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Advised at the last “service” that the handbrake gas strut had lost its pressure and needed replacement. This is the same guy who failed to notice that the hitch damper was leaking which needed replacement on tour in the Outer Hebrides! Given the handbrake looks an easy job I bought a new AL-KO assembly. Spent about six hours last night struggling to get the thing onto the stepped pivot bolt and in place. Really hard as you need to compress the gas strut and then move the bolt into position. There isn’t enough space to put the bolt fully in place first, and once compressed the force pushes the ratchet and arm pieces out of position so the stepped bolt won’t thread through. It’s a real puzzle. Eventually my solution was to Slide the bolt out enough to just fit into the fixing on the hitch but with enough of the step still just on the hole so the pieces didn’t move out of alignment. Even then it was a problem to align and fit the correct slot in the handbrake onto the tab on the chassis. i couldn’t find any information on how to do this job so hopefully the above will help. If anyone has a better approach to the handbrake refit please share.

We have put our caravan on a pitch from July - end September. It is a twin axle and one side is on Lock n Level air bags, the other has 2 chocks per wheel. The question I have regards whether to leave the handbrake on or off? I have heard that they can stick and when coming to move it at end of season could be a problem. What do other caravaners who use seasonal pitches do and what if any problems have they had. thanks John

My 2015 Lunar Clubman worked OK mechanically for the first year. I took it for it 1st service last March, since when it has suffered a sticking handbrake. The only way this can be overcome is to hitch up and pull it forward about 10 metres. The road brakes and ATC seem to be operating fine. The handbrake lever releases as normal and will release at the wheels if used briefly. The problem occurs when it is left on overnight or longer. I never leave the handbrake on in storage or if on reasonably level ground, but do when on sloping ground. I have asked this before and someone suggested it was because the hubs were hot when it was applied. The hubs dont get abnormally hot, and all was fine last year. My guess is weak release springs. Take it back I hear people say. Well I have, twice. Not a quick exercise due to distance and the service station being booked up. Looks like the next opportunity will be at the 2nd service. On site its hard work and embarrassing. I have left ruts in the grass and then there is the need to manually hitch up, not something I would have thought twice about a long time ago. Don't seem to get sympathy or understanding from the service place, Golden Castle. In fact I dont think they believe me. So last outing I took a video. To try to get to the bottom of this I called Alko. Their Web site says contact local service place, but that's Golden Castle. So in the hope that I might get some direction and technical advice, or that they may contact their service agent on my behalf. I called Their 'support'. for 'Alko support' read 'Alko we will give you the name of your local service depot'. No technical support at all, just got fobbed off albeit polity. I was surprised that a company like this has such an attitude to its customers, even indirectly. They did advise me of my rights and that if I did not get satisfaction I could proceed on a legal basis. Well thanks, that is what I am trying to avoid and surely its in their interest also. Come next service I am going to insist that they test it over a few days even if they dont have the room. John