Levelling learner

bevo666 replied on 03/08/2017 14:26

Posted on 03/08/2017 14:26

We've recently bought our first caravan 😀 Because we are a large family (4 children) we've bought a large caravan! I'm wondering how to level it if necessary, it's a twin axle. How do you all level yours?

Many thanks in advance

lucy

 

Merve replied on 04/08/2017 09:41

Posted on 04/08/2017 09:41

Lucy, not only is a Lock and Level great for levelling easily but it also allows you to put a double Alko lock on your wheels. I have been using one for 3 or 4 yrs and the thought of levelling the van when I arrive on site no longer bugs me!! 

bevo666 replied on 04/08/2017 11:34

Posted on 03/08/2017 14:57 by richardandros

Have a look at 'Lock 'n Level' at  https://www.locknlevel.co.uk/

Also has the advantage of allowing you to fit twin wheel locks easily, whatever the ground conditions - although compared with ramps, boards etc, it is expensive - but in my experience, well worth it.

Posted on 04/08/2017 11:34

Wish I'd asked this before buying an alko jack (which can't be fitted to my chassis because there are water pipes in the way of fitting the brackets!) & some ramps (second hand luckily). Many thanks

Lucy

RowenaBCAMC replied on 08/08/2017 10:19

Posted on 08/08/2017 10:19

Welcome to Club Together and the Club Lucy. I'm looking forward to hearing about your family caravanning adventures and I'm sure you will have many happy holidays ahead of you. smile

FYI you may find our advice and training pages on the Club website helpful. Remember, we also have a technical team for members who are there to answer your questions if needed. You can email them technical@camc.com. Happy caravanning and don't forget to let us know how you get on. 

 

G Cherokee replied on 13/08/2017 23:39

Posted on 13/08/2017 23:39

Bevo, hi.

You can get shorter levelling ramps for twin axles so you can put one behind the rearmost wheel and one between the wheels.

As said before put your van where you want it and before unhitching check the side to side level, this is easier to move the van up the ramps.

If you want you can reverse the ramps do you can tow it up the ramps, they are designed so you can run up and over the top of them.

Even if you have a mover it's easier to do when still hitched up, because when using the mover, as the van starts up the ramp it will start to spin round.

After you've got the side to side sorted, unhitch, then use the jockey wheel to adjust the front to back level. When your happy, drop the corner steadies. Be prepared to re level because it's a large van, it will settle overtime.

Good luck Lucy

brue replied on 14/08/2017 09:59

Posted on 03/08/2017 15:57 by Navigateur

There are two parts to leveling, leveling across the way and leveling end to end. 

For sites such as The Caravanning Clubs there is never a huge slope so firstly I put the van where I want it to be and use a builders level on the bare floor to check it is level from wheel to wheel. Move the van forward (or back) as appropriate, then use some long bits of decking offcuts to bring up the low side, or if it is deep gravel, sometimes scrape away the high side.

It should be possible to level the van front to back with the movement available on the jockey wheel, and then wind down the steadies to keep it there. A few wooden blocks can be handy if the steadies don't reach down enough, and these can be made out of bits of recovered joists from the same builders' skip as the decking.

If it is a big slope, as in the picture above, the proceedure is the same but the van will not level fore and aft, so move it out and add some more decking or blocks for under the wheels and run it up onto them.

If you are using the Alko wheel locks that require the wheel to be in a particular position to bolt in the lock block, just pay attention to the wheel being in the right position before you start and once it is up on any necessary wheel packing it will be only a minor movement to get it spot on.

I made a gadget once for a lady who was having to caravan solo and had no idea how many blocks to put under a wheel to get level. I got a plumb bob and screwed a tiny hook into the ceiling so it would hang just above the floor.  I then put a block under the wheel on one side, and marked where the bob hung. Then same for two blocks, and also three.  Using a ruller I marked the floor the same on the opposite side of central. Now all she does is site the van where she wants, hang up the bob and read off how many blocks she will need.  I even made her some half thickness blocks to get it perfect.

Posted on 14/08/2017 09:59

Good post Navigateur, I would add that there are some club sites with very steep slopes, I would name the front part of Plymouth Sound as one of them (best sea views.) So keeping some wooden blocks or similar on board is a good idea, some sites have bricks available. Bear in mind that if the front is up a long way you need to check the rear which might be touching the ground and also check the drain outlets are able to drain properly.

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