Unlimited freedom, while staying safe: Campers should go for quality when it comes to safety-related chassis parts

For many holidaymakers, travelling with a motorhome or camper van means independence and boundless freedom. To ensure this journey doesn’t come to an abrupt end halfway through, the mobile home should be inspected regularly – especially if it has been standing unused for a long time.

Leverkusen, 13. April 2022. More and more motorhomes are on the roads in Europe – demand is booming, not least due to the Corona pandemic. In the next few weeks, many campers will take their vehicle out of hibernation and get it all set for new adventures. A comprehensive vehicle check is a must. Especially safety-related parts such as tyres, axle parts and brakes should be checked by a specialist workshop. After all, these parts are exposed to high loads in motorhomes, camping buses and vans. Compromises in quality can have fatal consequences; especially as these vehicles are often loaded to the hilt – and sometimes beyond – at which point the high centre of gravity quickly pushes the chassis to its limits.

Special attention should be paid to properly functioning brake components, as they play a particularly important role in the safety of the vehicle: In an emergency stop, with the help of hidden components the brakes must slow the entire weight of the vehicle within a few seconds, so that the vehicle comes to a halt. It’s incredibly high load for a few square centimetres of friction material.

Brake specialist TMD Friction, manufacturer of Textar disc brake pads and drum brake linings from Leverkusen, Germany, recommends that campers first dry brake parts before leaving their vehicles for long periods of time. “In order to avoid damage when stationary, it is important to dry-brake the brakes before a longer period of time off – especially if you have been on a winter holiday with your vehicle and road salt may have been involved. Otherwise, heavy rust can form on the brake discs after just a few days, which you can no longer brake down easily,” explains Norbert Janiszewski, Technical Sales Support at TMD Friction – himself a passionate motorhome owner. “If the discs and pads have to be replaced, only quality parts from renowned brands should be used. The reason is that in terms of weight, motorhomes and camping buses are in reality travelling at the limit or even above it – a forbidden state of affairs – which in turn necessitates a certain safety reserve.”

The experts for safe braking also recommend using engine braking when driving downhill to avoid overheating the brake and, in the worst case, stepping on the brake only to find that there is no stopping power left. Motorhome owners should also keep an eye on the brake fluid and have it changed regularly to prevent brake failure due to bubbling, for example.

Quality parts for safe travel

TMD Friction produces brake discs and pads for many popular vans, which are also in great demand as base vehicles for motorhomes – including, for example, for Fiat, VW, Ford and MAN. The knowledge as a series supplier for many renowned vehicle manufacturers also benefits the quality of the spare parts, including the Textar brand. This is because the friction lining specialist spends a lot of time and budget resources on research and development – from the right mixture to extensive testing on test benches and road trials.

The result of more than 135 years of experience in the development of reliable and safe brake solutions is self-developed formulations of up to 43 raw materials for brake pads, which are precisely matched to the respective vehicle and its brake system. Environmentally friendly materials free of copper and antimony are used. As the perfect friction partner for the brake pads, the company also sells brake discs that guarantee good braking performance under a wide range of operating conditions. They also score points with long durability despite high stress, reduce noise and ensure a stable pedal feel without jerking when braking, which contributes significantly to safety. The high-quality brake spare parts of the Textar brand are not only available for the most popular models such as the Fiat Ducato III (Type 250), Peugeot Boxer, Citroen Jumper or Ford Transit, but also for less popular or larger motorhomes over 7.5 tonnes, up to truck chassis. As one of the leading manufacturers of brake pads, Textar also supports the shift towards sustainable mobility, and its portfolio already covers more than 99 percent of the European vehicle population of e-vehicles and hybrids, which also includes the electric-powered base vehicles for motorhomes.

To ensure that campers do not take any unnecessary risks when they set off on their next journey with their fully loaded vehicle, they should schedule a visit to their trusted workshop with their beloved vehicle in good time. Especially for safety-related parts such as the brakes, a check by a specialist is in order, as only professional maintenance and repair with high-quality spare parts can ensure the safety of the vehicle.

Images:

Photo Caption: Picture Motorhome Boom 2.jpg: To ensure that campers do not take any unnecessary risks when they set off on their next journey with a fully loaded vehicle, they should plan a visit to their trusted workshop in good time.

Photo: Copyright TMD Friction, 2021. Free reprint permitted provided source is acknowledged. We kindly ask that a specimen copy be sent to us.

Photo Caption: Picture Motorhome Boom 1.jpg: Motorhome owners should have safety-related parts such as tyres, axle parts and brakes checked regularly by a specialist at their trusted workshop (such as AS Automobile Velbert).

Photo: Copyright TMD Friction, 2021. Free reprint permitted provided source is acknowledged. We kindly ask that a specimen copy be sent to us.

Photo Caption: Norbert Janiszewski.jpg: Norbert Janiszewski, Technical Sales Support at TMD Friction – himself a passionate motorhome owner, recommends using quality parts, especially when repairing the brakes.

Photo: Copyright TMD Friction, 2021. Free reprint permitted provided source is acknowledged. We kindly ask that a specimen copy be sent to us.

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