Posted on 14/02/2018 15:45
Hi all
when levelling the caravan should I drive the caravan forward or reverse on to the chock ?
Bit confused about the braking mesh of the caravan, I thought that you should reverse so as the brakes are working correctly, but I heard different.
Any help in this matter would be great
thanks Gary
1 person likes this
Posted on 16/02/2018 13:20
We used cut down thick planks, maximum of two under one wheel. If you reverse onto ramps the caravan towing socket assembly compresses slightly then expands when you unhitch and can touch the car so I always found it better to move slightly forward before unhitching.
3 people like this
Posted on 14/02/2018 15:45 by gaz10Hi all
when levelling the caravan should I drive the caravan forward or reverse on to the chock ?
Bit confused about the braking mesh of the caravan, I thought that you should reverse so as the brakes are working correctly, but I heard different.
Any help in this matter would be great
thanks Gary
Posted on 18/02/2018 18:28 by DarthbarnoldI went on the Caravan Club training course, they said you should reverse on so the caravan will try to roll forward which works with the breaks.
Posted on 18/02/2018 20:38
Rather than reverse and have to feel when the braking system is in reverse mode,
it was a lot easier to pull the caravan up the ramp(s) , brake the caravan and chock it. Release the hitch, and raise the tow hitch, drive the car away and adjust the fore / aft pitch.
of course, modern motor movers make a mockery of the old ways;-)
you can get graduated spirit levels, so that with a little bit of practice, you can immediately tell that you need one side X higher than the other, twist the level through 90 degrees and you know how much fore n aft level needed.
stabilisers down , gas on , electric on , kettle on. Job done
Rgds
Posted on 19/02/2018 08:19
I use a levelling device made by Milenco, it sits around the wheel on the side to be lifted/levelled and you ratchet it until you get the caravan level plus this means I can level the caravan on my own and it does not interfere with Al-Ko wheel lock, it is expensive but I have had mine for 6 years now and feel it was money well spent. Hope this helps.
1 person likes this
Posted on 08/03/2018 10:06
We did all that back and fourth stuff first year of caravaning, but now have a Lock n Level system SO Easy! just look at this video link!..https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7GejeQPweU
Once you use one, ramps and blocks are a thing of history!
Trust me when I say its so easy to use and store and works every time!
happy vanning
1 person likes this
Posted on 08/03/2018 10:40
Forward or reverse, it depends on the pitch and how I feel on the day, it's just not worth thinking about as long as it's made safe when raised.
All these gizmo's are fine if that's what you want, but a few blocks of wood is a tried and tested alternative and a few minutes here and there won't bother me in setting up.
Much prefer something solid under the wheels and not an inflated bag that may puncture or deflate leaving undue weight on the steadies.
2 people like this
Posted on 08/03/2018 10:06 by gatewaya89We did all that back and fourth stuff first year of caravaning, but now have a Lock n Level system SO Easy! just look at this video link!..https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p7GejeQPweU
Once you use one, ramps and blocks are a thing of history!
Trust me when I say its so easy to use and store and works every time!
happy vanning
Posted on 09/03/2018 10:53 byI have one of these and do find it easier to control than trying to hold the van in the right place on a ramp but they are expensive and would be down the list of things to spend 100 quid on if I was starting out.
Incidentally the video shows it on a block paved surface but on any campsite ground I always use a piece of vinyl floor covering to protect the bag also never bother with the lock on campsites as theft would be pretty difficult from the sites we use especially if the awning was up
gaz10
Caravanner