7.5t transporter advice

[1441]

What's the general advice when parked up?

I've just purchased a truck, always parked my trailer with brakes off, it's on my private land, Lincolnshire so flatter than a flat thing, in gear brakes off?

[andye30m3]

I always leave mine with the handbrake on. I'm no expert but aren't they on until the pressure in the system builds back up.

Only thing I do is disconnect the battery as jump starting 24v's would be a pain in the arse at a time when I'm rushing off to a circuit.

[andrewcliffe]

I must admit I've always parked ours up with handbrake on, and not had any releasing issues after over winter storage.

[caelite]

+1 to disconnecting battery.

On flat ground in gear you will most likely be fine, but you can pick up a couple of heavy duty wheel chocks for ~£20. Would at least give you piece of mind, also you can then use them at the track for when your back discs get toasty if the paddock isn't flat (Knockhill for example).

[tapkaJohnD]

Won't it depend to some expent on the ground surface?
Draining tarmac - levae brakes on.
Grassy earth - damp will get into the brakes and seize them.

John

[citizensm1th]

tapkaJohnD said:

Grassy earth - damp will get into the brakes and seize them.

John

I think you would be massively unlucky to manage this with air brakes

as has been said truck brakes work on the ideal of air pressure holding the brakes open
when the parking brake (hand brake) is applied it vents the air from the parking brake circuit.

arctic trailers are left for long periods and very rarely seize up

Also some old second hand 7.5 tonner is not going to keep the air pressure over a period of months so even if you do leave it with out the park brake applied the chances are you will loose pressure over time and the brakes will apply themselves

hell i come across modern well maintained trucks that cant keep enough pressure over night to keep the brakes from applying .

[grumpy52]

On old Cargo 7.5t trucks they have an appetite for rear calipers if not used regularly,the moisture retained in the system kills them .
Lubrication and draining the air system helped .

[dave_Sw1]

if you are leaving it for a while, get in the habit of only having a minimum amount of diesel in it, the "do as you likey's" round our way look for trucks in the middle of no where to nick fuel from, when we parked with the fuel tank side inches from the wall, they climbed under and drilled the tank, when we left it empty, the nicked the batteries. finally we moved the batteries in the rear cab and always leave it empty, they figured out its one to pass by after about 8 separate thefts. Police were marvellous, they've got that "we don't care and won't investigate" angle down to a T, even though there is council cctv covering the only road in and out, "unless you can give us an exact time, we can't look through the footage". maybe there aren't any near you but just a headsup