We have just bought our first small single axle caravan, and are trying to work out essential V nice to have accessories.
I think levelling ramps will be needed, but don’t know whether I can just buy the cheapest ones, or if I should go for a named brand.
Any advice appreciated, as well as other suggestions for our shopping list? At present we have a wastemaster, aqua roll and a porch awning.
As far as levelling ramps go. We bought a set of unbranded ones and both of them cracked over a period of about a year. We decided to abandon the ones you can buy and instead, my husband got some off cuts of wood from a timber yard and cut a 1.5 inch thick piece, and a 1 inch thick piece. We can either use one of these on its own or put them on top of each other if needed (we have never needed them both) to give us a range of heights. By far the most used one is the 1 inch piece.
If you regularly use hard standings, a tip to get the van level is to check which side is ‘up’ and scrape out some of the excess stones on that side just where the wheel will sit. You can also build up some stones on the other side at the same time if necessary to help with the level. We have found that this trick works most of the time and if it doesn’t, the 1 inch plank is fine. If we were given a pitch that sloped more than this, we would ask for another!
The only time we have had a significant problem levelling was a few years ago when we were on a site in Dorset on a sloping grass pitch where it had rained almost non stop for about a fortnight before we arrived. The pitch was so soft that every piece of levelling equipment we tried just sank into the soft ground under the weight of the caravan. On that site, the only people who were comfortably level were the people using a ‘lock n level’ leveller which you inflate. These looked good but a bit on the expensive side considering that we don’t often use sites that need levelling.
I made our levelling ramps out of wooden off-cuts. There are 3 pieces that fit together using dowels, and we use them 1, 2, or 3 at a time as needed. Nothing to buy and nothing to break, and they will probably outlast me.
To some extent it depends on the weight of the van what you can 'get away with' when it comes to plastic levelling ramps, personally, I opted for a quality Milenco set as my van is moderately heavy.
.... and I've only used them once under the wheel, did use them under the corner steadies that wouldn't reach the ground on a particularly badly sloping front to back pitch once. That's in over 5 years of owning the van!
If you've got an Alko Secure Wheel Lock (through the wheel type), ramps of any type are a pain! Trying to get level correct AND wheel position to match lock receiver amounts to near mutually exclusive task!
I also tried a 'Aluminium Level' (the wedge shaped adjustable device that slides around the wheel). Pretty disastrous IMHO (AND many others found the same it would seem!) despite claims it fitted my wheel size, it didn't if the wheel had sunk the slightest bit into soft ground (a COMMON complaint!), and was plain hard work to ratchet the adjustment up to the desired height AND back down again to remove! NOT a device I'd recommend.
Now got a Lock N Level airbag, but never had cause to use it yet (in over two years)!
Couple of points on levelling, the fridge (3 way absorption type) requires to be within a few degrees of perfectly level to work at it's best, too far off (van is uncomfortable to live with at those sorts of angles anyway) and it won't work at all. Kitchen sink and shower often drain better if slightly biased towards drain, rather than perfectly level! Don't beat yourselves up trying to achieve 'perfectly' level, a degree or two off is fine. You often find on 'soft ground' sites that the van will settle unevenly after a day of so, and may need re-levelling!
.... and remember whatever levelling device you go for, think of stowage space in transit and weight with regards to keeping overall load under MTPLM max!
Keep an eye open for s/h levellers, many people sell them on virtually unused when giving up caravaning, you can save significantly over new prices.
As to other 'essentials', the list go on and on, but one much appreciated (on my part, and for others too) addition was a battery powered drill and adaptor to raise and lower the corner steadies, it saves so much hand cranking! The drill (with another adaptor) can also be used for screw in/out rock pegs for the awning, which often prove to be the most versatile type of peg.
Why pay out for anything if you don't have to, is my motto. Wooden off-cuts will work just as well as even the most expensive leveling device, and as I usually have some lying about in my shed, that is what I use.
A cheap battery drill is what I use for winding my steadies and driving in the awning pegs. I bought it specifically just for that purpose, but have since used it for everything as it long outlasted the much more expensive one I bought for my DIY tasks, thus proving what I already knew. You don't always get what you pay for when you buy "expensive"! The battery of my expensive drill started losing its charge quickly after the warranty ran out and a new battery for it would cost about twice what I paid for the "cheapie" drill, which is still going strong.
I've been using 'Fiamma' plastic levelling ramps for a single axle caravan for many years without any issues but if the ramps were required for a motorhome (which is nose heavy) I would be tempted to go for the 'Milenco' brand instead because they have a more robust design to accommodate the extra weight. Regarding using timber boards is an alternative solution and will work but it's without doubt that plastic is not only waterproof but doesn't rot over time like timber does.
Quote: Originally posted by tango55 on 20/8/2023
I've been using 'Fiamma' plastic levelling ramps for a single axle caravan for many years without any issues but if the ramps were required for a motorhome (which is nose heavy) I would be tempted to go for the 'Milenco' brand instead because they have a more robust design to accommodate the extra weight. Regarding using timber boards is an alternative solution and will work but it's without doubt that plastic is not only waterproof but doesn't rot over time like timber does.
Yes it is true that wood will rot over a period of time, but I have been using my home-made wooden ones for a good ten years now and they look as good as when I made them. They will almost certainly outlast me, and if they don't there are plenty more off-cuts where they came from. I tend to avoid plastic where I can.
Used scrap wood for years no problem Much easier to use and smaller to carry than the Milenco things. I bought a set for £10 at junk shop, used once, never again.
We use a Lock n Level and although expensive initially, we would not be without it. If you have a van with an Alko wheel lock it is very difficult to get your van level using ramps, with the wheel in the right place for the lock to be fitted. The Lock n Level has saved many a fraught exchange of words whilst setting up!
I have a 2 foot length of scaffold board with a chamfer to run up, and a 1 foot length fixed on top at the blunt end. If i want to raise about 40mm, i go up the first bit. If i need more height, i go up the second bit. This has a stop-end as well. Never needed anything more. As i also wont use pitches where you need one leg longer then the other to get around.
Like Colin, i have had this for years, and it will certainly see me out as its rot-proof.
Presume you already have towing mirrors, gas bottle and number plate.
Milenco ramps which come with wheel chocks are useful. I also carry some wooden blocks to put under the steadies if height requires it. Step for caravan door. Door mat. Garden kneepad - stops your knee getting damp when lowering steadies or unhooking electrics etc (and much more comfortable than kneeling on stoney ground). Spirit level. Club hammer and rock pegs. For drinking water, I generally use a 5 litre mineral water bottle (refilled at drinking water tap) - easier to clean than cold water pipework. Wheel clamp and/or hitch lock. Plastic jug or reuse a plastic bottle to fill your toilet flush. Some wire wool to clean your towball if you have an non-greased hitch (alko stabiliser). Torch (or use your phone torch) -some sites are poorly kit at night. Cable reel for your ehu cable - saves a lot of faffing around.
Less essential - folding chairs and table, BBQ, mattress topper/duvalay.
You'll figure out what you need as you start to explore. The most important thing is to understand how to check if you have hitched properly and how to distribute the weight in the caravan.
As I’ve said many times before, always look on the local ads for bargains, there are plenty of nearly new stuff for sale at a fraction of the price. Happy caravanning.
I seldom see levelling ramps for caravans, their owners mostly used pieces of wood for levelling.
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Topic: Caravan accessories inc levelling ramps
via mobile 20/8/2023 at 9:24pm
