<VV> Ultra Van question / hydraulic brake lock

[Chris & Bill Strickland]

All my experiences, and I have a few, with hydraulic brake locks have 
been with Mico branded products -- http://www.mico.com/ 
<http://www.tsmmfg.com/mico_hydraulic_brake_lock.htm>  -- on commercial 
service and utility type vehicles, like tow trucks.

For a remote installation, like on an ultra, an electric unit would 
probably be the correct choice, BUT, the number one warning for using 
these devices is that they are for providing supplemental hydraulic 
braking application, in addition to a mechanical parking brake, i.e., 
they will hold the vehicle on a hill while you get out and put your 
chocks under the wheels, if that is what you have for a parking brake.

     "MICO Brake Locks are for supplemental parking and are to be used 
in conjunction with a vehicle's mechanical parking brake. They perform 
as operational parking brakes only and are not intended for prolonged 
parking. There are several types of brake locks available, including 
electrohydraulic <http://mico.com/products/displaysubinfo.php?id=20>, 
dualock <http://mico.com/products/displaysubinfo.php?id=22>, lever 
<http://mico.com/products/displaysubinfo.php?id=43>, twist 
<http://mico.com/products/displaysubinfo.php?id=50>, and cable 
<http://mico.com/products/displaysubinfo.php?id=21> actuated."

The reason for this is that they will eventually bleed off, more so with 
age and use, and one does not want to look out the window and find that 
our dear friend gravity is moving your ultra to the lowest spot in the 
neighborhood without your permission.

One may want to note that there are differences, in the Mico line of 
products, between their 'electrically activated' devices and their 
'electrohydraulic' systems.

and as a PS:, most state laws require a mechanical parking brake.

Godspeed!

Bill Strickland
<http://www.tsmmfg.com/mico_hydraulic_brake_lock.htm>