Hi. I am thinking about buying a caravan and keeping it permanently on a site. So when I want to use the van the siteowners will pull it out from store and onto the pitch for me. NB no towing facility on my car and quite probably no motor mover on the van.
How do people in this not unusual situation level their vans from side to side?
------------- Tackling life the Western District way
Jack it up to level required, put in ramp lower. Then remove jack.
Lost half of post there sorry
Post last edited on 15/02/2011 23:37:16
------------- Yesterday is already a dream and tomorrow is only a vision, but today well lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness and every tomorrow a vision of hope.
Get a few people together and push the van up a levelling ramp. I've occasionally had to do that while touring and pitch position didn't allow towcar to be used. It's a great way to get to know the neighbours!
"Scuse me, would you help me push my caravan uphill?"
------------- * You never know where you're going 'til you get there...
1)Put a shallow sloping ramp behind the wheel that needs lifting.
2)Put the handbrake on but not hard.
3)Push the hitch alternatively from side to side and van like magic will move backwards climbing the ramp.
4)When at right hight, chock both wheels and pull brake right on.
This technique requires very much less physical effort than trying to push the van back up the ramp because it exploits the mechanics of levers. It only works backwards as it uses a feature of the "autoreverse" brake mechanism.
The cheap way is just to jack the caravan with whatever jack you have, ie cheap bottle jack & put 1 or more short planks of woood under wheels. You will also need wood to stand the jack on so about 4 2ft lengths of roof joist type planks will do the job. Its also good to have wood to go under corner steadies to avoid winding them down too far on uneven ground.
The more expensive but best solution is one of these Its easy to do yer back in trying to push a heavy caravan so avoid if poss.
1)Put a shallow sloping ramp behind the wheel that needs lifting. 2)Put the handbrake on but not hard. 3)Push the hitch alternatively from side to side and van like magic will move backwards climbing the ramp. 4)When at right hight, chock both wheels and pull brake right on.
This technique requires very much less physical effort than trying to push the van back up the ramp because it exploits the mechanics of levers. It only works backwards as it uses a feature of the "autoreverse" brake mechanism.
I would love to see that done!
------------- 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
Then watch me or better still and more convincingly simply try it anytime the van is unhitched.
It is a simple powerful technique that in the years before motormovers allowed me unaided to get my van up backwards on a quite sloping drive.
Some of the newer gas strut assisted handbrakes make it harder as they can come on a bit too firmly but even with my current van if I slightly resist the vigor of the gas strut, it still works.
Handbrake stops a forward rotating wheel but not a backward rotating wheel[until very firmly on]. So swinging action results in progressive backwards rotations of one wheel then the other. The distances across axle relative to the hitch to axle distance and the fact each wheel only carries half the vans weight give the mechanical advantage.
I should have stayed awake in the physics classes all those years back. Love it
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
We used the same pitch on a site for many years & it wasn't level. I used to carry a trolley jack with me & several pieces of timber. I'd unhitch the van & jack up the lower side so a piece of wood slid under the low side wheel. If you use this mehod, do it with all corner steadies UP otherwise they'll be forced into the ground on the unjacked side.
Lots of people disagree with carrying a trolley jack but I've always carried one & had to use it to change wheels three times over the years. If you don't want to carry one, you can buy them cheap enough & could consider leaving one in the van.
Quote: Originally posted by JTQU on 16/2/2011
1)Put a shallow sloping ramp behind the wheel that needs lifting. 2)Put the handbrake on but not hard. 3)Push the hitch alternatively from side to side and van like magic will move backwards climbing the ramp. 4)When at right hight, chock both wheels and pull brake right on.
This technique requires very much less physical effort than trying to push the van back up the ramp because it exploits the mechanics of levers. It only works backwards as it uses a feature of the "autoreverse" brake mechanism.
Hi, That is how my Grandad used to do it ,when helping his neigbour put van away, he usedto say he was away to walk the van, only difference was they used to put a brick under front wheel, to make sure it did'nt roll back down driveway.
------------- If everything runs smoothly then I must have done something wrong
If in Doubt Check it Out.
Thanks all. Think I will start with Tony and Ali's suggestion and ask the campsite what usually happens/can they help. The idea is to have a part-seasonal pitch this year so this should only need to happen twice this year anyway.
Although life has just put rather a big spanner in my van plans for 2011, so this now all depends on me being able to sort the situation back out
------------- Tackling life the Western District way
Quote: Originally posted by JTQU on 16/2/2011
1)Put a shallow sloping ramp behind the wheel that needs lifting.
2)Put the handbrake on but not hard.
3)Push the hitch alternatively from side to side and van like magic will move backwards climbing the ramp.
4)When at right hight, chock both wheels and pull brake right on.
Been there, done it, got the 'T' shirt!
Done this for several years and as JTQU quite rightly indicates, this idea works suprisingly easily.
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: Levelling a pitched caravan
