Caravan Levelling

csthomo
csthomo Forum Participant Posts: 13
edited January 2018 in Caravans #1

Any advice for us newbies would be greatly appreciated.  Thanks.

Comments

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,431 ✭✭✭
    5,000 Likes 1000 Comments Name Dropper Photogenic
    edited January 2018 #2

    well back to front should be easy, put a spirit level on the floor and wind the jockey wheel up or down as necessary, probably a two person job. Some put the spirit level on the a frame but you have to make that is the same 'level' as your floor.

    Side to side is more interesting. First it may not be necessary on most/some pitches if they are constructed well enough and the club does give an idea if blocks are needed on their sites. Get some levelling blocks (really wegdes) from a dealer (or make some if you're that way inclined). Move your spirit level for side to side levelling and see how bad it is. If it's only a bit out you probably don't need to level. If it's a lot out then the side that is downwards needs to be raised. Put a block under that wheel then move the caravan up it. Ideally the easiest way is with a motor mover (hold the wedge in place or it will turn) or or use the car to pull/reverse up the wedge.

    There are also steel levellers available if you don't fancy the above. 

    Most of the time on club sites you don't need to do side to side.

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
    1000 Comments
    edited January 2018 #3

    What Corners says, but in the other order. 😉 Level side to side before you unhitch, then you can level front to back using the jockey wheel.

  • Trini
    Trini Forum Participant Posts: 429
    edited January 2018 #4

    On hard standing pitches generally they are quite good on side/side however if still out I scrape away some of the gravel to lower one side using my hand.

    It is only the loose topping that needs to be scraped to lower that side.

    Replacing when departing ofcourse.

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,431 ✭✭✭
    5,000 Likes 1000 Comments Name Dropper Photogenic
    edited January 2018 #5

    sorry yes, will save a lot of time, - we just use the mover all the time from unhitching on the road so forgot about thatembarassed

     

    Also there are self levelling systems that does everything for you. Eats into your payload (and wallet) though

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
    1000 Comments
    edited January 2018 #6

    so, you never use your diseasal powered 4 wheeled mover to get your caravan to/from the pitch? There was a mover on my last caravan when we bought it, likewise this caravan ..... I prefer to use my car where I have the room, it's less mauling & generally quicker ..... assuming I get get SWMBO to stand where I can see her - she usually stands in the one place on the site/our drive where I can't see her. Apparently that's my fault though. innocent

  • DSB
    DSB Club Member Posts: 5,678 ✭✭✭
    1,500 Likes 1000 Comments Name Dropper Photogenic
    edited January 2018 #7

    Good advice from Cornersteady, as has been said, do the side to side first, if necessary.  You can also get inflatable levellers too, but I've no idea what they are like.  See here:  https://www.locknlevel.co.uk  These are also useful for fitting wheel locks, apparently.

    David 

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,431 ✭✭✭
    5,000 Likes 1000 Comments Name Dropper Photogenic
    edited January 2018 #8

    Lol (does your good lady read theses posts?)

    as I posted in another thread we unhitch on the' road' next to our pitch and let the mover do all the work from then. We certainly haven't reversed the van with this car and the last time was probably July 2015 when we ended up in Sainbury's car park next to Warwick racecourse (always follow the club's instructions not your sat-navembarassed

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
    1000 Comments
    edited January 2018 #9

    Very rarely  😉 and as we know, the search facility is pants 😊

  • ChemicalJasper
    ChemicalJasper Forum Participant Posts: 437
    edited January 2018 #10

    lol...I gave up years ago and use my GoPro in the back window....saves starting the holiday on an argument! laughing

  • ChemicalJasper
    ChemicalJasper Forum Participant Posts: 437
    edited January 2018 #11

    As already stated, side to side then front to back.

    Use the car where I can and the mover if there is just not room (some site roads are just to narrow for my rig).

    I have some Milenco Stacka Levels (used to have a few wooden boards), but they rarely come out on club sites....have been know to scuff a little but of gravel away to get side to side bob on! http://www.milenco.com/products/levelling/stacka-levels

    I have a little T shaped spirit level that sits in the front window on the shelf, so I can do it all myself whilst SWMBO updates facebook and waits in the car until the kettle has boiled! 

    Not a fan of the lock-and-level myself, though others swear by it! Its basically just a bit of crimped fire hose with a car valve in it - if it punctured whilst your van was jacked up on it, you could do some significant damage to the floor as the corner steadies took the weight of the whole side of the van.

  • richardandros
    richardandros Club Member Posts: 2,687 ✭✭✭
    1,000 Likes 1000 Comments Name Dropper Photogenic
    edited February 2018 #12

    I've been using 'Lock 'n Level' on our Barcelona for three years now and it's the best bit of kit I have bought.  Raises the van safely on any sort of ground - hardstanding or soft grass.  Takes about five minutes or so.  Raising the offside is a bit more involved if you also need to raise the nearside to fit twin wheel locks but even then it takes no longer than 10 minutes.

  • richardandros
    richardandros Club Member Posts: 2,687 ✭✭✭
    1,000 Likes 1000 Comments Name Dropper Photogenic
    edited February 2018 #13

    "Not a fan of the lock-and-level myself, though others swear by it! Its basically just a bit of crimped fire hose with a car valve in it - if it punctured whilst your van was jacked up on it, you could do some significant damage to the floor as the corner steadies took the weight of the whole side of the van."

     

    I know we have had this conversation before - but although I accept it is possible - providing you remember to close the transfer valve after levelling, the chances of both sides of the air bag deflating at the same time are miniscule and after what must now be five years of production, I believe I am right in saying that they have never had one fail in use during this period. For me, the advantages far outweigh any possible disadvantages.

     

     

  • armourer
    armourer Forum Participant Posts: 218
    edited February 2018 #14

    we use a measuring jug half filled with water and look at the scale

    as water is self leveling

    you cannot get any better that this

  • stephen p
    stephen p Forum Participant Posts: 194
    100 Comments
    edited February 2018 #15

    Unless the scale isn't printed squarely on the jug wink

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,311 ✭✭✭
    5,000 Likes 1000 Comments Name Dropper
    edited February 2018 #16

    If you have a smart phone you can also use a spirit level app. If you have an iphone there is one pre loaded. Personally I prefer the little two way plastic spirt level. However, when it has misteriously disappeared the phone comes in handy.