Electric parking brake hill start
Just before the lock down I took delivery of a car with electric parking brake and auto hold. Only recently has the tow bar been fitted with vehicle specific wiring. Not having had chance for a real test run and not having had electric brakes before could someone give me the benefit of their experience how how to tow the caravan especially on hill starts with electric brakes The vehicle manual is quite vague. I will say that I have been towing caravans for many years but with manual braking systems.
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Firstly, how many times do you do a hill start with the caravan in tow? I must admit that in 33 years of towing I can't remember a time but probably have had to once or twice.
Secondly, it would help to know a bit about the car - is it automatic or manual for instance? If automatic as mine is (although had manual cars in the past) then I would think that simply starting to accelerate as you release the parking brake would enable you to move without slipping back (I know I can in my XC90).
Thirdly, I would try a hill start without the 'van in tow first: on a quiet road if possible. How does it perform? Do you need to adjust your driving habit?
From experience I don't think you will have a problem. Good luck.
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I have no idea about underpowered cars, or super heavyweight vans, or front wheel drive cars scrabbling for grip on a steep hill, but with a 2.2 litre diesel Freelander (manual) towing a 1200kg van - I just put her in first gear and press the accelerator, the handbrake automatically releases and off we go. Magic! It's an everyday event here at home when I stop in the lane - which is about 1 in 6 - and get out to open the gate so I can drive straight in .
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We have two vehicles with electronic parking brakes, my wife's Golf Mk7 & my Discovery 4.
On the Golf it features an "auto" apply and release system and we just simply let it do its own thing which it manages very compedently doing; really you can forget about it, it does all it needs to without any intervention.
The Disco has not that feature, it has to be applied by you but it can either be released by you or left to self release.
I always these days get involved in both, obviously applying it, but also in releasing it, basically as it unlike the Golf takes its time thinking if it should auto release. It does, but that very slight delay means the move off is not done with quite the refinement me doing so achieves. All that is involved is just that light finger touch and it operates cleanly.
So, they are not all created equally.
The Golf had a very early life recall to update the auto parking brake software, and it greatly improved its refinment.
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The electric parking brake on my automatic Merc releases automatically when you set off .... not that it gets used very often as I left foot brake so release the foot brake as I press the throttle. But whether parking brake releases itself or not, it's just the same as a 'normal' handbrake .... press the throttle until you feel the car wants to go & then release the parking brake or for those that 'want to be in control 😏 ..... find the biting point of the clutch, start to press the throttle & then release the parking brake.
Besides, the 'auto hold' is likely going to do it all for Spamcan ...
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Hi Spamcan, I tow a fairly heavy twin axle with a Hyundai Santa Fe which has an electric parking brake. It has two options... either applying manually with a switch or using the autohold option. I always tow with the autohold on and have had no problems at all. It can hold the van securely even on a very steep slope eg ferry ramp and the slight delay in releasing gives a safe and smooth hill start. It did take me a while to trust the autohold but now I never give it a second thought. Much better than the old manual.
If you feel on a steep hillstart that you need a bit more / longer hold you can always give the manual switch a short flick to extend the length of the hold after you have started to move off.
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Hi Spamcan,
I have a Manual 2.0 TDI VW Tiguan 177bhp, I tow a 1200kg MTPLM van, my car has both auto park brake / auto hold and hill start assist, as previous posts have said the park automatically releases when the biting point is reached but on an incline the hill assist holds for an extra couple of seconds to allow you pull away smoothly with no roll back, also on inclines the auto hold has always held both the car and van with no issues without having to apply the park brake, works very well on the VW but cannot speak for other makes.
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last time i used the handbrake on my Sorento was probably on the ferry in 2019, left foot on brake ease from park to auto press the juice pedal and off she goes. Should say for the purists, my drive is almost flat and if it was going to roll anywhere it would be into the garage door
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Our van weighs 2 tons fully laden - and I tow with a VW Touareg which has hill start. Use it all the time with the van on the back and never had a problem - even on the steepest of hills. I wouldn't like to be without it.
The only thing I would say is that on one of my previous Discos - which was used regularly for serious off-roading - the EPB locked on at a horrendous junction in the middle of Hull - and wouldn't release. Couldn't even drive off in low ratio 1st. After 20 minutes of fiddling with the release button, it eventually cleared but that was after I had caused absolute chaos with other traffic trying to get round me.
Apparently, LR recommend having the EPB serviced every 2000 miles if used off road regularly because mud can get into it - with the results I experienced!
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Just curious.., where did you get the idea to use your left foot on the brake, is that taught by driving instructors in automatic transmission driving school cars?
I passed my test in a manual and when I discovered automatics I just carried on with my right foot for the brake. My left foot (was that a film??) just sits redundantly on the foot rest watching the action.
My VW uses the handbrake for auto hold and I don't think the brake lights are on which is probably better, especially at night, for the driver behind.
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It's a habit picked up from my Dad ... and no, it's not something that driving schools will teach. Many years ago I was 'invited' to attend a speed awareness course back when you spent some time in the class room & some time behind the wheel. the instructor told me off for it .... apparently there was a chance I'd press both pedals at the same time!!! 🙄 I've to really concentrate now if I right foot brake. 🤔 And I passed in a manual too ....way back in 79
My Merc uses the foot brake for 'hold' .. you give the pedal a double shove when stopped and the brake lights do stay lit. I can't say that brake lights on the car in front cause me any problems when queuing.
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I drive a Ford Kuga automatic, hill start holds for 2 to 3 seconds after release of the brakes using the electronic or footbrake, and I just apply the accelerator and pull away. No roll back at all on a 1 in 8 hill every time we take the van out and off the driveway.
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