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Topic: Levelling a caravan

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Alison-Jane

via mobile 26/3/2019 at 7:26pm
Location: Bishop’s Stortford
Outfit: Bailey Ranger 460 4

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Hi - please be kind I’m brand new!
Had a tourer many years ago and have just bought another. I will be mostly solo and have decided for my first season to go onto a seasonal pitch. The one I have chosen has great reviews but is apparently not even. What do I need please? Thank you.

Hacksaw Bob

26/3/2019 at 8:14pm
Location: West Midlands
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A big mug of tea/coffee, a couple of hours and a trawl through these fifty two threads should give you some answers!

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DaveS1

26/3/2019 at 9:02pm
Location: Hatfield Peverel Essex
Outfit: Ace Supreme Twinstar Disco 3

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Suggest you put on here what caravan you have because you will need different bits and pieces for a single axle or for a double.
DaveS1

Colin21

26/3/2019 at 10:03pm
Location: East Herts
Outfit: 1992 Elddis Wisp 450CT + X Trail

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Fore and aft is easy, just level using the jockey wheel then lower the corner steadies. I use a few planks of wood made into a ramp under a wheel for side to side, although there are commercially available ramps.

Level side to side first, by putting a wheel on a ramp, then level up fore and aft.

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Best Regards,
Colin

Alison-Jane

via mobile 26/3/2019 at 10:12pm
Location: Bishop’s Stortford
Outfit: Bailey Ranger 460 4

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Thank you. It’s a Bailey Ranger 460/4. Single axle.
I guess that generally people are quite helpful and friendly if I get stuck 🤔

Colin21

26/3/2019 at 10:49pm
Location: East Herts
Outfit: 1992 Elddis Wisp 450CT + X Trail

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Quote: Originally posted by Alison-Jane on 26/3/2019
Thank you. It’s a Bailey Ranger 460/4. Single axle.
I guess that generally people are quite helpful and friendly if I get stuck 🤔

Yes, that is my experience. Most people are only too happy to help if they see you having problems.

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Best Regards,
Colin

bofs

27/3/2019 at 9:13am
Location: Cumbria
Outfit: Coachman VIP 520

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The easiest way to level side to side is using a device called a lock ‘n level, which is like an inflatable air cushion you drive onto when flat and then inflate using a 12v tyre inflator, to the required level. Not as cheap as levelling ramps but makes life so much easier.

thechief

27/3/2019 at 9:25am
Location: Teesside
Outfit: Caravan and XC90

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I use ramps (Milenco plastic ones). We have a motor mover so it is quite easy to adjust by a small amount. Although my wife helps (another pair of eyes) the motor mover means it could easily be a one person job.

The inflatable bag that Bofs recommends looks great too.

Most people are happy to help so don't struggle if you are on a site - if there's a friendly face there, just ask if you need a hand.

Pixie_Hez

27/3/2019 at 9:30am
Location: Liverpool
Outfit: Swift Challenger 560

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If you are going on a seasonal pitch then the best way to level is to jack up the van slightly and slide a plank under the wheel and then lower onto the plank. This might be a bit fiddly as you may have to try a few different planks to get it exactly level but as you won’t be moving it, this would probably work out best in the long run.

You can buy all sorts of levelling ramps but these are (as the word ramp implies) sloping and can put uneven pressure on the tyre which is not an issue for a weeks holiday but on a seasonal pitch, I would want as little pressure on the tyre as possible.

You can also get an inflatable leveller called a lock n level which you put under the tyre and then inflate to raise one side until the van is level. However, again, for seasonal use, I’m not sure the lock n level is designed to be used as a permanent levelling solution, it is more to make touring easier.

If it were me, I would jack the van and use a flat plank of the appropriate depth under the tyre. This way there is no uneven pressure on the tyre and it should work well as a permanent fixture.

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Pixie

boff

27/3/2019 at 10:18am
Location: N Wales
Outfit: Hymer Nova 590GL

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If you are going to Jack the van up and no reason why not, you need to do it while the van is attached to the car. Don’t do it with the corner steadies you need a Jack.

Colin21

27/3/2019 at 12:21pm
Location: East Herts
Outfit: 1992 Elddis Wisp 450CT + X Trail

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I made my levelling ramp out of 4 planks, which I think were cut out of an old pallet. I put dowels in the underside of each one, and corresponding holes in the tops of the one below so that they all fit together. With the 4 pieces held together I cut a slope at one end. I can then use 1, 2, 3, or all 4 if necessary to level the van on site. I can drive this caravan up the ramp using the movers, but the last one I used to pull or push the van up with the car. With this ramp the tyre always sits on a flat surface.

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Best Regards,
Colin

bobmel

27/3/2019 at 10:30pm
Location: Aberdeen
Outfit: Coachman Pastiche 460 VW Tiguan Moti

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a bit boring but

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Robert (BoB)

bofs

28/3/2019 at 7:44am
Location: Cumbria
Outfit: Coachman VIP 520

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Quote: Originally posted by Alison-Jane on 26/3/2019
Thank you. It’s a Bailey Ranger 460/4. Single axle.
I guess that generally people are quite helpful and friendly if I get stuck 🤔

Yes, most people are more than happy to help - but maybe approach someone yourself to say you’d appreciate some help as then they’ll be sure assistance is welcome!

chrisn7

28/3/2019 at 12:59pm
Location: West Yorkshire
Outfit: Bessacarr Cameo 625 2011

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For touring, lock n level, but seasonal a ramp for single axle or boards for a TA

The 2 Tops

28/3/2019 at 5:17pm
Location: None Entered
Outfit: Swift Challenger Sport 524 VW Carave

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I have an Al-ko wheel lock, so my procedure is based on this fact. I have three pieces of 6"x1" timber - the bottom piece 36" long, the next 27" and the top one 18". All aligned at one end, giving a 9" step for each level. The top two have pegs in their undersides to keep the 3 tiers held together.

By trial and error I decide how many levels (from 1 to 3) that I want. Using the mover, I move the van so the relevant wheel is on the ramp. If it is the nearside wheel with the lock, I inch the van along until the wheel is aligned to allow the lock to be fitted. Then, with the caravan brake ON, I use the jockey wheel to level the van fore and aft.
Bertie.

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The 2 Tops

Alison-Jane

via mobile 28/3/2019 at 7:33pm
Location: Bishop’s Stortford
Outfit: Bailey Ranger 460 4

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Thank you to everyone who has replied. I am taking the caravan to the site on Saturday and will look for a friendly face to help me :). I’ll have a look at some of the suggestions to and work out which would be best.

Thank you again.

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