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HowieE · 12-15-2008, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SafariSS

Where in the heck in the UK did you get the F350? I know they sold the f150s over there for a while, did you import it? Also your Classic, it is US spec as well is it not?

Might have been cheaper to move to New Jersey....

Cheaper I can agree with but from another of my first hand experiences not a good idea.

WK57ABF · 12-16-2008, 06:43 AM

HowieE : Action : SafariSS

Thanks folks.

Anyone got a manufacturer's name for surge brake tongue fitting 2.5/16 ball?

Yes - here in the UK we don't have the hills but driving a 20' truck and wide bodied trailer on our back roads can be very demanding, you can be on top of a tractor in seconds, especially with trailer brake problems!! Always use tow haul on back roads.

Airstream is US spec and bought from Bates RV, Florida. Truck came from Gator Ford, Tampa. Both imported for us by UK dealer. Would have ordered F450 if I had known it was a pick-up, thought this model was a chassis cab.

John

**Action** · 12-16-2008, 07:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1939 to ....

Anyone got a manufacturer's name for surge brake tongue fitting 2.5/16 ball?

John

DICO is the brand bolted on my boat trailer. They have merged or been bought out by Titan. Here is Titan's site:

Titan Trailer Components

Here is a retailer.
Dico Brake Coupler Parts

I do not care for my trailer brand, however the coupler has worked well. And yes it is a 2 5/16. I wish my Overlander's coupler was the same size.

>>>>>>>>>>>Action

WK57ABF · 12-16-2008, 12:18 PM

Action,

Thanks for trailer component site info, model 10 would fit but I would lose power jack in center line. Shame there isn't an 'A' frame actuator available. A grind off weld on replacement. Still researching alternatives. Hopefully our present system will be repaired by dealer, but this is a good option for me if all else fails. Trouble free and no electronics.

Cold, wet & miserable here.

Regards, John

WK57ABF · 01-13-2009, 01:17 PM

Update

Since our breakdown on December 13th with no brakes, again, I finally had a constructive response today from our importing dealer. How things change once a product is paid for!! Airstream and Actibrake, once again, have been most helpful and are doing their best to resolve our braking issues. I am taking advice via PM's and returning from aftermarket brake controller back to the Ford IBC. However, while this controller occasionally displays "Wiring Fault on Trailer" or "Trailer Disconnected" (which I believe is normal) it has now started to display "Trailer Brake Module Fault". Has anyone come across this code?

I am also in the process of tidying the bird's nest where Actibrake and 7-way socket wires enter trailer.

John

**Action** · 01-13-2009, 04:39 PM

Ahhhhhhhh let's see, if I connect the blue wire to ...... ouch!

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>Action

WK57ABF · 01-14-2009, 04:00 AM

Hi Action,

I'm not connecting the blue wire to anything else - its the important one!!
Eighteen months we've had the trailer, 12 of which we have been broken down. Glad I can throw my leg over this now and then to forget my worries - the bike I mean!!

John

WK57ABF · 01-14-2009, 04:07 AM

Action - sent the wrong photo, must connect the red wire up again!! Should have been one below.

John

**Action** · 01-14-2009, 08:12 AM

>>>>>Action

WK57ABF · 01-15-2009, 05:24 AM

Re Post #45

Managed to get a photo of truck dash displaying TBC fault. The truck is a 2008 F350 and the trailer was disconnected. Can anyone help - does it mean the TBC is done for?

Thanks, John

WK57ABF · 04-09-2009, 05:25 AM

Just to summarise, our braking problems have been mainly overheating but on two occasions no brakes at all. The first actuator was faulty. The 2nd & 3rd died (one a burnt out circuit board, the other just dead). The 4th is working but not 100% - it was fitted 3 weeks ago.

We are on our 2nd Ford Brake Controller, the first had fault code C2806 (output short to vehicle battery) and was replaced. Our trailer brakes now only work from the IBC using the manual override slider.

Now the brake transducer on the master cylinder is faulty - fault code C2800 (brake transducer open circuit). So, the Ford IBC is not sending a signal to the Actibrake because it is not receiving a signal from the brake pressure transducer (braking effort). I will be replacing the transducer.

In the meantime I have bypassed the IBC with an aftermarket Hayes Genesis and we have trailer brakes. We now might be coming to the end of a frustrating two years.

Actibrake's disclaimer about transient currents and the proximkity of A/C cables damaging the actuator has prompted me into isolating the actuator control cables from all other wiring and fitting a 5 pin connector in the 5 wires that feed the unit, so I can disconnect the unit when on shore power.

John

1. Nearly forgot my 39th wedding anniversary this week (instant death)

2. Motorcycle fell on me last week while wheeling up ramp to load on
truck bed (extensive cuts and bruises)

3. Recently developed hernia (probably from trying to snap up our
1400 lb WD bars)

What else can go wrong!!!!

COUNTRYSONG · 04-09-2009, 09:49 AM

We too have had the same overheating brake problem on all four wheels of our 25 ft 2008 Classic Ltd....Hopefully we have it corrected now. We will know soon enough. I am convinced that somewhere between the factory - the dealer - or somewhere prior to our buying it (New, I might Add), someone pulled this trailer without the proper brake controller or one not being calibrated for disc brakes which would cause the brakes to pulse while going down the highway. The rubber seals around the pistons on all four of the calipers was more or less melted and destroyed by the heat. Airstream and Dexter replaced all of our calipers and one rotor.. We have about 1200 to 1500 miles on them since the fourth caliper was replaced and about 3000 miles on the other 3 and have not had a problem.. We have a Hayes Genesis controller...Hopefully the problem is behind us..The snow is gone and it is time to use the Airstream. Hope this experience might be of some help to you and give you one more thing to look at if your problem persists.

silverleeper · 04-09-2009, 10:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1939 to ....

1. Nearly forgot my 39th wedding anniversary this week (instant death)

2. Motorcycle fell on me last week while wheeling up ramp to load on
truck bed (extensive cuts and bruises)

3. Recently developed hernia (probably from trying to snap up our
1400 lb WD bars)

What else can go wrong!!!!

Never ask "What else can go wrong". The gods of mischief and mayhem will take this as a challenge.

WK57ABF · 04-09-2009, 01:34 PM

COUNTRYSONG :

Thanks for reply - yes same here. Were told by importing dealer that complete axle systems were replaced in US before our NEW trailer was shipped to UK as burnt out beyond repair. Seems these sensitive electronics can be wriecked by an incompatible component.

silverleeper :

Correct!!! Just trying to laugh in the face of despair and frustration!!!!!
Having said that I will continue to post on the thread "Its Thursday and I like my Airstream because......". Thanks for the four leaf clover.

WK57ABF · 06-19-2009, 01:04 PM

2010 Classic Drum Brakes

For over two years we have been trying to sort out problems with the hydraulic brakes on our 2007 Classic. Now we have learnt that Airstream are discontinuing the hydraulic system on Classics in favour of electric drum brakes.

Was the system flawed and unreliable? Does anyone know why Airstream are returning to electric brakes? Is this a step backwards?

Since the demise of Active Technology, there has been a post by Andy suggesting a probable unit would be the Carlisle Actuator. Another post that the Dexter Actuator, plus a conversion kit, would be the replacement. So now these Carlisle or Dexter actuators would only be replacements for existing trailers with faulty actuators and not the latest components to be used by Airstream on new trailers.

To date we have had four actuators, two Ford IBC's, one aftermarket brake controller and have suffered binding brakes, overheating brakes, travelled hundreds of miles with NO brakes, kinked brake hoses and brake lines too short. The fourth Active Technology actuator is still working after 400 miles.

I would swap our troublesome braking system/axles tomorrow if I could buy Dexter drum brake axles in the UK for the price you folks in the States pay.

John

adonh · 06-19-2009, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1939 to ....

2010 Classic Drum Brakes

Was the system flawed and unreliable? Does anyone know why Airstream are returning to electric brakes? Is this a step backwards?

Since the demise of Active Technology, there has been a post by Andy suggesting a probable unit would be the Carlisle Actuator.
John

While on a trip to Durango CO in May there was a new Airstream there with problems with the factory installed hydraulic disk brakes. I heard that a local RV repair service was having problems making repairs and was waiting on parts from Airstream after several days they were able to leave. I was never able to speak to the owner since they were usually gone during the day and only returned in the evening.

I installed Kodiak Disk bakes on my 1976 Sovereign with the Actibarke actuator back in October 2008. I have now driven probably 6,000 miles and I have not had any trouble what so ever with the brakes or actuator.

I am sorry if this has been addressed already, but does the problem seem to be with the factory installed brake systems more so than with replacement brake system in older model trailers.

Thanks Don

WK57ABF · 06-19-2009, 03:32 PM

adonh

Don - a few on this forum have had problems but the majority have had no issues whatsoever. We have been very unlucky. I am puzzled as to why Airstream should discontinue using disc brakes on their flagship range. Aren't drum brakes stoneage technology?

John in the UK

ROBERT CROSS · 06-28-2009, 07:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1939 to ....

adonh
I am puzzled as to why Airstream should discontinue using disc brakes on their flagship range. Aren't drum brakes stoneage technology?

John in the UK

Sorry to hear 'ya still got problems with those brakes.

As I mentioned before...."if it 'aint broke, fix it 'til it is", maybe that's why the "upgrade" was done.

Drum's for Bum's.

**Action** · 06-28-2009, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1939 to ....

adonh

Don - a few on this forum have had problems but the majority have had no issues whatsoever. We have been very unlucky. I am puzzled as to why Airstream should discontinue using disc brakes on their flagship range. Aren't drum brakes stoneage technology?

John in the UK

Could be a number of factors
Cost to manufacter is higher than drum brakes
Repair frequency is higher causing customer disatisfaction
Average unit repair cost for warranty claims is higher than drum brakes
Drum brake technology was (is) good enough to do the job

Not suggesting that these are the actual reasons, just throwing some things out there.

Action

WK57ABF · 06-28-2009, 09:04 AM

ROBERT CROSS

Thanks for your concerns. Our brakes have been working OK for the last 6 or 7 campgrounds and about 500 miles.

After reading the disclaimer in the latest issue of the Actibrake Owner's Manual about damage caused to the actuator by transient currents and the proximity of 120v cables, I fitted this plug and now disconnect whenever we are using shore power. It's the blue brake wire that can pick up these currents and wreck the actuator electronics.

John in the UK