Purchasing a 2022 Newell. Does anyone know if these coaches can be retrofitted with dynamic cruise either by factory or third party? Our last Class A had it and I am a slave to it
Being a 2022 that might be a question to be answered by Newell in Miami.
Is that the same as adaptive cruise control? My last coach had Eaton Vorad ACC and I liked it very much, it was smooth. It would operate the engine brake but not the service brakes. My pickup truck has ACC but it is abrupt, not smooth at all. I guess it's impossible to do anything abrupt with a heavy coach. Let us know what you find out, it may be as simple as adding the radar antenna and plugging the controller into the J1939.
(01-06-2024, 07:37 PM)Bwhitis Wrote: [ -> ]Purchasing a 2022 Newell. Does anyone know if these coaches can be retrofitted with dynamic cruise either by factory or third party? Our last Class A had it and I am a slave to it
Congrats!!
Not sure which number you're getting, but that's not important. Fact is, over the years, Newell has been resistant to adaptive cruise control for numerous reasons. I know guys who have their 23 and 24's WITHOUT it.
Not much convincing you otherwise, since you had it before, so forgive me while I just voice some suggestions then that may help you. I've had this discussion at Newell quite a bit. It's not really a plug-n-play install and they've been pretty resistive towards it in the past. So, CAN it be ADDED after the fact? This is America, baby, and is only a matter of throwing money at the problem! But they've said there is a LOT to it....so my guess is they won't "want" to do it on any existing coach.
On the other hand, it may be worthwhile to poll a few of the newest owners who are REALLY driving...and not just parked at a resort. A Newell's drivetrain, jake, etc. etc. is a bit of a different breed and many owners feel the Adaptive CC is not a good feature to have. I can tell you the #1 complaint I hear, and that is that the ACC will react too aggressively every time someone pulls in front of you and cuts off that "defensible space" (as I call it). This not only scrubs off your speed, but also may cause unneeded braking.
Hope this gives you some good feedback.
Steve, were those complaints from folks that had it in a Newell? I used Adaptive Cruise for 7 years in my previous coach which was around 53,000 pounds with toad. It had the same drivetrain as my Newell; ISX 600HP & Allison 4000. I wish my Newell had Adaptive Cruise.
(01-07-2024, 01:08 PM)hypoxia Wrote: [ -> ]Steve, were those complaints from folks that had it in a Newell? I used Adaptive Cruise for 7 years in my previous coach which was around 53,000 pounds with toad. It had the same drivetrain as my Newell; ISX 600HP & Allison 4000. I wish my Newell had Adaptive Cruise.
You know the way people get, Jim...and ACC is one of "those" topics!! To be honest, I have YET to see a single Newell with ACC, let alone interview the owner. Makes it kinda hard when you hear people say "I hate it" when they've never had it.
That said, I do see the criticisms of those who've used it in "other" coaches, saying it's more of a pain that not in traffic. And, quite frankly, ACC is made for traffic rather than wide-open roads...and so I understand it being a hinderance more than a help in traffic.
But, heck, if we revisit this topic in 5 years, ya might not find a single coach without it! LOL
The irony is that I have it - or at least I'm supposed to have it. The VORAD CPU was bad when I bought our coach - I found a NOS replacement but had an intervening issue that resulted in the loss of cruise control before I could install it. Now I have function VORAD that should provide ACC but no cruise control (I had a shop put her on a Cat computer and it shows a signal that the brakes are engaged even when they aren't, thus apparently leading to the failure of the cruise to engage). I have yet to take the time to identify a shop to remedy the situation but will do so some time in the next several weeks.
(01-08-2024, 10:49 AM)Sea Note Wrote: [ -> ]The irony is that I have it - or at least I'm supposed to have it. The VORAD CPU was bad when I bought our coach - I found a NOS replacement but had an intervening issue that resulted in the loss of cruise control before I could install it. Now I have function VORAD that should provide ACC but no cruise control (I had a shop put her on a Cat computer and it shows a signal that the brakes are engaged even when they aren't, thus apparently leading to the failure of the cruise to engage). I have yet to take the time to identify a shop to remedy the situation but will do so some time in the next several weeks.
Jake off? Brake lights off? Either may not let cruise on a VORAD coach to work. What does your VORAD display look like? Do you know what model VORAD is?[
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Jim -
Good questions - thanks! I don't know how I might turn off my brake lights (they come on when I press the brake, otherwise off) but I had not considered the Jake. I've attached a photo of the head unit - I would need to crawl around to get to the cpu as I am currently squished into my garage. I spent some time recently at a shop that has a CAT computer and it showed that the CAT cpu was receiving an input that the brakes are on (applied) at all times. The shop didn't want to tear into it and I didn't have time to wait so it remains unresolved.
I should note that the cruise worked until I left her with a shop to track down a J1939 data issue that appeared to be interfering with my transmission. It turned out the real issue was low voltage resulting in issues with the step-up transformer for the transmission and that was resolved with new batteries and a genny service, but I have no idea as to what exactly the shop did in terms of altering the wiring (I was able to diagnose a number of issues it created and resolve them but not the cruise). Rush Truck says they think they can figure it out so I am inclined to take her to them unless anyone has a different suggestion (we are in the Tampa area).
I had Vorad on my HR Navigator and liked. It was perfect for I5 where the line of trucks does 60-65 (perfect for me) and the 'fast lane' is trying for 80. I just lock onto a truck I like and the rig does the rest. Trying to match speed otherwise is constant fidgeting. Pity that this is not around for Newell but then that 12 speed box is an entirely different animal than the Allison 4000.