Winter Storage

[Annie3]

Hi can anyone advise.
A couple of years ago we had a problem with the seal around the front window of the van and the service engineer told us it was because we had not levelled the van whilst stored on the drive so ever since when we have returned from a trip we have always ensured the van is levelled.
This week we have had the van in for repair to the hand brake and when we got the van back on the drive we levelled it using levelling chocks by means of the motor mover however on applying the hand break and releasing the mover the van slipped back to the bottom of the chock (about 10 inches before break activated) when we explained this to the service engineer he said the brake was set to factory settings and that whilst the van is stored on the drive it should be tilted? hence the confusion should the van slip back when hand break is applied this sort of distance? and should a van be levelled whilst stored or tilted as suggested.
Annie

 

[WoodlandsCamper]

We do not level our van (front to back) in storage so as to let water run off the roof. The storage site is level side to side. We NEVER leave the handbrake on when in storage as it will stretch the cable and also likely to jam the brake pads onto the drum.

 

[Craigyoung]

Hi Annie , I agree with Woodlands on this 1 as our site where we store ours isn't exactly level but the way we park hours is nose down slightly for the water also to run off and also with the handbrake off .

 

[Damian]

ill move backwards if on a downhill attitude, such as being pulled up on levelling ramps, until the reverse mechanism activates and applies the brake

 

[Gagakev]

Hi can anyone advise.
A couple of years ago we had a problem with the seal around the front window of the van and the service engineer told us it was because we had not levelled the van whilst stored on the drive so ever since when we have returned from a trip we have always ensured the van is levelled.
This week we have had the van in for repair to the hand brake and when we got the van back on the drive we levelled it using levelling chocks by means of the motor mover however on applying the hand break and releasing the mover the van slipped back to the bottom of the chock (about 10 inches before break activated) when we explained this to the service engineer he said the brake was set to factory settings and that whilst the van is stored on the drive it should be tilted? hence the confusion should the van slip back when hand break is applied this sort of distance? and should a van be levelled whilst stored or tilted as suggested.
Annie

Annie, just before you un hitched the caravan did you reverse it attached to the car? If so i have always been led to believe that it is sensible to pull forward before un-hitching as the braking system in reverse does take a while to activate properly, some of the Techies on here will explain it better than me, when I un-hitch now I always pull the van forward including up the ramp if the pitch is not level,
Hope some-one will explain the braking system in more detail for you.

 

[Dustydog]

Gagakev is spot on.
When levelling always pull forward not reverse onto your ramps.
In storage being level transversely doesn't matter. Longitudinally either front or rear should be lower to avoid water pooling on the roof.

Chock the wheels , attach your wheel locks and or clamps. Leave handbrake off .