Twin Axle Levelling
Comments
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I haven’t got a twin axle but I’ve seen a few good reports about the lock’n’level device for twin axles. I’ve got one for my single axle and it works a treat.
Google lock n level and take a look at the video on their website.
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Can you not use them on any side?
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They could be used on either side, but the fitting for the Alko wheel locks are only on the near side, so one would need some other method of raising the nearside wheels to fit locks.
Ah! Of course! The £20 trolley jack is back at Lidl this very week.
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They could be used on either side, but the fitting for the Alko wheel locks are only on the near side, so one would need some other method of raising the nearside wheels to fit locks.
Ah! Of course! The £20 trolley jack is back at Lidl this very week.
Not much good on a grass pitch though
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Still would not trust a 'lock and level'
I appreciate some swear by them, but I could not sleep with the risk of chassis damage from a deflation event.
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I'm curious as to how the lock & level would be used if it was the offside of the caravan that was low .... presumably you'd have to use ramps or blocks under the offside & then use the lock & level as per the video
MM - that's one way - but they also sell the 'combo' kit which is both a single and a double air bag. It needs a bit of planning to level the offside - but basically you line up the first wheel lock and at the same time position the single air bag alongside
that wheel whilst at the same time positioning the double air bag alongside the offside wheels. Move the van forward two 'bag lengths' and push both the single and double air bags under the wheel track. Move the van back so that the offside wheels are on
the double and the rearmost nearside wheel is on the single air bag. Fit first wheel lock, inflate bag to lift second nearside wheel and fit that lock - then deflate single air bag completely. Round to the other side and inflate the double air bags to achieve
level. Close transfer valve so as to ensure that in the event of one of the bags deflating, it does not lower the van onto the steadies. It's more complicated to describe than to actually do in practice!0 -
No experience as I have not yet used them but I have purchased the Lock and Level Combo kit.
One piece of advice I was given by the manufacturer is to put something under the devices if on stony ground/gravel, this is just to give added protection to the device and avoid possible punctures.
The guy I spoke to said he used a bit of artificial lawn as this was nice and thick and gave plenty of protection.
Robin
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Robin - good advice. I use a piece of industrial grade rubber matting.
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We just run ours up the yellow ramps to level . We put them together so that you go up one and over the top then sit on them both.
We used to use scaffold planks and squares of thick ply for the Winnebago wheels but we dont want that weight in the van - rubber matting that is thick enough not to bend too much is even heavier.
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studied this in depth at the caravan national, agree the combo is an answer but a very expensive one, and the pump is an extra. cheaper option boards and consider buying the nemesis lock, caravan club insurance would not cover me for these insisting on fitting
both alko units, changed ins co with no problems just fitting one alko lock plus hitch lock and a standard wheel clamp, and still cheaper than caravan club insurance on a brand new eldiss super cyclone twin axle. hope this helps.0 -
I wonder if a Milenco leveller can be used (one wheel at a time) to fit Alco locks on a twin axle.
Anyone have experience of using them in this way?
Thanks
Paul
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I have never had to level more than 75mm on either axle as I use mainly hard standings and sometimes decent grass pitches if no hard standing available. So, for my needs I use two yellow plastic ramps, one of them has been sawn across - approximately the distance between the wheels. On the low side of the van, I put the whole ramp in front of the front wheel and the part ramp in front of the trailing wheel. I then use the motor mover to drive it up the ramps. If I need more height, I place the remaining part ramp between the wheels (since a clearance has now been created) and continue driving up the ramps.
Cheap, quick and works for me. Appreciate some people may need more levelling so would not work for them.
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Confused, I have a twin axle and everyone says you need 2 ramps or a long peace of decking and odd bits of wood? To support the second wheel so it’s not floating or unsupported.
So my question is, automatic levelling systems lift both wheels off the ground to level your van, be it single or twin and are not supported at all, so what’s all the fuss about supporting the other wheel??
Thank you
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It's about supporting the axles rather than the wheels and a self levelling system will support the axles.
A single wheel left free on one side while on the ground at the other will allow that axle to be under uneven stress with the possible result of damage to the axle.
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I think the concern is that if one wheel is floating in free space, the wheel up the ramp is taking the whole weight on that side of the caravan, in my case that would be ~900kg instead of just ~450kg.
If that would overload/cause a problem in a static situation is a question for the suspension unit manufacturers.
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The only true axles on a caravan are the stub axles mounted on the suspension units.
The suspension units are mounted into the ends of cross beams which take the load from the suspension arms, these cross beams are attached to the chassis rails on both sides and effectively become part of the chassis.
Self levelling hydraulic rams are mounted to these cross beams.
Jacking plates usually bolt to the chassis rail close to the cross beam
I can't see how the axles would care whether the weight was taken by the wheel the self levelling system or a jack
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