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Topic: setting up/lowering legs

carioca

31/3/2016 at 10:01am
Location: worcestershire
Outfit: Sterling emerald 4 berth tourer

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Hi,
pardon my ignorance,totally new to tourers.
I have read setting up in "arrival on site".
RE: spirit level on van floor then lowering legs.
is there any particular sequence to which leg is lowered first?
carioca

Opensauce

31/3/2016 at 10:15am
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Best way I find is level caravan sideways first using levelling wedge under one wheel if required. If you do not have a mover fitted then do this while still attached to car. Then uncouple & level caravan fore/aft using jockey wheel.

Then wind rear legs onto ground firmly followed by front legs. Note that all levelling should be done before winding down legs which are only used to steady caravan. They are not jacks to raise caravan.

AL53HX

31/3/2016 at 10:20am
Location: BLACK((gods)) COUNTRY
Outfit: Pi;ote Reference 740

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as above,remember that if the van needs to be on a ramp,place a chock in front of the wheel,sometimes they roll back down the ramp.

Post last edited on 31/03/2016 10:24:07

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freeatlast

31/3/2016 at 4:06pm
Location: Teesside
Outfit: Mitsubishi ASX4

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Get the van level at home, then glue a small level to the front "A" frame somewhere. That way you can check fore to aft level as you raise and lower the jockey wheel.

Hairywol

31/3/2016 at 6:18pm
Location: Teesside
Outfit: Challenger Sport 524 + Volvo V90 D5

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It's very important that, if using a ramp, you place the ramp in front of the caravan wheels so that you can level while driving forwards.

This means the caravan brakes won't disconnect, and you won't risk bruising your car when releasing the hitch (if reversing it may spring forward and damage the car).

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Camping Gear expands so as to fill the space available for its transportation.

baddon

01/4/2016 at 12:15am
Location: Near Belfast
Outfit: Ranger & Hymer Nova

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good question and great answers. I am heading with new van to a very sloping site so may need all of the above. I have several large bits of blocks in case the legs don't reach ground as I recall seeing some vans on the site with hitch on the conc when I was there with trailer tent.

I just hope the levelling ramps I have ordered arrive in time...or its more timber under wheels.

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Taylor56

01/4/2016 at 8:39am
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Quote: Originally posted by Hairywol on 31/3/2016
It's very important that, if using a ramp, you place the ramp in front of the caravan wheels so that you can level while driving forwards.

This means the caravan brakes won't disconnect, and you won't risk bruising your car when releasing the hitch (if reversing it may spring forward and damage the car).

In my experience the van is more likely to roll backwards when unhitched and was always told to reverse up a ramp then set the handbrake then roll the car forewords to release the hitch.

bobmel

01/4/2016 at 11:12pm
Location: Aberdeen
Outfit: Coachman Pastiche 460 VW Tiguan Moti

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one of the many forums on here re this subject.

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Robert (BoB)

Andy Higham

02/4/2016 at 8:09am
Location: Bolton Lancs
Outfit: Bailey Orion 430-4 & Mitsubishi PHEV

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Instead of a ramp I use (up to) 3 pieces of decking board. I can then move caravan to the correct position to fit the wheel lock.

SGThomas

02/4/2016 at 9:07am
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The "legs" should correctly called "steadies" and for the vast amount of caravans taken no part in the levelling process.

As others have said, the sideway levelling is done using ramps/blocks/wedges under one of the wheels.

Fore and aft levelling is done using the jockey wheel.

Once level, the legs are wound down to steady the van in its level position.

bobmel

02/4/2016 at 10:23pm
Location: Aberdeen
Outfit: Coachman Pastiche 460 VW Tiguan Moti

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I have noticed on a few occasions that some caravaners retract the jockey wheel to the transit position once the steadies are down. Is this wise ? or does it make any difference ? I always leave the jockey down once i've leveled back to front.

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Robert (BoB)

RTS5

03/4/2016 at 9:53pm
Location: North Wiltshire
Outfit: Elddis & 3 tents

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Quote: Originally posted by bobmel on 02/4/2016
I have noticed on a few occasions that some caravaners retract the jockey wheel to the transit position once the steadies are down. Is this wise ? or does it make any difference ? I always leave the jockey down once i've leveled back to front.

No, you use the jockey wheel to level the van back to front, so that would mean they are either on an absolutely flat pitch, or their van is almost certainly unlevel.

carioca

04/4/2016 at 5:46pm
Location: worcestershire
Outfit: Sterling emerald 4 berth tourer

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many thanks to all.very useful info from all.

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