How to level a twin axel caravan
We are buying a new caravan in the spring which is very exciting 😄
However it’s our first time with a twin axel and I am very fussy about the caravan being level !
Can anyone share their experience of the various levelling products that are on the market ( eg blocks joined together with a bridge piece, aluminium wind up levellers , separate pieces of plastic that go under the wheels etc)
Its very confusing!! Thanks in advance
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We have had a twin axle for over 5 years. We use a couple of planks of timber decking about four feet long, chamfered at the front edge, and interlocking so one doesn’t slide over the other. One plank is usually enough. They give sufficient adjustability for every site we’ve pitched on and have always been fine for us. For storage they slide under the transverse bed through the outside hatch.
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Offcuts of 6" x 2" (metric sizes available) timber from a building site skip. One piece long enough to support both wheels, plus a bit on one end to be cut at an angle to provide a ramp. Then another bit longer than that to go underneath if you want 4" of lift.
Go mad? Get a third one for 6". You can go higher, but you then need to be able to peg them together which is complex for a newcommer.
To make them easy to carry, the blocks can be cut in about half. Mine were cut so they all fit into a plastic crate, along with some bits of plyboard to give fine tuning and the four square pieces to go under the corner steadies to reduce the sinking in wet ground.
Should you get a puncture, use the two pieces with the end ramps to raise the caravan on the good wheel, and you probably won't need a jack. The joiner who is throwing the bits in the skip will have a power saw to cut the angle on the end. You will have avoided the wood going to waste, and spent only the cost of the plastic crate, and whatever bung you give to the joiner.
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If you have deep enough pockets and can stand the extra weight then the E&P system is brilliant.
https://www.ep-hydraulicsnews.co.uk/compactcaravansystem
Easy to fit wheel locks, no jacks or extra equipment to carry and as a bonus, because it is standing on hydraulic jacks the caravan is very stable.
In connection with this topic I would love to know how you fit wheel locks on a TA when the caravan needs levelling by raising the offside
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I would love to know how you fit wheel locks on a TA when the caravan needs levelling by raising the offside
Same as when not leveling across axle.
Position blocks so that non-mover wheel is at end of blocks, and gap between spokes on other side is approximately in line with reciever. Adjust and fit non-mover wheel lock. Move van forward/back with mover to align mover wheel. Fit lock.
A small piece of rigid plastic sheet under the non-mover wheel helps it slide. A redundant worktop chopping sheet is ideal and gives it a second life before land-fill. If ones blocks are a bit short, use one or two of the corner steady blocks to make it longer until the van is moved to final position and then retrieve the corner blocks for their intended use.
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I have just notice an error in my last reply,
I meant to say
"I would love to know how you fit wheel locks on a TA using lock & level, when the caravan needs levelling by raising the offside.
Also, not quite on topic but perhaps useful for someone buying a Ta caravan, I find a 4 wheel drive mover essential because I need to climb kerbs & slopes when I park the caravan at home, without 4 wheel drive the driven wheels will spin as weight is taken on the other axle.
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I kept my post about cutting blocks simple. However, when you ask the joiner to cut the ramp bit off the end of two of your blocks, keep what he cuts off for climbing over kerbs/steps as it will be a short ramped block.
And for general information, if it all goes wrong manoevering a twin axle with two driven wheels, just remove the non-driven wheels while you sort it out.
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You will need the lock n level combo pack.
Don't know why but in 8 years i have only had to raise the off side once to level my caravan across the axle. For some reason its the nearside that usually needs lifting.
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Likewise Whittaker - how strange. I think only twice in the last four years have I had to raise the offside. It needs a bit of thinking about and organisation to use the combo pack, but it's still easy. And it's nothing to do with Club sites either, because we use CLs and CS's quite a lot.
Another point for the OP to consider is how you fit twin wheel locks on a TA. This is made so easy with L 'n L. I know it's expensive (but not when compared to the cost of the van), but worth every penny in my opinion. Probably the best bit of kit I have bought.
Would like the E&P system though - but that raises other issues re payload - as well as the cost!
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We just use various off cuts of decking. In the 3 years we've had the caravan I've only needed 2 pieces under each wheel once & that was at a CL.
As for wheel locks .... if I can get one in a wheel when I've parked up I fit it, if I can't ..... I don't
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Stephen -here's how its done:
You need the 'combo' pack which comprises of the normal twin air bag plus a single air bag.
Position the van (using the MM makes it easy) so that the rear nearside wheel is correctly aligned for the Alko lock.
Position the double air bag alongside the offside wheels and the single air bag alongside the rear nearside wheel.
Move the van forward until the double air bag is just clear of the wheels.
Push both air bags so that they are in line with the wheels and then move the van back so that both offside wheels AND the rear nearside wheel is on top of their respective bags.
Fit the rear wheel lock and inflate the bag under it,
When the front nearside wheel will spin - fit the second lock.
Deflate the single air bag completely.
Go to offside of van and inflate the double air bag until van is level.
Close the transfer valve.
Job done - probably takes longer to explain than to do it!
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yes this has been said a number of times by different posters.
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We have had a twin axle for over 10 years now, we use various decking offcuts, and even just have a 2 wheel mover. It is however a 2 wheel mover specially designed for a twin axle.
If we need more, to fit the second AlKo we use a 2 tonne trolley jack to lift the second wheel. Strangely, we rarely need to do it.
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We have the EP self levelling and it is excellent if a little expensive. Easy to jack up one side to apply the locks.
However there are a few twin axles that now come with the system fitted. Buccaneer forone. Have a look around if you have not already ordered yournew van.
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