I am reading through this discussion as I am desperate to learn as much as possible and i noticed the comment about steadies.
Could you advise me about my second hand Transcamper.I was shown to lower the steadies when I am pitching camp. Is this correct?
Also when stored and parked, Do I lower the steadies or keep them up? I hadn't thought about it until I saw caravans parked in drives and their steadies were down on the ground. Then I read this thread and I realised I am in need of advice!
I`ve never put the steadies down on my Conway while it was just parked in the drive....unless I was opening it to pack it. Then I put them down because I`m climbing in and out of the trailer and don`t want it to tip. I assume caravans need them down because their owners go inside them to pack/unpack. I`m told that caravanners need to put the steadies down even if they want to make a cup of tea in a laybye. I should just add that my current TT has a jockey wheel, so together with the two main wheels, the unit is stable without the steadies if it`s just parked. My old TT did not have a jockey wheel, and we did put the steadies down when it was parked up, plus a block under the drawbar. I don`t think however it`s going to hurt a TT to be stored with the steadies down, as long as they`re not weight bearing.
You definately need to put the steadies down when you`re pitching the TT, of course, and then they basically need to make good contact with the ground while not bearing the weight. It`s best to put a flat plate of wood under each steady, btw, so they don`t sink into soft ground.
Also, it`s worth saying again...if your TT doesn`t have a parking brake, chock the wheels to immobilise it when being used. And even if it does have a brake, chock the wheels if it`s on any sort of slope.
Just returned back from a trip to Ireland where my daughter lives so just picked up your message. I do have a jockey wheel and usually park up without the steadies on my drive. thanks also for advice re wheel chocks I don't have any so I'll sort that before my summer trip away.
I didn't camp while in Ireland, I don't think I would have the nerve! My daughters house is exposed to the Atlantic weather, beautiful views but the wind and rain can be frightening. I did however pitch a two man tent for my grandchildren to play in and despite violent weather it stood for 3 days!! I bought the suggested pegs and pitched as you had advised on a previous thread and it worked! The whole family was amazed. I took the tent down as I felt sorry for it and I didn't want it to get damaged! You really can become emotionally attached to a tent, don't you think or am I just soft?
Well - I will now hold my hands up and admit that the vertical poles are adjustable.
However the adjusters were bent so there was no way of moving anything - after 20mins of bashing with a tent peg and mallet the poles lifted no problem.
Once up I found the big pliers I thought were at home and would have done the job in 5 mins !
No flapping and no leaking - it had a good leak test over the last few days.
Well I`m glad to hear you solved your problem, Trevor, without having to resort to slightly alarming sounding modifications. And that everything is now fine and weatherproof.
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Topic: Raising a TT
