Peugeot Boxer Handbrake

[christy900]

Have had our new MH (Elddis Aspire) for a week. Both my wife and I find reaching the brake (Peugeot Boxer) difficult as it is a long reach. I see there are two extenders available (korban) which needs modifying for post 2006 boxers. Alternatively a more expensive and better product available from Rare Spares though it doesnt say specifically that it will fit a Boxer handbrake. Has anyone used or has knowledge/advice about either please? Or is there another solution? Longer arms maybe!

[Billggski]

Classic problem with just about all motorhomes, the extenders are good, but can foul the swivelling driver's seat.

I just reach down into the foetal position when on a hill, otherwise use the foot brake and a quick start.

[pepe63xnotuse]

I fitted the Rare spares extender an '07 X250 Boxer we had..

It's a well made piece of kit and if I recall correctly,it can be "unlatched" and dropped down,whilst the handbrake is on(allowing the seat to swivel).

 

The biggest annoyance about it that I found, was that because on ours it sat well above seat height, it could(and would!)snag onto your trousers when getting out of the cab!..

and this could either cause you stumble or it you clacked it hard enough, it could disengage the handbrake!

 

I bought a second "swan neck"(the stainless steel curved portion) from them, cut it down, so that it sat below the level of the seat and fitted my own plastic "pistol grip"

(I could of cause, have just cut down the original but as I wasn't sure how it was going to turn out, I thought it best to retain the original...)

[christy900]

Yes I can mange reasonably well but its more of a problem for my wife as she's less confident with the foot pedals. I think MH owners will be easy to spot as they must end up walking lopsided with one shoulder and arm lower than the other!

[Derek Uzzell]

Earlier forum discussions about motorhome handbrake extenders are listed here

 

http://tinyurl.com/pom6haa

 

Details of the Kobran and Rare Spares versions are here

 

http://www.outdoorbits.com/kobran-motorhome-handbrake-extender-p-173.html

 

http://www.prime-function.co.uk/rare-spares/frameset.htm

 

Within this Caravan Club discussion

 

http://tinyurl.com/lbsdna8

 

are postings from "Little Mo" about a self-designed heavy-duty bracket that raises the height of the lever by 50mm. This should allow normal operation of the handbrake's release-button rather than the more unusual action of the Kobran/Rare Spares products. It's the type of approach that was adopted a few years ago for a commercially-marketed product to raise the central handbrake-lever of Ford Transit-based motorhomes.

 

The design of handbrake fitted to a Peugeot Boxer (or Citroen Relay/Jumper) will be identical to that of a 'same vintage' Fiat Ducato.

 

A GOOGLE-search on "ducato handbrake extender" will retrieve more comments.

[christy900]

Thanks all for your very helpful replies.

[colin]

I have fitted the Kobran to our van. I have a tendency to getting a bad back and the original handbrake is a killer for me.

As far as operating the handbrake, it works very well. It's two shortcomings are that it is difficult to fit to a x2/50 as the 'clamp' is designed for a x2/44 handbrake and depending on seat position it can foul swivel or reclining knob, for us it doesn't realy foul swivel unless seat is slide away from normal driving position, but the reclining knob often gets hit and either makes seat dificult to swivel or 'adjust' the seat rake.