable that runs back through the engine compartment. The cable is fastened to the brake pedal and physically pulls/ depresses the brake pedal.

 

[04Roadglide]

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[Shankster]

No, it's all from the surge device in the tow bar. As the hitch compresses on itself a lever on top pivots forward which in turn pulls on a small cable that runs back through the engine compartment. The cable is fastened to the brake pedal and physically pulls/ depresses the brake pedal.

Pretty slick!

One way I can think of to test it is for someone to be in the driver's seat of the Jeep, foot lightly on brake pedal, brake with the motorhome and try to get a feel for how far the brake pedal gets sucked in, then, while coasting the motorhome on a level or downhill road have the person in the Jeep duplicate the movement of the brake pedal with their foot and see if you feel any braking.

Not as informative, but another way would be to brake with the motorhome for an extended period on a longish, steepish downhill. Then pull over and feel (or better yet, use an infrared temp sensor) all of the Jeep's wheels (or rotors if you have the IR temp sensor) to see if they've got hot. Prior to the test get a baseline temp on all wheels - sun beating down on one side could make wheels on that side hot with no relation to brake operation.

 

[04Roadglide]

Pretty slick!

One way I can think of to test it is for someone to be in the driver's seat of the Jeep, foot lightly on brake pedal, brake with the motorhome and try to get a feel for how far the brake pedal gets sucked in, then, while coasting the motorhome on a level or downhill road have the person in the Jeep duplicate the movement of the brake pedal with their foot and see if you feel any braking.

Not as informative, but another way would be to brake with the motorhome for an extended period on a longish, steepish downhill. Then pull over and feel (or better yet, use an infrared temp sensor) all of the Jeep's wheels (or rotors if you have the IR temp sensor) to see if they've got hot. Prior to the test get a baseline temp on all wheels - sun beating down on one side could make wheels on that side hot with no relation to brake operation.

The IR Temp sensor is a great idea. I have one in the cab of the rv. Next time we travel I'll check that. Thanks