Handbrake Extender for Ducato by Rare Spares.

[ambulancekidd]

I had finally ran out of patience & the skill to let my motorhome handbrake off when my head is very nearly at my bum, seriously, I could pop my head between my legs & kiss my backside goodbye.
Couple that to my drive being very, very steep & with a pinch point of about 1/2 an inch either side, it was driving me mad. Who the hell designed these bloody vehicles, they clearly hadn't heard of ergonomics?

So to that end, I've been searching for a handbrake extender, but the search for the gadget to fit my elderly motorhome was proving to be fruitless.
Then a Rare Spares extender popped up on the forum, many thanks JamesT@Dundee although it was designed for the later Ducato, it cost the princely sum of £30 delivered & I figured it'd be worth a try.
I fitted it today & apart from swearing at the spring falling out (fixed by my technical department, thanks Mrsambulancekidd & a spot of glue) I'm quite pleased with the results.
Obviously the handle isn't in exactly the right place so some fabrication might be in order come springtime, its a bit fiddly, but nothing could be worse that the way it had been. The main thing is that I can now hold the vehicle on the handbrake & actually see what I'm doing.

 

[Mrsambulancekidd]

I am only the 'technical department' because I keep pinching his tools.
Saying that the fix didn't involve any man tools.

 

[jopparocks]

Yes know the feeling bending over to release the handbrake. Wonder if yours would fit my 1997 Hymer.

 

[ambulancekidd]

Yes know the feeling bending over to release the handbrake. Wonder if yours would fit my 1997 Hymer.

Ours is a 1995 vehicle, so presumably it'd be the same.

 

[mitzimad]

ive got one for sale if anyones interested

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[pappajohn]

Yer 'andbrake needs adjusting.
Looks far too high....should be 3 clicks on the ratchet.

 

[pappajohn]

Much better in my opinion.

HERE

 

[Koppersbeat]

The Rare Spares extender allows you to pull out the split pin when parked up and thus lower the handle itself.This enables you to swivel the driver’s seat.
The guy who makes them is very approachable and happy to answer questions over the phone.

 

[Just smiffy]

I am only the 'technical department' because I keep pinching his tools.
Saying that the fix didn't involve any man tools.

Are you sure your the technical dept because you read the instructions and he didn’t...

 

[ambulancekidd]

Are you sure your the technical dept because you read the instructions and he didn’t...

I'm pleading innocence, I didn't have the instructions, mind you, I wouldn't have read them anyway. I'm a fully paid up man.

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[ambulancekidd]

Yer 'andbrake needs adjusting.
Looks far too high....should be 3 clicks on the ratchet.

Dunno, I learned to drive using the police roadcraft system & would have got a very painful rap on the knuckles if I'd let a handbrake ratchet up!!
You only need a Maglite whack once & you never forget

 

[TheBig1]

Dunno, I learned to drive using the police roadcraft system & would have got a very painful rap on the knuckles if I'd let a handbrake ratchet up!!
You only need a Maglite whack once & you never forget

You and me both

 

[Jev88]

ive got one for sale if anyones interested

Interested.. message me please?

 

[jopparocks]

I had finally ran out of patience & the skill to let my motorhome handbrake off when my head is very nearly at my bum, seriously, I could pop my head between my legs & kiss my backside goodbye.
Couple that to my drive being very, very steep & with a pinch point of about 1/2 an inch either side, it was driving me mad. Who the hell designed these bloody vehicles, they clearly hadn't heard of ergonomics?

So to that end, I've been searching for a handbrake extender, but the search for the gadget to fit my elderly motorhome was proving to be fruitless.
Then a Rare Spares extender popped up on the forum, many thanks JamesT@Dundee although it was designed for the later Ducato, it cost the princely sum of £30 delivered & I figured it'd be worth a try.
I fitted it today & apart from swearing at the spring falling out (fixed by my technical department, thanks Mrsambulancekidd & a spot of glue) I'm quite pleased with the results.
Obviously the handle isn't in exactly the right place so some fabrication might be in order come springtime, its a bit fiddly, but nothing could be worse that the way it had been. The main thing is that I can now hold the vehicle on the handbrake & actually see what I'm doing.
View attachment 447449View attachment 447450View attachment 447451

Did you get this second hand? Had a look online for the spares company and it came up with an Australian supplier.

 

[NicandJay]

I've just last week ordered one from " functional products .co.uk"

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[jopparocks]

I've just last week ordered one from " functional products .co.uk"

Great to know where to get one - now to order it up.

 

[jopparocks]

Placed order and looking forward to getting it now.

 

[WellWornTraveller]

Much better in my opinion.View attachment 447484

HERE

I had one of these and swapped to the other one as this one kept jamming and then I could not get it to release the brake.

 

[boxtraveller]

I had one of these and swapped to the other one as this one kept jamming and then I could not get it to release the brake.

Same here, good idea but SWMBO hated it, so off it came.

 

[Wikky]

Much better in my opinion.View attachment 447484

HERE

What's the snake doing on the front of it?

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[NicandJay]

I had one of these and swapped to the other one as this one kept jamming and then I could not get it to release the brake.

Sorry ...confused which one jammed there spares one the other without the swan neck?

 

[NicandJay]

Sorry should read " the rare spares one or the other one without the swan neck?"

 

[Boringfrog]

Something's not right there? Is it on upside down?

 

[ambulancekidd]

Did you get this second hand? Had a look online for the spares company and it came up with an Australian supplier.

Yes I bought it on this very forum.

 

[ambulancekidd]

Something's not right there? Is it on upside down?

The main mechanism in definitely the right way up, now whether I've put the handle on the right way round...........

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[mitzimad]

mines £35 plus postage

 

[pappajohn]

What's the snake doing on the front of it?

That's the button release lever. Pull up slightly to relieve pressure on the button then push the lever forwards to push in the release button.

 

[Boringfrog]

The main mechanism in definitely the right way up, now whether I've put the handle on the right way round...........

Yeah that could be it, handle reversed, didn't know they had any springs inside, gonna have to check mine.

 

[Spriddler]

Dunno, I learned to drive using the police roadcraft system & would have got a very painful rap on the knuckles if I'd let a handbrake ratchet up!!

In the garage trade the '3 clicks' is only used to check handbrake adjustment. In normal use the handbrake is pulled up silently with the ratchet released i.e. with the button pressed in until you feel resistance, then the button is released to lock the lever in place with just the one last click.

 

[WellWornTraveller]

Sorry should read " the rare spares one or the other one without the swan neck?"

I currently use the swan necked one not this one.

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