Weak arm handbrake problem?

[Jac Sprat]

Sorry I’m swamping the forum today with our various problems. Good campsite WiFi is available today.
- the most serious since we’ve been on the road (a week into a ten week trip) is I don’t seem to be able to put the hand brake on hard enough. We’ve rolled forward once on a deserted aire half an hour after parking up (it seemed on the flat so not in gear)
We had it checked out at the fiat garage yesterday and they assured us the handbrake is fine.
I had this problem with my 3.9 Hymer too.
I’m a strapping lass and would have thought my arm strength was well up to the job.
Clearly I need to engage the gears each time I park but I’m concerned I’ll forget when it’s on the fiat.
Also if I put the hand brake on too hard I struggle getting it off. Once had to get a passer by to do it for me! (Husband is disabled now.)
Has anyone else had this problem? Any tips.?

 

[Euro330]

If its just a case of you are not getting the reach to set the handbrake properly, you do get handbrake handle extensions.

 

[Lenny HB]

You could try one of the extenion arms may give you more leverage.

Also if I put the hand brake on too hard I struggle getting it off. Once had to get a passer by to do it for me!

If I drive my daughters car she can't drive it afterwards unless someone is around to take the handbrake off.

 

[Nanniemate]

I managed to get stuck once couldn't get the handbrake off, I always leave all vehicles in gear it's a habit to get into like fastening your seatbelt. Try a post it note on the dashboard until you do it automatically. you will surprised how quickly you will do it without realising it. I hope this helps

 

[Lofty1]

If your vehicle has rear drum brake you need to apply the foot brake while you apply or release the hand brake also as others mentioned an extender helps.

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[mikebeaches]

If I drive my daughters car she can't drive it afterwards unless someone is around to take the handbrake off.

Mrs mikebeaches has that problem whenever I've driven the van and parked it...

 

[mikebeaches]

There have been many reported cases of cars rolling away half an hour or so after being parked.

I believe it can happen when the handbrake is applied, but not firmly enough, and the brakes are hot. When the brakes cool down they contract sufficiently for the vehicle to move if it's on a slope.

It sounds as though that could have been the case for the OP? Nothing wrong with the handbrake as such, just needs to be applied more firmly. And perhaps there is a bit of a 'knack' to doing it for some folk?

 

[TheBig1]

the rare spares handbrake extender gives a mechanical advantage, the kobran (all plastic) one will not

 

[nicholsong]

Little anecdote.

I was driving a small Merc van for the NHS and had to park on a slope. The 'parking brake' is applied through a 'plunger' over the other pedals. I thought I had done this OK, came back after the delivery and the van was up against a driveway pillar.

Got back to depot and reported it. The Manager said 'Oh we have got it booked in for that fault on Monday'. He could have told me in advance. At least I was off the hook.

 

[Podney]

Always leave the van in gear. The only downside would be if somebody runs in the back of you it might damage the gearbox. The chance of handbrake failure is many times greater than that,so its a no brainer.
Maybe you could do some arm/shoulder muscle excercises to gain strength? Get in a position similar to that which you adopt in the van,and lift some weight!

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[TheBig1]

my parent's house, from which I learnt to drive, is on a very steep hill. I have seen a great many accidents where a parked vehicle on that hill has rolled off down the hill hitting parked cars, walls and a van driving through the cross roads at the bottom of the hill. Because of that I learnt the habit quickly to always apply the handbrake tightly and leave the vehicle in reverse, especially on hills. My wife hates me doing it as she regularly forgets to check the gears before trying to start the engine