Give us a ’brake’

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   Looking around caravan sites you will notice that most caravans are sat for the duration of the stay with the handbrake fully applied.
I have often wondered whether this practice is a good idea or not.
On attempting to leave a pitch recently I created quite a 'furrow' in the turf,the heavy rain that had been with us for the duration of the stay did'nt help.
At first I thought I had left the handbrake on but it transpired that one of my wheels on my twin axle van had 'locked up'. Only after several up and down movements of the handbrake was the wheel free.
Speaking to a mechanic friend about the incident he said "Why do you leave the handbrake on when the steadies are down?" He suggested that a van should be quite stable when the steadies are down and the only 'Extra's maybe needed would be chock's for the wheels.When thinking about it I thought he had a point unless of course you are sited on a gradient.
Any opinions on the matter
Regards,Charlie Nimb.

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charlienimb Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 10 June 2003 Location: Great Britain Online Status: Offline Posts: 30	Quote Reply Topic: Give us a ’brake’ Posted: 23 July 2003 at 09:47
	Looking around caravan sites you will notice that most caravans are sat for the duration of the stay with the handbrake fully applied. I have often wondered whether this practice is a good idea or not. On attempting to leave a pitch recently I created quite a 'furrow' in the turf,the heavy rain that had been with us for the duration of the stay did'nt help. At first I thought I had left the handbrake on but it transpired that one of my wheels on my twin axle van had 'locked up'. Only after several up and down movements of the handbrake was the wheel free. Speaking to a mechanic friend about the incident he said "Why do you leave the handbrake on when the steadies are down?" He suggested that a van should be quite stable when the steadies are down and the only 'Extra's maybe needed would be chock's for the wheels.When thinking about it I thought he had a point unless of course you are sited on a gradient. Any opinions on the matter Regards,Charlie Nimb.
	The light at the end of the tunnel has been turned off,temporarily.So whats new.

john smith Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 23 May 2003 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 40	Quote Reply Posted: 23 July 2003 at 14:49
	charlie i always take my handbrake off i chock wheels and jockey wheel also wheel clamp acts as a chock that way you dont get a sticky brake cheers john
	cheers john caravanners do it in fields zafira 2002 + bailey ranger 2002

Del Boy Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 10 July 2003 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 17	Quote Reply Posted: 23 July 2003 at 15:37
	Always leave the handbrake of and put chocs under the wheels, unless the pitch is sloping. Read in a magazine if the brakes lock of they will usualy free themselves when the y first get applied by the car.
	Luvely Jubly Del

thomo Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Visit Members Homepage Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: 01 June 2003 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 18	Quote Reply Posted: 23 July 2003 at 18:50
	Charlie I agree with what as already being said. I always leave the handbrake off. There is no need to have the handbake on when the steadies are down. Dave

Brian Stanford Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Groupie Joined: 31 May 2003 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 12	Quote Reply Posted: 25 July 2003 at 12:37
	I agree with everything said, and in addition I always leave mine off during the winter months, when not in use as sometimes a small amount of fine rust will appear on the brake drums and cause the brakes to stick on, the linkage can be greased/oiled
	Old Deafy

grahamk Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 28 July 2003 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 2	Quote Reply Posted: 28 July 2003 at 17:28
	If your brakes do stick on, its best to free them off by reversing. This is due to the fact that brake shoes are designed to have a " self servo action " which makes the grip into the drum when the vehicle is moving forward. Naturally by going in reverse, the opposite force is applied. Ragrds to all.

HayleyW Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Newbie Joined: 28 July 2003 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 7	Quote Reply Posted: 28 July 2003 at 19:47
	I have done the same thing once or twice but I try not to leave the brake on when the caravan is parked. But if no one tells you how are you supposed to know?

charlienimb Members Profile Send Private Message Find Members Posts Add to Buddy List Senior Member Joined: 10 June 2003 Location: Great Britain Online Status: Offline Posts: 30	Quote Reply Posted: 01 August 2003 at 10:50
	To all contributers Thanks for all your ideas. Have a great summer caravanning Regards Charlie Nimb.
	The light at the end of the tunnel has been turned off,temporarily.So whats new.