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Tires..or brakes…or ???
As a new Prevost owner, I had my Air Force One braking system installed by an authorized Air Force One dealer that didn’t know what an Air Force One Braking system was. My mistake to be in a rush to get my toad vehicle hooked up locallly. That was 2 years ago. Ever since, I’ve always smelled burnt rubber after every drive on the toad as a toad. I’ve asked numerous Prevost facilities about the problem with no solution.
A few weeks ago my toad would go ba-bump, ba bump, ba bump driving by itself. Rear passenger tire was bad so I replaced 2 tires only since all 4 toad tires were only a year old with great treads. Tire guy blamed it on bad Chinese tires not doing well in the hot Florida sun. Put 2 new tires on the front with still 2 Chinese tires on the back. First trip from Bluewater to Camp Gulf (thank you Diane) and another toad rear tire is going ba bump ba bump and even worse.
My question is could the braking system be hanging up and ruining the tires? Or could I just be lucky enough to have really bad tires thanks to my local tire shop. We don’t plan on driving the toad much in the next 2 weeks. Do I take a chance and drag the toad to New Orleans and then to Jeff and on to Buffalo or have the tires replaced now. Then if the new tires go bad I’ll know it’s definately in the braking system????
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36 Replies
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I don’t think it’s your braking system. Anytime you tow behind a bus, and get in your toad, you will smell rubber…..because all the rubber coming up off the road from all the tires sends a fine dusting of rubber under your Toad. When you crank it up, the exhaust will burn it off for a while. It should stop smelling after a few miles though.
At least, that’s been my finding, whether towing a Jeep, HHR, F150, or anything has done the same thing with me.
If you got bumping tires, they probably need replacing anyway.
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We get the same smell from the tires of the HHR after towing any length of time and attribute it to the same thing that Jerry describes.
Are the tires cupping? or flat spotting? A good tire person can explain what causes tire cupping much better than I can. Cupping should look different that flat spotting. The brakes on the toad locking up when they shouldn’t or prematurely could cause flat spotting.
Are you sure the toad is being pullled straight? Are both tow bars locking?
I’m not familiar with the Air Force One system, does it have an adjustment so you can adjust how quickly and aggressively it applies the brakes of the toad? Maybe the adjustment is set too tight. Is it possible that you’re dragging the brakes on the coach causing the toad brakes to apply when they don’t need to? I’m just guessing at things and making stuff up.
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Mr. Jimmy,
We have the Air Force One installed on our Honda. It works fine, no tire problems. I’m also not aware of any adjustments (I’ll need to look at the manual).
We, too, get a rubber smell after towing for longer periods of time. Same thing on the previous ’07 Honda CR-V.
I think it would be a good idea to have a ‘knowledgeable’ SMI Air Force One shop double-check the installation of your system.
Mr. Mark
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The brake linings will smell when they get hot too, and it is distinctly different than the smell of a tire. You could probably smell a problem if there’s one to be found immediately after driving the bus and using the brakes for a little while. The wheels may also be hot to the touch.
If the brakes are always dragging or applying too much, you might notice that the tread blocks are wearing into a saw-tooth pattern. Sometimes you have to feel that by rubbing your hand along the tire in both directions because it can’t be seen. If they are locking up, you will have localized flat spots. I think they would have to be locking up and putting on a smoke show to make the car drive with that thump you describe.
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Jimmy,
Did you have them install an LED light inside on the dash to give an indication when the toad brakes are applied? If not I would strongly suggest that you do it
On my old coach I had the breakaway pull out and couldn’t see the stupid light on the hitch so I ended up trashing the brakes the toad.
Bill
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Don’t have a brake system on this F150 or the Edge we pulled for over 35,000 miles. Never smelled rubber and get out about every 200 to 300 miles to let and old dog out to wizz. Must be luckey.
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What Jerry and others have said about the rubber smell is correct.
All the millions of tires that are wearing out leave their rubber dust on the highway, and as we drive that nearly invisible cloud of dust we kick up deposits itself on the exhaust system of our toads.
As soon as we start driving the toad, and the exhaust system heats up we smell that rubber dust as it gets cooked.
That is all except Mark because his Liberty has the rose petal option that not only discharges from his holding tank, it emits a pleasant rose scent from his toad, while the rest of us are gagging due to the burnt rubber stink.
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We have the M&G braking system on our Suburban and have never smelled rubber after towing nor did we ever have a rubber smell before the braking system was installed and we don’t have rose petals like Mr Mark either as we had a Vantare before the Liberty and no rubber smell then either !!
Cheers..Diane
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We all get the rubber smell, but sounds like you’re flat spotting the tires. I would bet the Air Force One is not releasing and your dragging the tires.
I always install my own M & G and I hook a 50′ air hose to the bus and car. Then by hand with a helper, move the car and have the helper apply the bus brakes to assure they apply and release. Easy to do and at least you know it’s working correctly.
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I think that the design of the toad, height off the ground, how the exhaust is exposed under the vehicle is why some don’t get the smell. The Suburban and some trucks may not collect the tire/rubber dust as some others do. Towing my F150, the smell is not as noticeable as the HHR or Jeep we tow.
The Stacker trailer……..doesn’t smell at all!
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BTW (by the way), we had the M & G on the first Honda. That system was not as ‘install’ friendly with the new 2013 redesign of the newer Honda. The SMI Air Force One was a better install. Both systems work great.
I’m thinking of trading (actually, selling to my sister) the ’13 Honda and going with a ’17 Lincoln MKX which are towable four down. I want something that matches the coach better…… or, maybe Frank will sell me a new coach to match the Honda! Ha!
Mark
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My Air Force One has LED lights in the TOAD windshield that shows me the braking system is working, which I’ve confirmed with a visual inspection of the brakes as well.
But I may have my better half occasionally check the actual brakes to ensure the LED lights are functioning correctly.
I have have the rubber smell as well which Jon picked up on in New Orleans, but he assured me it was normal.
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On my 3rd Prevost since 1996. And don’t remember ant rubber smell. Currently pullin a Ram 2500 diesel 4×4.
Bill S.
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Our Lexus has a strong burning smell upon initial warm-up after being towed. I haven’t given it a second thought as it has been the norm from being towed from one coast to the other and back. I just chalk it up to all the road grime being coated on the car and burning off the exhaust system.
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If there is flat spotting on the tires due to the brake system, expec ially AF-1 it might be the brakes are being applied with greater force than needed.
AF-1 provides vacuum boost to cars with that type of power brakes. As we all know the amount of pedal pressure required when the engine is not running is quite a bit, but when it is running and the car has engine vacuum at the brakes very little pedal pressure is necessary.
If the pedal pressure being applied to an AF-1 system is causing wheel lock up that would explain the flat spotting and AF-1 may have a means by which the system can be adjusted for pedal pressure. The toad wheels should never lock up. Drive alongside of the car when being pulled by the coach and when a hard braking is applied on the coach look to see if the toad wheels are locking.
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