Corner steadies - heavy duty or not?

IanTG
IanTG Forum Participant Posts: 419
100 Comments
edited September 2016 in Caravans #1

Current van has heavy duty stays, but proposed new one has standard ones. As for 90% of the time, there are only two adults in the van, just seeking views on whether heavy-duty ones really make any difference?

comments welcome.

Comments

  • ChemicalJasper
    ChemicalJasper Forum Participant Posts: 437
    edited September 2016 #2

    Out of curiosity - If the van is supplied with standard stays that are desiged for the van and sold fitted to the van fit for purpose - why would you want to use up valuable available load weight by fitting heavy duty steadies that steady the van the same
    as the installed ones?

    Personally I cannot see a reason to - perhaps as an existing user you do?

    (I believe my van has heavy duty rear steadies, Bailey 646, but they are standard fit so I assume the manufacturer deemed them required).

  • IanTG
    IanTG Forum Participant Posts: 419
    100 Comments
    edited September 2016 #3

    That's a fair point, ChemicalJasper. Our existing van has heavy duty ones, but as we didn't buy it from new, it caused us to wonder about the pros and cons of heavy duty ones v. Standard fit.

    also, we are considering about requesting the new van (if we order it) to have a weight plate upgrade, so that's another factor (albeit probably not signcan't at around 30kg extra payload I guess).

  • Kennine
    Kennine Forum Participant Posts: 3,472
    1000 Comments
    edited September 2016 #4

    The manufacturers will specify the steadies which are appropriate to their van.

    Unless anybody wants to level the van by jacking it up with the steadies ( an erroneous practice ) the default steadies are perfect.

    K

  • obbernockle
    obbernockle Forum Participant Posts: 616
    500 Comments
    edited September 2016 #5

    This was discussed on Swift talk a while back and Swift confirmed that there is no increase in stability when HD steadies are fitted. It begs the question - what are they for?

  • IainM1970
    IainM1970 Forum Participant Posts: 170
    edited September 2016 #6

    Having had heavy duty steadies on the two vans preceeding the current one I did have them retro fitted to this one as they were not standard on it.  I had absolutely no reason for doing so only that I prefer the chunky look of them ... cost a fair bit to
    have done and my dealer was quick to point out that I would not get any extra back come trade in time.  Happily the new 'van we have on order does have them as standard.  I have seen no practical benefit.

  • IanTG
    IanTG Forum Participant Posts: 419
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    edited September 2016 #7

    Thanks all, the verdict seems to be "why have them fitted as extras?" They seem to serve little purpose and add weight.

  • Boff
    Boff Forum Participant Posts: 1,742
    1000 Comments
    edited September 2016 #8

    This was discussed on Swift talk a while back and Swift confirmed that there is no increase in stability when HD steadies are fitted. It begs the question - what are they for?

    They are for marketing.  As a point of differentiate between lower and upper ranges to justify the extra cost. 

  • chrisn7
    chrisn7 Forum Participant Posts: 72
    edited September 2016 #9

     

    also, we are considering about requesting the new van (if we order it) to have a weight plate upgrade, so that's another factor (albeit probably not signcan't at around 30kg extra payload I guess).

    Its not always possible to re-plate a van. Some vans like Bessacarr are delivered already plated to the max..

  • ChristianaWilliams
    ChristianaWilliams Forum Participant Posts: 2
    edited May 2020 #10

    We have a Stirling Eccles Quartz which is usually stable on the steadies, its only when on a sloping pitch and the rear is high up I find the steadies move from side to side and can't help thinking that the HD ones would be of benefit, can the existing ones be unbolted and new HD ones fitted?

    Cheers

     

  • dreamer1
    dreamer1 Forum Participant Posts: 141
    100 Comments
    edited May 2020 #11

    We have a Coachman Laser 675  2019 and Heavey duty on all corners probably due to the fact that it is 1800 KG and we have had it upgraded to 1900 KG an intend to use every KG when on our summer holiday ( I can dream ) to cornwall.so there is a lot to keep steady.

  • lornalou1
    lornalou1 Forum Participant Posts: 2,169
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    edited May 2020 #12

    Did you know this post is 4 years old. 

    Put a few wooden blocks underneath the rear legs and will be steadier than fully wound down. 

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
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    edited May 2020 #13

    If your steadies are fully extended, try placing some wood blocks under them to reduce the amount they are wound down.

  • lornalou1
    lornalou1 Forum Participant Posts: 2,169
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    edited May 2020 #14

    read the post above. 

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
    1000 Comments
    edited May 2020 #15

    Oops.

  • Sumitra
    Sumitra Forum Participant Posts: 154
    edited May 2020 #16

    Our new van, when we get it, has heavy duty steadies as standard.It is a coachman vip on a fifteen hundred chassis.

  • jennyc
    jennyc Forum Participant Posts: 957
    500 Comments
    edited June 2020 #17

    In general, corner steadies are stronger than the wooden floor to which they are attached. In the very old days, steadies tended to be fitted parallel to each other, allowing some ‘wringing’ when in use. The switch to setting front and rear at 90deg to each other has helped a bit. All irrelevant I know. LL’s blocks are the cheap and easy answer.

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