Common caravan handbrake

Eaglemax · Guru

Common caravan handbrake

yobarr · Guru

Eaglemax wrote:
13 months ago I purchased our Jurgens caravan and booked it into a caravan maintenance facility for some work... new Jap wheel bearings, tyres replacement (9 years old!!) etc. On the list was check handbrake for effectiveness, replace if necessary.
When I collected it I asked them about the handbrake "yeh, they are all rubbish, a new one wont be any better".
Since then I've always been reserved with our handbrake. Yes it holds but on any slight hill I wouldnt trust it at all. Why is this the case? Car handbrakes are much more effective.

Could it be design fault eg not enough leverage? But the more leverage the heavier the construction needs to be.
I have checked the whole mechanism and I've had the same problem with other vans.
Tony

Yep, I've never seen a caravan handbrake that was any good, but I very rarely unhook the van anyway, so not critical. When I do unhook, to get a service done or venture off-road I simply put a couple of chocks under the wheels.

You suggest leverage, which I would believe to be a solution. Are there levers at the wheels that could be lengthened?

Just an idea. Cheers

Eaglemax · Guru

yobarr wrote:
Eaglemax wrote:
13 months ago I purchased our Jurgens caravan and booked it into a caravan maintenance facility for some work... new Jap wheel bearings, tyres replacement (9 years old!!) etc. On the list was check handbrake for effectiveness, replace if necessary.
When I collected it I asked them about the handbrake "yeh, they are all rubbish, a new one wont be any better".
Since then I've always been reserved with our handbrake. Yes it holds but on any slight hill I wouldnt trust it at all. Why is this the case? Car handbrakes are much more effective.

Could it be design fault eg not enough leverage? But the more leverage the heavier the construction needs to be.
I have checked the whole mechanism and I've had the same problem with other vans.
Tony
Yep, I've never seen a caravan handbrake that was any good, but I very rarely unhook the van anyway, so not critical. When I do unhook, to get a service done or venture off-road I simply put a couple of chocks under the wheels.
You suggest leverage, which I would believe to be a solution. Are there levers at the wheels that could be lengthened?
Just an idea. Cheers

Thanks Yobarr. Yes, I chock mine also, good insurance. When I get greyer with nothing to do I might engineer a better stronger handle unit.

Tony

deverall11 · Guru

Eaglemax wrote:

Thanks Yobarr. Yes, I chock mine also, good insurance. When I get greyer with nothing to do I might engineer a better stronger handle unit.
Tony

Whilst a stronger handle would help, I think another issue is the loss of mechanical advantage due to

the way the cable is routed. I had a go once at having the cable run through 'pulley' wheels instead of

the hooks on the side of the chassis. This did help (less friction) and I thought I was heading in the right direction.

Yobarr's idea of longer levers at the wheels would help but then you run into the issue of space at the

handle end. Longer travel. This would require a system of compound levers to give you back the

mechanical advantage with less travel.

Nothing has ever been done because I truly believe the handbrake on a caravan is put there to meet

the Dept of transport's requirement of having a handbrake. Doesn't have to work, just has to be there.

gold dandelion · Senior Member

My hand-brake on my Coromol Lifestyle works well. Must be a one off.

Rusty W · Veteran Member

My Coromal hand brake works well also, better than my old jayco.
My boat trailer has no hand brake at all. Tricky when disconnecting sometimes.

Eaglemax · Guru

Thanks all for your replies. Deverall... I've had pulleys on my last home made van. One side needed them to avoid the cable rubbing against the step inset. So did both sides. Didn't help much. Others say their handbrake is good leads me to think I need to expand my observations on how they are designed. Leverage might play a part eg bell crank size, handle length. Regards Tony

deverall11 · Guru

Eaglemax... A bell crank would give you the exponential force you're looking for.
A simpler system the compound levers.

Eaglemax · Guru

deverall11 wrote:
Eaglemax... A bell crank would give you the exponential force you're looking for.
A simpler system the compound levers.

Thanks Deverall, reckon you're right, can modify the unit I have, wont need much extension

Jaahn · Guru

Eaglemax wrote:
deverall11 wrote:
Eaglemax... A bell crank would give you the exponential force you're looking for.
A simpler system the compound levers.
Thanks Deverall, reckon you're right, can modify the unit I have, wont need much extension

Another idea that I have used on some light trucks i previously owned, is an overcenter handle type handbrake. This is set up so the handle can go over center with pressure on the cable and stop there without a ratchet. To adjust it for best effect the handle has an adjusting knob at the top end. If it is not holding enough then you screw the knob another turn. Powerful and will hold in any situation. But the cables and links would need to be in good condition so you do not over stress them.

Hand to understand if you have not used that type. But here is a video that explains how the handle works and the knob is adjusted. It is half way through the video from about 1.2 minutes to 4.4 minutes.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATc391m2cGM

Here is an overseas company catalogue that sell these type of overcenter handles for trailer brakes for your thinking.

https://orschelnproducts.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Parking-Brake-System_catalog-2023-Update.pdf

Cheers jaahn

deverall11 · Guru

Great system Jaahn which would work right out of the box on caravans. Why was not this used before????
Only other thing as I previously mentioned is the drag caused by the cable rubbing on the eyelets.
I think this cable should be in an outer cable housing.
This all points to the manufacturers having no interests in this area.
Would be a fun project to take on though. Probably can source the handle assembly from wreckers.

Eaglemax · Guru

Jaahn wrote:
Eaglemax wrote:
deverall11 wrote:
Eaglemax... A bell crank would give you the exponential force you're looking for.
A simpler system the compound levers.
Thanks Deverall, reckon you're right, can modify the unit I have, wont need much extension
Another idea that I have used on some light trucks i previously owned, is an overcenter handle type handbrake. This is set up so the handle can go over center with pressure on the cable and stop there without a ratchet. To adjust it for best effect the handle has an adjusting knob at the top end. If it is not holding enough then you screw the knob another turn. Powerful and will hold in any situation. But the cables and links would need to be in good condition so you do not over stress them.
Hand to understand if you have not used that type. But here is a video that explains how the handle works and the knob is adjusted. It is half way through the video from about 1.2 minutes to 4.4 minutes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ATc391m2cGM
Here is an overseas company catalogue that sell these type of overcenter handles for trailer brakes for your thinking.
https://orschelnproducts.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/Parking-Brake-System_catalog-2023-Update.pdf
Cheers jaahn

I agree with Deverall, it is a far superior unit. I also dont think it is that hard to manufacture one. I have other projects to do first but this is going in my notes for a future project. Thankyou Jaahn