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Please don't laugh but how do you use levelling ramps?!

So far I have only used Holi on a level site but I know the time will come when I'm going to need ramps to level her.

How do you get the van onto the ramps safely?
I have a spirit level attached to the A frame so will know when she's straight but I really can't see how you get the van onto the ramps in the first place!!

Any advice for a complete caravanning nupmty would be very much appreciated!!

First of all you have to drive up the ramp with the caravan hitched. Now some people put the ramp at the rear of the tyre and reverse up the ramp, some put the ramp at the front and pull up the ramp. I always pull up the ramp for one specific reason. The way the caravan brakes operate, they have a design feature which unlocks the mechanism when reversing therefore you have no brakes in reverse. When you pull the caravan the brake mechanism comes into effect so when it pushes against the towball it then operates the draw bar which in turn operates the the brake shoes. Now you should have two items, the ramp and the wedge. You pull up the caravan onto the ramp a bit higher than what you need, then you put the wedge or chock as some call it at the rear end and it should lock into place via the centre slots. When you have put the wedge in, release the handbrake on the towcar and it should automatically come to rest between the ramp and wedge. Check the spirit level and then make your adjustment up or down as required. It will probably take a few goes to get it right but practice makes perfect and eventually you will get to know exactly what ramp gradient you need depending on the ground slope that the caravan is resting on. Hope this information helps but due to safety reasons it's always best to pull the caravan up rather than reverse as previously mentioned.

I forgot to mention that when you pull up the caravan and you have finally set it up you can apply the caravan handbrake which will operate and lock the caravan brakes. If you reverse up then you have no caravan brakes locking on at all and totally reliant on just the ramp and wedge.

tango55 that makes NO sense about the brakes, I'll tell you why!   if you pull the van onto the ramps and then stop. the weight of the van will be pulling backwards, there for disengaging the brakes!! if you reverse up the ramps, the wieght of the van will want to roll down the ramps and therefore engage the brakes! hope this clears it up for you!

Oh blimey! I knew this would be complicated!!

Would I be able to push the van onto the ramps rather than drive it on?
She is incredibly light and my towing/reversing skills need improving!

Quote: Originally posted by JTQU on 16/2/2011

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1)Put a shallow sloping ramp behind the wheel that needs lifting.
2)Put the handbrake on but not hard.
3)Push the hitch alternatively from side to side and van like magic will move backwards climbing the ramp.
4)When at right hight, chock both wheels and pull brake right on.

This technique requires very much less physical effort than trying to push the van back up the ramp because it exploits the mechanics of levers. It only works backwards as it uses a feature of the "autoreverse"

It is quite untrue that the handbrake does not work in reverse, if it is FULLY put on.

Ramps if you are making your own are best made as a multiple of steps so the wheel sit horizontal and does not wish to run down the slope. It is also easier to make as it is built up of a stack of various length planks. No cutting a long wedge and plank oddments are generally easier to find than a big piece of timber.

bluesriff. The weight of the van won't be pulling backwards if you apply the handbrake on the car. The caravan won't move until you release the handbrake on the car. It's that simple. Does this make any sense? It's not complicated, it's just plain common sense and good practice to use the vehicle handbrake in conjunction with levelling the caravan. Iv'e been doing it for years without any problem so I must be doing something right.

What's your practical solution about levelling then? The person needs constructive advice not criticism of other peoples views.

When you find your own way of doing it,make sure you put the handbrake on.... two times  I spent levelling my rascal and then released it from the car only to have it roll down the ramps! HANDBRAKE Not on.

Quote: Originally posted by Is that all,60mph!! on 21/2/2011

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When you find your own way of doing it,make sure you put the handbrake on.... two times  I spent levelling my rascal and then released it from the car only to have it roll down the ramps! HANDBRAKE Not on.

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Did you put chocks in place?

Phil