Brake Problems

[BigTim]

Hi

We arrived safely at Camping Harras Panorama in at Priem, Bavaria this afternoon after driving from Dunkerque over 2 days. I unhooked the 'van and prepared to look cool and impressive by siting my 'van with the motor mover, no more pushing eh!!. To my horror and surprise the mover would not move the 'van and on further investigation the brakes seemed to be sticking on and preventing the mover from turning the wheels. The 'van would not push either despite the assistance of several hefty Germans. At the suggestion of one who spoke a little English I pulled the 'van onto the pitch with the car. I then tried the mover and it drove the 'van backwards and forwards as normal. I'm a bit puzzled by all this as the 'van has just had its annual service. I contacted Red Pennant and they are arranging for an ADAC guy to come and have a look tomorrow morning. (ADAC are the agents RP use in Germany).

Can anyone offer any insights or comments please? I'm not sure how au fait the ADAC chap will be with British caravans.

Not a very auspicious start to our hols as this site was only meant to be a night halt enroute to Slovenia and Croatia.

Thanks

Tim

 

[Damian]

It sounds like the van was reversed rolled back and the brake applied, allowing the reverse mechanism to operate.

The mover would not supply enough toque to reset the brakes when moving forward, but using the car did.

 

[BigTim]

Thanks Damian

Your suggestion may well be correct. Does this mean I have an ongoing problem or should it be okay now?

Sorry I'm not much of a techie!!!

Tim

 

[forestgump]

i had this with a friend and he came to the idea that he puled the van forward before he used his mover ,just like when you un hitch i still think this is not normal and needs looking at this to me seems to be as said brakes . A mover should be able to move it any way regardless off the direction off travel

 

[kelvin3]

hi BT, this is what I have found.

*In my manual it says when applying the handbrake push slightly backwards. Pulling forward releases it.

So! you've reversed back a bit i.e into the position to use your mover. You get out put the handbrake on and drop the wheel, see * above. You un hitch, engage the mover, release the handbrake and start reversing back using the mover. The handbrake is not fully released? If your battery (as mine was) is not 100% then even by moving forward would not release the mechanisum! because it has not got the 'umf'.

What I have learnt is to not put the Handbrake on but to engage the mover before unhitching (a new 110ha battery helped) I then reverse away from the car and into position. I have also had the brakes and the linkage system serviced, it cost me

 

[BigTim]

Thanks everyone. Problem sorted. To be on the safe side I contacted Red Pennant. RP send out an ADAC man, he had me follow him to a local, car, garage where they jacked up the 'van and checked the brake, ie, they spun the wheels forwards and backwards!!?? and pronounced them okay.

RP, also, put me on to the CC technical support line who said that it sounded as though the reverse mechanism as stuck on as suggested above and that it was probably a one-off problem.

Thanks again for the advice. We have subsequently towed on to Bled in Slovenia and used the mover there with no problems with brakes!!!

Regards

Tim