Wheel clamp reminder

[Mona Owner]

Hi this might have already been suggested....

Just thought I might pass on a quick tip to anyone else who is scared of driving off with wheel clamp still attached.
I have cut an 18 inch length of grey foam pipe insulation from B&Q (other DIY outlets are available) that is slid over the handbrake lever whilst the clamp is locked on the front wheel. This means I would not/could not unintentionally release handbrake with this on and it is covering the release button.
I have also found the foam tube can be stored on the door pocket of my Moho by sliding the longitudinal slit in the foam down on to the edge of the door pocket. Sorry no pics as Moho in storage. It works for me and cost pennies to save a very expensive misshap.
Cheers Alan.

 

[Odd-no-more]

I've never driven off with a wheel clamp in place but I did once ride off with a chain on the rear wheel of a rented motorbike. It wrapped around the hub but didn't stop the bike

 

[Mona Owner]

Ooops

 

[cyberyacht]

Once tried towing a caravan with the movers still locked on. 'Twas a bit noisy.

 

[RobbyMClark]

Dragged a rear steady across a grass pitch. Neat plough line.

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[maison]

Apologies as I have posted this before.

Some years ago, in the South of France, we had had an unusually high amount of rainfall while on a grassy pitch.

Realising that I was likely to spin the wheels and “dig in” I informed the owner that I wanted to leave.

He thanked me for not destroying his pitch and brought his tractor across to tow me out. Unfortunately, he started the tow before I had a chance to release the hand brake and carved two beautiful furrows across the pitch before I could release it.

Fortunately he saw the funny side.

 

[the1andonly]

Thanks for this post ,just reminded me to put my wheel clamp on

 

[3 cabbages]

Dragged a rear steady across a grass pitch at lovely site in Kendal

 

[nicholsong]

Thanks for this post ,just reminded me to put my wheel clamp on

If you needed reminding to put it on you may forget to take it off

 

[the1andonly]

If you needed reminding to put it on you may forget to take it off

Doubt it. It stares at me when i open the front door. Its yellow. Yellow impinges on the brain, lack of yellow doesn't

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[pjay]

Years ago we had a retracting security post on the drive in front of the motorhome which you couldn't see from the drivers seat, I expect you can guess the rest.
Needless to say, after the bumper respray/repair, we always attached a warning flag to the steering wheel when parked up on the drive.

Pete

 

[Reallyretired]

When I put on my wheel clamp I also put on the steering wheel lock. I can't miss that.

 

[stuartholmes]

I don't have need of a wheel clamp but when I regularly rode a motorbike with a disc lock so pretty much the same thing except possibly more dire consequences if you try your 0-62 in under 3 seconds..

The safety mechanism there is a neon coloured coiled wire that you run from the disc lock to the throttle control on the handlebar.

So surely a cable or cord from the wheel clamp to the steering wheel would work?

Back in my tenting days when illumination in the tent was a fluorescent tube powered from the car's cigar lighter socket I always ran the wire through the steering wheel to make sure I didn't drive off pulling a tent behind. Nowadays I run the EHU lead through the steering wheel & back out to the socket. Pretty much the same thing, never failed me yet.

 

[PlacidoD]

"Nowadays I run the EHU lead through the steering wheel & back out to the socket. Pretty much the same thing, never failed me yet."

Not sure about that especially in the cold and wet climes and it would mean leaving a window part open with security implications BUT I think I might take to looping the wire over the wing mirror and thus clearly visible when you check your mirrors before driving away. The hook up is on the opposite side to the hab door (I think that is usual) and, in my case, being LHD the wire will be close to my driving position. Indeed it will obstruct access via the cab door!

 

[stuartholmes]

"Nowadays I run the EHU lead through the steering wheel & back out to the socket. Pretty much the same thing, never failed me yet."

Not sure about that especially in the cold and wet climes and it would mean leaving a window part open with security implications BUT I think I might take to looping the wire over the wing mirror and thus clearly visible when you check your mirrors before driving away. The hook up is on the opposite side to the hab door (I think that is usual) and, in my case, being LHD the wire will be close to my driving position. Indeed it will obstruct access via the cab door!

Round the mirror sounds a good option but I don't have any security issues because the wire doesn't go through the window, I just let it drop to the footstep & close the door on it. In that area on my vehicle the rubber seal is happy to absorb the wire & the door catch & lock seem totally unaffected.
Can only say 'try it' if you're tempted it can't hurt.

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[Oldrat]

I don't have need of a wheel clamp but when I regularly rode a motorbike with a disc lock so pretty much the same thing except possibly more dire consequences if you try your 0-62 in under 3 seconds..

The safety mechanism there is a neon coloured coiled wire that you run from the disc lock to the throttle control on the handlebar.

So surely a cable or cord from the wheel clamp to the steering wheel would work?

Back in my tenting days when illumination in the tent was a fluorescent tube powered from the car's cigar lighter socket I always ran the wire through the steering wheel to make sure I didn't drive off pulling a tent behind. Nowadays I run the EHU lead through the steering wheel & back out to the socket. Pretty much the same thing, never failed me yet.

After 10+ years of using a disc lock, I finally rode off with the lock on, damaging the disc etc.

It was after that that I was advised to always put the lock behind the calliper not in front. The difference being that you only travel 6” not 36” before coming to an abrupt halt with a much better chance of no damage.

 

[Lenny HB]

I can't see a bit of foam around the handbrake lever working I've driven off loads of times forgetting the take the handbrake off.

 

[stuartholmes]

After 10+ years of using a disc lock, I finally rode off with the lock on, damaging the disc etc.

It was after that that I was advised to always put the lock behind the calliper not in front. The difference being that you only travel 6” not 36” before coming to an abrupt halt with a much better chance of no damage.

Because you can get up a lot of speed in those extra 30 inches!!

But seriously, that's good advice & I don't know why it's not printed on the devices!

My nineteen sixtysomething BSA (D14/4) had lugs on the frame & fork through which a simple padlock was inserted, trick being that the bars had to be on 'full lock' to line up the holes so driving off while locked was impossible. Don't know why they stopped fitting them. Point being, why can't wheel clamps do something similarly effective?

 

[Jabstatt]

I’m clearly OCD!

I always do a walk around. Lockers, ports, wheels and tyres, roof lights, windows, rear box, lights, mirrors, camera, etc, etc!

Tony

 

[Gromett]

I’m clearly OCD!

I always do a walk around. Lockers, ports, wheels and tyres, roof lights, windows, rear box, lights, mirrors, camera, etc, etc!

Tony

Yup, Since doing my C1 training I always do a walk around as well and a peek underneath.

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