Handbrake on or off ?

[LG57-UPS.]

Hi all.
When you put the caravan to bed for the winter,with the steadies down,and on level ground.
Do you leave the Handbrake on or off?
Just a bit worried about wether it would stick on,or stretch cables over the winter.

Whats the excepted way.
Many thanks
Pierre

 

[Craigyoung]

Steady's down , wheel clamp on , a brick either side of each tyre , handbrake off ! It ain't going nowhere !! :lol:

Craig .

 

[LG57-UPS.]

Steady's down , wheel clamp on , a brick either side of each tyre , handbrake off ! It ain't going nowhere !! :lol:

Craig .

Cheers Craig,i will do that, many thanks

 

[Dustydog]

Same as Craig,
Leaving the handbrake on for lengths of time can cause the brake shoes to stick to the drums.

 

[Damian]

There are several "ideal" ways of winter storing, completely draining down and leaving taps open, making sure the van is clean of all traces of food and removal of bottles of any liquid, fridge door open, all cupboards open, then either clamping the wheels or raising the van on axle stands to allow the axle to rest and handbrake off.

However, many people do not do it all but leaving the handbrake off is sensible as the brake shoes can, and do, stick to the drums making moving the van next time a problem, sometimes an easy thing to overcome but quite often needing a strip down of the drum.

 

[otherclive]

Also don't use a spray polish (Pledge etc) on the interior surfaces as the waxes in it can cause mould. Adding to Damian, lift the seating so that the under lockers can vent too.

 

[Grey13]

I have no choice, on a hill. handbrake on! Regarding bricks, I bought 2 rubber wheel chocks that work very well.

 

[Anseo]

Handbrake off, I use 2 wedge shaped firewood logs.

I didn't buy them , so they could not be less costly and unlikely to be nicked

 

[otherclive]

Handbrake off, I use 2 wedge shaped firewood logs.

I didn't buy them , so they could not be less costly and unlikely to be nicked

I live near a canal with lots of boaties many of whom have wood burners. If it will burn it’s not safe!

 

[Dustydog]

I have no choice, on a hill. handbrake on! Regarding bricks, I bought 2 rubber wheel chocks that work very well.

If you use Al-ko wheel locks the wheels cannot turn even om a hill, still use chocks too

 

[Hutch]

We use wheel chocks in a covered barn for storage but always have the handbrake off, but we tend to get out in the winter as well. Its a lovely time of the year, and not as bad as imagined.

 

[DaveA1]

Not only in winter, all year round, I chock my wheels, corner steadies down, handbrake off when on drive in the summer. I also use a hitch post, van going nowhere.