Air brakes question

[MyBoyChe]

Tried a nice little lorry today, very short 7.5 t Merc, with air brakes. Its the first one Ive tried that has air brakes. Didnt really bother me using them but I wonder how nice a ride the horse gets, they felt a bit sharp. Not quite sure how to describe it but Im sure those of you who have lorries with air brakes know what I mean. Do they get better with experience or is this just the way they are?

 

[foraday]

Lorry's have air brakes to 'help' try to slow the huge mass travelling at great velocity and with huge momentum, so yes they will feel sharp if you are not used to driving a lorry.

You would normally use your engine to slow your approach to like roundabouts and junctions.

You will get used to them, by just hovering your foot on the pedal at the right times.

If you are unsure go along to your local HGV training school and have a couple of lessons on braking

It won't take you long to get the hang of things

 

[foraday]

Lorry's have air brakes to 'help' try to slow the huge mass travelling at great velocity and with huge momentum, so yes they will feel sharp if you are not used to driving a lorry.

You would normally use your engine to slow your approach to like roundabouts and junctions.

You will get used to them, by just hovering your foot on the pedal at the right times.

If you are unsure go along to your local HGV training school and have a couple of lessons on braking

It won't take you long to get the hang of things

 

[ecrozier]

I used to have a 7.5t merc and funnily enough my YM has just bought it back from the friend I sold it too so I've driven it again today! It has insanely sharp brakes, far sharper than any other lorry 7.5t or more that I've ever driven (Bedfords, ivecos, old cargo, old Leland, new daf and a big scania to name a few, and none anywhere near as sharp!!)
You do get used to it, I always found pumping the brake a few times before moving off initially helped a bit, also as poster above says use gears/weight of lorry to slow down when possible, and it's not as bad once moving properly on the road. Always worst when first moving off! But yes you def get used to it and I've never had a horse travel badly on that lorry, my big horse if was the first truck he ever went in and the only one from age 2-6 and he's the best loader/traveller I know so can't have bothered him too much!

 

[bakewell]

some big/ heavy mercedes have a "brake assist" that detects if you meant to do an emergency stop but didn't apply enough pressure (say if you were a granny!). What would be dabbing the brake in another vehicle could trigger this.
As you say though, very different feel to other brands.