Caravan Handbrake operation
As a newcomer, I am slowly unravelling the mysteries of caravanning but have been unable to find specific data re the operation of my handbrake. It's a standard ALKO hitch and upon stopping to unhitch the caravan on level ground, I can pull the handbrake lever about 60 degrees up and I believe this has now braked the van from going forward. So far so good, however I am also aware that if I push or motor the van back a few more inches that the lever will rise to a full 90 degree position. Do I need to do this or is this just a safety feature if the van starts rolling backward or on a rearward facing incline once the handbrake is on ? There is usually a lot of information out there on hitching and unhitching but I can't find this specific question nor does the manual make it clear.
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Don't think that the youtube video answers the OP's question, as he was asking about the operation of the handbrake when not connected to the tow vehicle.
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Peter, a very interesting question! Mine does exactly the same and I have never thought to ask why. My caravan is serviced every year and the breaks operate when breaking (phew), disengage when reversing and the hand break holds the caravan. Think it might be something to do with the breaks readjusting as the reverse mechanism kicks in (as explained in the video) but I really have no idea. Think I'll just leave it at that
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These things are BRAKES, which can stop one having a BREAK in something!
Caravans/trailers these days have what is known as an "over-run brake mechanism" which applies the trailer brakes when the tow vehicle applies its brakes and the tow hitch is pushed back into the A-frame by the momentum of the trailer. It releases when the tow vehicle pulls the tow hitch out again.
So far, so good - but there is also a bit to the mechanism to allow the trailer to be reversed by the tow vehicle without applying the trailer brakes, plus the same brakes are used as the parking brake operated by the manual lever. Sometimes it all gets confused, which is why the initial pull of the park brake lever may not fully apply the brakes on the trailer.
I just do not trust trailer brakes. I engage the mover if there is one fitted before unhitching, and if there is a slope I stick decent sized chocks under the wheels, even if "downhill" will be the direction I want to move the trailer later. With the hitch disconnected, a release of the park brake lever allows it to fully engage the brakes when pulled on again.
Not many folk realise that it is easy to get into a situation on even a slight slope where the over-run mechanism has disengaged the brakes although the hand lever looks like it has been appled. On unhitching in these circumstances, the trailer can just run off on its own.
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