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I think previous posts have answered your question, the brake shoes on a caravan collapse in reverse and therefore do not work, if this was not the case you would not be able to reverse the van at all, they also take a slight amount of forward movement to re-engage them. If ever un hitching on a slope chock the wheels unless you are a fast runner

I tend to just have a selection of wood planks around 1" thick to level up the van, some pads for the steadies when on soft ground and some bigger 3x3 blocks for sticking under the jockey wheel should it need it.

As I don't enjoy pushing and shoving the van i tend to drive the van onto the planks, if its not right adjust the planks and try again, if it needs slight adjustment the steadies will take care of that but be careful not to over tighten them unless you want to break the van!

Going home is easy, as the van is "steady" on the planks you can chock the wheels if on a slope, lift the corner steadies and hitch up the car, then simply drive off and forget to pick up the levelling planks

My advise pick level pitch..... ;p

with the van still hitched check the levels.. if it looks miles out see if moving the van with the car improves it.

use your bits of wood to help if out of adjust or the ground is soft..

anything with wheels chock both sides so no chance it can roll

if your using your caravan where we go by beach in north devon tie your van securely to the ground they have been known to blow over

enjoy your new caravan there is lots to see & do ;p

Quote: Originally posted by Sproz on 05/10/2009

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I think previous posts have answered your question, the brake shoes on a caravan collapse in reverse and therefore do not work, if this was not the case you would not be able to reverse the van at all, they also take a slight amount of forward movement to re-engage them.

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Quote: Originally posted by looks.like.rain on 06/10/2009

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My advise pick level pitch..... ;p

with the van still hitched check the levels.. if it looks miles out see if moving the van with the car improves it.

use your bits of wood to help if out of adjust or the ground is soft..

anything with wheels chock both sides so no chance it can roll

if your using your caravan where we go by beach in north devon tie your van securely to the ground they have been known to blow over

enjoy your new caravan there is lots to see & do ;p

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Hi just wondering what you used to fasten your van to the ground with,just had a picture in my mind of having to cart great big chains and a sledge hammer around or are rock pegs strong enough ? 

Andy

I tow the caravan onto the yellow wedge until it is level then handbrake on car then chock the wheel then unhitch.Job done.

hitch up then tow caravan forward slightly to release chock then let reverse slightly to remove yellow ramp.

Never anchored a caravan in 35 years of caravanning (plus another 20 with parents)

Having said that I wouldnt pitch on the edge of a cliff either. If the wind was strong enough to blow over a caravan I wouldnt trust a few pegs. I'd be gone.

Quote: Originally posted by chilephilly on 05/10/2009

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We did pull up on to the ramp, yes. We did the CC Practical Caravanning course - that was what they told us to do!

I am now baffled.

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Quote: Originally posted by LegsDownKettleOn on 06/10/2009

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We use the yellow wedge levelling block (only need one on a single axle caravan) and place the caravan right on the very top of it before cliping the chock that came with the levelling block in place on the levelling block before using the mover to drive the van back against the chock, applying the hand brake and releasing the mover. Only at this point do I use the jockey wheel to level on the other axis then wind down the corner steadies. I don't use planks under the corner steadies as I have the wobbly dangly plastic pads on them. When packing up, I wind the steadies up fully (supporting the van on the jockey wheel of course) hitch up, release the hand brake and carefully tow the van over the top of the levelling block. This way there is no risk of the van rolling into something or someone.

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I agree with the first part of the above but having a motor mover, I engage mine and drive the wheel up the wedge to release the chock before reversing down and off the wedge. Then hitching the van to the car is much easier and safer.

I do not see the point in having a motor mover and not using it for hitching up, whether I am on a wedge or not.

Also, if you have a motor mover fitted and you pull the van over the top of the wedge and the wheel drops down onto soft ground, there is every chance that the top of the wedge could hit the roller of the motor mover and damage it. Especially if the roller is disengaged.

I didn't, Hookup, and have kicked myself soundly ever since!

This thread is starting to read like an advert for motor movers - do I need one? (Not that I can afford one, mind you).

I feel a bit better about it all now I think. I must say tho - I'm still lying awake at night thinking about poor Bertha over in Caravan Alcatraz, thinking Did I put the handbrake on? Did I chock the wheels? What if she sinks? What if....Did I......

Is this normal??!! Or am I going a bit mental??!!