What is the best way to level the van side to side. do you reverse up the leveller or place it in front of the tyre on move forward up the ramp. i had great difficulty at the weekend, as even though i had the caravan handbreak on, the van kept rolling back down the ramp when i unhitched (quite frightening). gave up in the end and just put up with having a sloping caravan.
what was i doing wrong?
feeling very stupid.
simon.
------------- just cos you got the power, that don`t mean you got the right...
Hi, I have mover fitted so not to much of problem, before mover fitted i used to keep van hitched till on the levelers depending on the slope, and the way van had to face on pitch,reverse or pull onto levelers,when van was level put in the stop blocks, hand brake on,steadies down then unhitch, if van not level,it can cause fridge not to work properly,and water hard to drain, and dont wory about feeling stupid, as we all have at some time or other, as they say... been there done that. hope that helps.
------------- If everything runs smoothly then I must have done something wrong
If in Doubt Check it Out.
We put the block to the front of the wheel and pull up as far as we can, then let her roll back while keeping an eye on the spirit level. When it is bang level we chock the wheel on the block ( I suspect this is what you didn't do) and then unhitch. you can then level front to back using the jockey wheel.
Just to state the obvious, the handbrake won't stop a van rolling backwards. The plastic type of levellers are usually just a gradient (ie no flat surface to park on) in which case either reverse up it so that the handbrake will stop the van rolling forwards, and (as said) use a chock.
I made some wooden blocks which can be slotted together to give different heights and every height has a flat top so the wheel is less likely to roll anywhere.
Most caravans nowadays have what is known as an "auto reverse" system which automatically takes the brakes off when the caravan reverses. (AL-KO Kober; Knott or BPW auto reverse brakes).
If your caravan has a hand lever brake with a ratchet release button then it may have a back up system to avoid rolling backwards on the ramp. To engage this system you must fully engage the brakes raising the brake lever to the full vertical position. Then, if the van rolls back a coiled spring in the brake rod cylindar is released and the brake is re-applied. Maybe, if you have this set up you were not raising the brake sufficiently for this system to kick into place.
As an extra safeguard always chock the wheels BEFORE you unhitch. or get the wife to hold the van in place untill the legs are down.
Phil
------------- If you're not on a fell your wasting your feet and for 2014 it's.......Feb Castleton Mar North Yors Moors; Apr Sutton on Sea; May Thirsk; Jun Clapham/Riverside (Lakes); July Wharfedale; August Crakehall; Sept Knaresborough; Oct Wirral Park/Clitheroe
Quote: Originally posted by cwdc56768 on 12/7/2010
or get the wife to hold the van in place untill the legs are down.
That sounds a bit dodgy - I'm a hefty bloke and I don't think I could hold a van in place on a levelling block. And even if I could, I wouldn't want to put the steadies down in that situation - if you do, when you let go of the caravan, it will try to roll down the block, forcing the steadies into the ground. They may well hold but you're putting a lot of stress on them (they're steadies, not supports).
When we bought our levelling ramps, they came in a pack with the chocks - can't see the point of the ramps without chocks...
------------- 'In later life, you will be more disappointed with the things you didn't do than with the things you did.' - Mark Twain
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: leveller ramp help.
