Which self levelling system?

Majorjo
Majorjo Forum Participant Posts: 7
edited December 2021 in Motorhomes #1

We have a new Ford Chausson 640 and are looking to get an automatic self levelling system installed. I know that Club sites are level, but we use CLs more.

I'm looking at MA-EV, EPC which are both hydraulic and TESA which is elecromechanical.

Please does anyone have experience of any of these systems?

Many thanks

Joan

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Comments

  • Unknown
    edited December 2021 #2
    This content has been removed.
  • richardandros
    richardandros Club Member Posts: 2,799
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    edited January 2022 #3

    "I know that Club sites are level, but we use CLs more."

    Hmmm - I thought that as well - until we arrived at Sandringham before Christmas and used our E&P system for the first time there. Got all these flashing lights on the handset and didn't know what was wrong until I twigged that perhaps the levelling was beyond the limits of the system.  Had to chock the nearside ram and ended up with the nearside wheels two inches clear of the ground to get it level. The chap on the pitch opposite us, had exactly the same problem!

    If you'd asked me beforehand, I would have said that the pitch looked reasonably level.

    My Compact caravan system was just over £2k which I justified because of mobility problems - but as BB says, the motorhome system is a different ball game.

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Club Member Posts: 10,224
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    edited January 2022 #4

    I'd wondered about a system but, as BB says, it gobbles up your payload. I decided the convenience wasn't worth £5K and 50-60Kg.

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,499
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    edited January 2022 #5

    I had a >Gliderite< system fitted to my motorhome 7 years ago. It cost £3k and has performed faultlessly and has been worth every penny.  While pitches might be level motorhomes usually are not. they slope forward and while you can compensate by using a slope to level, it is not always possible and of course you might favour parking for the best view rather than for the best level. I no longer have to worry about the slope of a pitch and have used ones that you would struggle to level up just using ramps. I need no guidance to drive up blocks and love the convenience it has given me.

    peedee

     

     
  • Graydjames
    Graydjames Forum Participant Posts: 450
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    edited January 2022 #6

    I completely agree with CY. I suppose if money was absolutely no object I might go for it (payload is not really an issue for me I think). I looked into it quite thoroughly a few years ago and I was looking at the best part of £5k then. I decided that it just wasn't worth it and I have never had any problem with not being level by just using blocks - and often I don't need them with this van. It hardly takes more than a few minutes work to use my blocks.

    Mind you, I am not sure why the OP draws the conclusion that club sites are level. They are often not remotely level. I very rarely use CLs, but I wonder why CLs should be any more prone to unlevel pitches than anywhere else. If that's is generally true then it is another good reason to avoid them for me.        

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Trusted Posts: 23,377
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    edited January 2022 #7

    Thinking about it, pitches will never be completely level as, if they were, there would be no run off for water. Generally, they slope slightly towards the roadway.

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,499
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    edited January 2022 #8

    A couple of other advantages of leveling systems is it makes tyre inspection and wheel changing easier and is also an anti theft device once lowered to take the weight off the wheels. Less stress on the tyres as well.

    peedee

     
  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Club Member Posts: 10,224
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    edited January 2022 #9

    Lots of advantages but, as I have said, at a price and weight penalty probably involving a C1 licence for most.

  • peedee
    peedee Club Member Posts: 9,499
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    edited January 2022 #10

    Indeed CY think my Gliderite sytem weighed in at 80Kgms but I have plenty of payload available on the IVECO chassis.

    peedee

     
  • Unknown
    edited January 2022 #11
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  • Unknown
    edited January 2022 #12
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  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited January 2022 #13

    Caravan owners seem to be able to manage far lower payloads than you quote for a motor caravansmilesurprised

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited January 2022 #14
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  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited January 2022 #15
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  • GEandGJE
    GEandGJE Club Member Posts: 514
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    edited January 2022 #16

    I agree, we have a 7.5m MH and have 2 large dogs and before having the E&P system fitted any movement by us or the dogs caused movement in the MH, now with the system fitted it is rock solid.I also agree that leveling systems are not for everybody, be that because of cost or weight etc. but once you have had one fitted I didn't think that you would want to be without it.

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited January 2022 #17

    It seems there are at least two posters on here who need to get some real experience  both seem to drive motor caravanscool

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited January 2022 #18
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  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited January 2022 #19

    We have done what you are now doing when you were probably still having your school holidays away

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited January 2022 #20

    Ours was a robin of about the same periodwink

  • Unknown
    edited January 2022 #21
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  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Club Member Posts: 10,224
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    edited January 2022 #22

    The last caravan I owned had a payload of 230Kg. By the time a motor mover, leisure battery, gas bottle were added, quite apart from a spare wheel, sundry cables, wastemaster, awning, wheel clamp, hitchlock, there was little leeway for clothes, food and a couple of chairs. After all that there was no way you could carry 100L of water to make you self-sufficient. Not many caravans with a sensible payload these days either. I wonder what percentage of caravans are overweight compared to motorhomes. Answers on a postcard...

  • ADP1963
    ADP1963 Club Member Posts: 1,280
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    edited January 2022 #23

    Cyber....why would you want to carry 100 litres of instability?. My caravan a Lunar Delta has facilities i.e. fresh water holding tank situated at the back of the caravan in the wardrobe to carry large quantities of water. However the instability it would cause would be dangerous. Remember you are talking about a Caravan not a Campervan or Motorhome. The need to carry a lake around with me has never arisen, drinking bottles in the car and sufficient in the flushing tank in the toilet and we have toured Scotland in comfort. 

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited January 2022 #24

     ... .why would you want to carry 100 litres of instability?

    Depends if the tank is full or not 😉 remember list & loll 🙄

  • ADP1963
    ADP1963 Club Member Posts: 1,280
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    edited January 2022 #25

    Agreed Andy................but at the rear of a caravan ? anything heavy as you know is put over the axle.

  • Unknown
    edited January 2022 #26
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  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited January 2022 #27

    more wrong infoundecided. Del boy  did not have a Robin it was a  Regalwinkcool

  • GEandGJE
    GEandGJE Club Member Posts: 514
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    edited January 2022 #28

    Could you explain what "real caravaning" is please.

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited January 2022 #29

    Have you had a Caravan?

  • RogerP1956
    RogerP1956 Club Member Posts: 64
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    edited January 2022 #30

    I thought it was a Supervan IIIsmile

    This thread is going really well, 4 pages in and hardly any reference to the question asked by the OP.

  • brue
    brue Forum Participant Posts: 21,176
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    edited January 2022 #31

    It's disappointing to see so many threads being diverted by irrelevant comments (I made one myself recently, just to correct some info, I'm saying that just in case I get a challenge!!...wink)

    However I think self levelling systems are good and it's interesting to hear about them.