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Subject Topic: self leveling kit
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Personkawasakiversys
13/1/2015 at 8:47am
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Hi, just looked at the E & P self levelling caravan system on you tube. Has anyone got one of these retro-fitted to their caravan?
I know it doesnt take too long to level a caravan, but is this going to be the way forward for caravans in the future?
I know some coachmans already come fitted with it.


Personcamcroft
13/1/2015 at 9:09am
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£2500 + 20kgs extra weight


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Personjennygirlx
13/1/2015 at 9:12am
 Location: Dumfries
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Owch! I thought I was extravogent with a bulldog one...


Personkawasakiversys
13/1/2015 at 11:58am
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Yep, but with caravans costing 30K plus at the top end of the market, it would be a useful tool. Not for us yet, but add another 20 years of caravanning to our age and we would defo require it!


PersonThe 2 Tops
13/1/2015 at 1:07pm
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I'm in my 80th year and have no problem using a cordless drill to operate the steadies. Price of the system/extra weight/possible faults and expensive repair costs - all are negative additions to the running of a caravan. There will always be manufacturers who look for new ways to relieve us of our cash, but that doesn't mean we have to walk into the trap.
Bertie.

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PersonGrampian91
13/1/2015 at 1:37pm
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Says caravan level system, But shows fitted to a motorhome not a caravan?

Where is the caravan system? One thing i noticed on the motorhome one, It seemed to reduce thr ground clearance quite a bit.

How close to the axle will they need to fit these jacks to a caravan?
Dont forget the legs are only steadies and not to be used for levelling and the chassis at the rear wont be string enough for these jacks.


PersonThe 2 Tops
13/1/2015 at 6:31pm
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Grampian91, I did once read an article about a caravan levelling system, which I believe replaced (or converted) the existing four corner steadies. Haven't seen it advertised for some time now, so perhaps it didn't find favour with caravanners.

You mention ground clearance. Thinking about underslung movers, with our previous vans we have had Powrtouch models and have often fely alarmed when passing over speed humps. Also, we have on two occasions met others with this type of mover who have struck them against high kerbs. So, on our present van, we have the Al-ko Mamut - mounted directly onto the chassis, and doesn't protrude below the bottom edges of the chassis, which means no loss in ground clearance.
Bertie.

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The 2 Tops


PersonGreendemon315
13/1/2015 at 6:59pm
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The weight alone would rule it out for me.

Jim


Personbrianconwy
13/1/2015 at 7:24pm
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Been out for a few years now but I can't see any sign of it catching on. Perhaps if they did a simplified one with just a jack on each side that was a fraction of the price then it might be popular.


Personnavver
13/1/2015 at 8:53pm
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This sound like it is intended for motor homes. These folks seem to have more money and will get much more use out of it. Levelling a MH is not just adjusting the steadies.

Years ago a friend had a 1950s Riley which had a hydraulic jacking system built in. He switched a valve under the bonnet to select the wheel then the engine hydraulically raised that corner.


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Personmalkeiron
14/1/2015 at 10:01am
 Location: Derbyshire
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Quote: Originally posted by navver on 13/1/2015This sound like it is intended for motor homes. These folks seem to have more money and will get much more use out of it. Levelling a MH is not just adjusting the steadies.

Years ago a friend had a 1950s Riley which had a hydraulic jacking system built in. He switched a valve under the bonnet to select the wheel then the engine hydraulically raised that corner.



My father had a Riley Pathfinder in the 60's that had a built in hydraulic jacking system.



Post last edited on 14/01/2015 10:07:31


PersonThe 2 Tops
14/1/2015 at 10:07am
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Quote: Originally posted by Greendemon315 on 13/1/2015
The weight alone would rule it out for me.

Jim

For me too - not to mention the cost!

Thinking about this, the automatic jacks could not just replace the corner steadies, since the same principle applies of the van corners not being able to sustain load, particularly if the slope was sideways-on and the wheel on that side was lifted off the ground. So such an assembly would need outriggers from the main chassis - hence back to the weight issue.
Bertie.


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The 2 Tops


PersonBilly....
14/1/2015 at 12:22pm
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You need to watch the video. It duplicates manual levelling of caravan. Side to side is achieved by hydraulic jacks ajacent to axles then corner steadies can be lowered. The bloke in the video could be doing it a bit better, it would be better to level fore/aft with jockey wheel, level side to side with centre jacks then drop steadies.

If you can afford £20k for a caravan you are going to pay extra for a mover so why not this as well? You would probably need mtplm uprated to chassis design weight & you would need a good battery.


PersonThe 2 Tops
14/1/2015 at 3:10pm
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This automatic leveller in no way compares to the practicality of a mover. I have to manoeuvre our 1460 kg van in and out of the space between house and garage, with less than 50mm clearance on each side of the pillars of the high double gates, so manual moving is not an option - both in terms of weight (we are late 80's) and no control over side-swing and resultant damage to van. So the mover is essential. Not so an automatic leveller - this presents extra weight, which must be significant, high cost out of all context to necessity, risk of failure when arriving on site (does the automatic system allow for manual override?), and further costs for repairs.
Yes, Billy, the bloke in the video could have given a better demo - but would this have shown up things they prefer that we didn't see?
We once had a frame onto which was driven the wheel to be raised. On soft ground, instead of lifting the van, the frame progressively dug itself into the ground.
Sorry, I'm definitely not impressed.
Bertie.

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The 2 Tops


PersonDave11
16/1/2015 at 4:35pm
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Although the leveling system is a nice piece of kit , I decided against it

I went to the October show last year to order a new caravan, either the Super Sirocco or the Bucaneer. The Bucaneer had fitted the self level
system fitted, but a lot of the increased cost between the two vans was clearly made up of this added system. I could not make up my mind between the two vans and had to stay overnight and stay a second day as the wife and I couldn't decide if we should pay the extra for the Bucanneer with this kit fitted.

That was until we were taken to the stand and shown a demo of the self level system operating. I mentioned that we take the van to France often and what would happen if I had a system failure and could not put the legs / pistons up, no problem there is a lever underneath that can manually put them up, when I asked what happens if I get to site in France and want to put the legs down if I have a system failure , can I manually wind the legs down and level normally?
I was told that this was not possible as the legs could not be wound down and would need to be sorted by an engineer!

I love the concept but unless they have now made it that you can overide the system both up AND down I will hold off paying for this on a caravan.
In the end I spent the extra on a satellite roof mounted system instead.


PersonMick S.
16/1/2015 at 8:14pm
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Is there nothing the caravanner wont buy? How hard is it to level-up a van with a few bits of wood? You only have to get it level across the axle(s), then wind the jockey up or down to get the longitudinal right, and that really is that. For 2.5k, i will come to the site for you and level your van myself.



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