Reading all this stuff about cracked panels in caravans (baileys) has got me thinking.
What is the correct way to level a caravan? Ours is parked on our drive and it is sloping toward the house so one tyre is higher than the other, is this ok? Worried as we do get in and out of it to put stuff in, will this do any damage?
Or should we always use some thing under the wheel to make it level? I know you shouldn't use the legs for this, but what a bout if you put the legs (that are lowest) on some bricks? is this ok?
It won't hurt not being level on your drive mzzy, as long as you only use the stabilisers & jockey wheel to hold it steady where it is & not to try using them as jacks.
We spent quite a long time sat wtching someone jacking their caravan level on a pitch using the corner steadies as jacks. All he needed to do was drive his car forward & bring the low wheel up on a piece of 4x2 timber to sort his situation out but he chose to almost rupture himself winding the steadies down.
I always carry my trolley jack, a few lengths of 4x2about 15 inches long, a couple of small bits of plywood & a smal spirit level. I learned the hard way to carry some wood. We had a puncture on the M5 on the way home one night, the flat tyre lowered the van enough to stop me getting the jack under close to the wheel. Lucky for me I found a big stone & pulled the flat tyre up on it to jack it up.
We pull on our pitch, find the spot we want to be & check side to side level, if it's low one side I draw the low tyre up on a piece of wood. I use them 15 inches long in case I need to move forward to get the Al-Ko lock on. Once level side to side, I unhitch & level front to back using the jockey wheel. Put stabilisers down & get the kettle on.
if you are storing over winter many months on the drive and if it was mine i would try to bring level side to side because of the suspension may be strained by the caravan leaning one way to the side.remember caravan brakes may not work backwards.chock the wheels with a lump of wood to prevent rolling backwards.the other way if stored with the hand brake ON this can cause brake seizure if left on for months.
------------- the only silly question is the one you do not ask.
Thanks all, we have had 2 vans before, and made lots of mistakes with them, including winding all the legs differently to level the van!!!! We just never realised
But this one is my pride and joy so want to get it right, might buy some of those big plastic level things you pull on to.
You can get an odd wheel leveller. Towsure supplied me with a one only, which I use on my drive. I use any old timber to chock my legs. A piece of decking is cheap enough, sawn into 12 in lengths. Enjoy the new 'van.
Just look underneath at the chassis. Its thick by the wheels and thins down to virtually nothing by the steadies. No way is it designed to take the weight of the van on the steadies.
this could be your answer.slide on and wind up......
We had something similar years ago, but I always had difficulty with it. This one seems much better though, but I think I'll stick to my plastic levellers - they are light, cheap, easy to pack, and not much can go wrong with them.
Quote: Originally posted by Patches on 16/9/2009
Mizzy, they sell the yellow 'cheese wedge' type levellers at Jacksons at Old Arley at quite a reasonable price.
That's our sort - and from Jacksons too. They work really well - but the motor mover is essential (for us) to make it work.
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Topic: levelling a caravan
