Solo levelling tips
hello
I'm a novice and will be travelling as a solo adult with a toddler.
is there any kit that would help me level the caravan alone please.
many thanks for your help
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I don't think being solo will be a handicap at all. Whatever method you choose can be accomplished quite easily single handed.
A motor mover will be your biggest aid for adjusting the van's position in the event of you needing a ramp.
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I am almost a solo at setting up on sites (OH unable to assist now) if you are ok with reversing onto a pitch ? Before Unhitching,!! a small spirit level to place on a flat surface in the van will let you see if you need to level, a levelling ramp to place under the low side? then get back into car and gently move forward or back depending on where you have placed ramp,.and then check spirit level,it may take a couple of attempts i still need to
,when level put a chock under raised side wheel put handbrake on the van and and then unhitch ,front to back can then be done via jockey wheel Or get a motor mover if still a bit nervous
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I am regularly solo and for the last 5 - 6 years i have used a Lock 'n' Level device to level side to side. Its very easy to use and if you have the Alko wheel lock it's almost invaluable.
Theres a couple of threads discussing this at the moment.
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Although I am just guessing at your circumstances - if you want to ultimate aid to levelling, it has to be the E&P hydraulic levelling system, or similar. Just switch on - press a button and the van will automatically level itself. The downside is the cost - c. £3k.
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Hi, My procedure, before having a mover was to reverse as far back as possible then, if not level, pull up a ramp on the appropriate side. This ensures the brakes are not in the 'overrun mode which can lead to the van rolling a bit before they bite
Then chock both sides, apply the handbrake and unhitch-if the van does roll a little its away from you/the car.
Good luck.
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thanks everyone, think I just need to be prepared for it to take a couple of goes.
although i like the sound of the lock n load
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Have a look on the second-hand websites - you sometimes see Lock 'n Level for sale at half the price of a new one. I sold mine very quickly by that means after I had had E&P fitted and no longer needed it.
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Hi, if it helps, when I toured solo I had a spirit level attached to some equal sized blocks, this was placed in front window of caravan, in a position that could be viewed from my driving seat, this took a lot of the guess work out.
I have now gone a step further, when I changed my van, I paid the extra, and have the EP self levelling system fitted. To say it makes life easier is an understatement, well worth the extra cost.....
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If you have a mobile phone there is an app you can download from AppStore for free called Level Remote. When running, it shows a graphic of a caravan.
Place it on a surface which will be level when the caravan is level, we use the kitchen worktop. If it’s not level, with the door open and the volume turned up you get a ‘ping’ sound and by looking at the image you can see which end or side is up/down if you don’t already know. Adjust the van until the ping sound changes and it will be level.
Good luck and best wishes.
Peter C,
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My original partner was quite severally disabled and unable to give me much help in setting up once on site, so back then it was almost all down to me to manage on my own. So I designed a simple gadget which enabled me to easily tell from outside the van, what needed to be done to get the van perfectly level. It takes all the toing and throughing out of getting it level. The display of the unit hangs in the front window.
I briefly described how to build one in this forum some weeks ago - it needs some level of skill to build, but it is definitely DIY-able. Should anyone want more details I will be happy to oblige.
My original partner passed away some years ago and I now have another fitter partner, whilst my own health has declined. So she now does much of the heavy work of setting up and packing - the gadget though is still used, making the levelling a quick one stage easy, accurate process.
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Levelling is a job best done solo anyway. A supply of levelling blocks will be required however one does it - and something like a spirit level. Pick one with a shallow curve to the glass. That way the bubble will be easier to read as it will have more travel for a slight inclination.
Fore and aft levelling is easily arranged with the jockey wheel but it can be difficult to estimate the number of blocks for the side to side levelling. For this you can best use a plumb line set to hang just inside the doorway. You will also need to mark the floor – or something cut to be able to be consistently positioned on the floor below the plumb bob.
On a level piece of ground set up the plumb line and mark where the bob hangs. Then run one side of the caravan up onto your blocks. Mark where the bob then hangs. Then two blocks, etc though I’ve only gone as far as three. Copy the marks to the opposite direction.
In use, park the caravan where you want it to be and use the plumb line to read off the number of blocks required. I use lengths of joist timbers recovered from a skip, and have some pieces of ply-board which are about one quarter of the thickness of the main blocks. So I quickly get a reading of what I need to put under the wheels on that exact spot.
When you are getting your blocks, do ask to take the wood, and also ask the joiner to cut the end off a couple of blocks at a bevel so that there is a ramp at one end to run the wheel up. The off-cuts are even handy for overcoming kerbs.
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"On a level piece of ground set up the plumb line and mark where the bob hangs. Then run one side of the caravan up onto your blocks. Mark where the bob then hangs. Then two blocks, etc though I’ve only gone as far as three. Copy the marks to the opposite direction."
A similar principle to my gadget, except the plumbob is much smaller, tucked away fixed in a cupboard and is made to light LED's on a small display which you can hang in a window - where you need it, in a front window. It obviates the need to go round to visually inspect the bob weight, you can see what needs to be done at a glance and in the dark.
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