Handbrake extension

brian c

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Hi all. Any one have difficulty with releasing there handbrake. I use this for the last 10/11years. Find it really useful Brian
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I like mine , but some people can't get on with them .takes time to feel confident .
 
One of those would have been useful in our Laika. I had to have put my hand on a diet to get down between seat and gas locker back to use the handbrake. Stupid design but Italians are skinny so probably OK for them.
 
I had one but I kept on catching it so I gave it away on here although I've no idea if it arrived
 
I have never had any problem using the standard handbrake on any vehicle so how is this handbrake extention an improvement? I'm just curious. :unsure:
 
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Phantom said:
I have never had any problem using the standard handbrake on any vehicle so how is this handbrake extention an improvement? I'm just curious. :unsure:
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Same here, had a Renault Master, Fiat Ducato x 2 and no issues. I wonder of I have long arms lol.
 
Have used one of these for 8(?) years on our x250, works very well, bit of a faf to fit as they are designed for x244.
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I'm only 5ft 2ins and don't have very long arms but I can reach mine OK, thanks.
 
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I would note that I have driven Transits and Masters for decades and never had a problem, was only on driving x250 had a bit of a problem, then I had a bad back and operating the handbrake was neigh on impossible, the Kobran solved that.
 
I bought one used it for a year then took it off kept getting in the way of the swivelling seat. It nearly caused a disaster on my drive when the wife decided to turn the seat when cleaning the van knocking the handbrake off van rolled back and the tow bar got the fence very lucky. And I think they cause you to pull handbrake on harder stretching the cable.
 
Willy, you don't say which handbrake extension you had I'm guessing not the Kobran, but you raise an important point.
On a x250/290 without a swivel the handbrake is not too bad, but the swivel changes things, at least for me. After driving commercial x250's the first one I drove that was converted was a WildAx and I was appalled at the handbrake operation, I traced this down to two reasons. First the swivel raised the seat, and second they bent the handbrake attachment to clear swivel!
Our Globecar has a much better arrangement, the swivel doesn't raise the seat as far, and it doesn't need the WildAx bodge, but I still prefer the Kobran attachment.
As for fouling the seat when swivelling, depending on seat position it can nudge the seat back rack knob, this won't release the handbrake, but can sometimes adjust the seat back.
 
brian c said:
Hi all. Any one have difficulty with releasing there handbrake. I use this for the last 10/11years. Find it really useful BrianView attachment 97709
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I ordered one of these on the 13th May after a discussion with Brian about my Handbrake Habits. Arrived today (20th) and just fitted it.
Haven't driven the van since fitting it but I think it may fix the problem :)

In my case, the swivel seat does not foul the handbrake at all so that is not an issue.
However the Ducato is the only vehicle I recall driving that has the handbrake between the seat and the door, rather than between the front seats. It is also the only 'modern' vehicle I have had that has no warning on the dash to tell you the handbrake is on.
Out of habit I reach down and my hand does not bump into the handbrake lever immediately I know it is off - but as the Ducato lever is on the 'wrong' side, that method doesn't work and I think the brake is off :(
No doubt eventually I will engage brain and disengage brake, but this extension is a much more obvious and visual thing (even the regular handbrake sits very low when on so easy to not notice is still on) and I reckon will be just the ticket to make sure I drop it (y)

Cheers Brian :D
 
Phantom said:
Are these for people with short arms?
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When there's swivels fitted to the seats peoples arms seem to get shorter what ever you do make sure you'll still be able to swivel the seat I've seen a couple where slack adjustment allows the handbrake to become a obstruction
 
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