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Topic: Teething problems as newbies

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MadMum1972

13/5/2013 at 5:04pm
Location: Hempstead Kent
Outfit: Vango Genesis Airbeam 500

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Hi all.

As some of you will remember, we had our first trip in our van over the bank holiday weekend and got along just great. All was perfect.

This weekend it wasn't so great. We went to a park that was extremely unlevel and didn't have a clue how to level it. Whatever we tried ended with the van being just as unlevel to the point that it made me feel ill walking around inside.

We went with experienced friends and they said to bring the steadies down further on one side and shorter on the other. This didn't work so we tried a wheel ramp thingy and again, not much difference. We ended up piling a load of stones under the wheel and it still wouldn't level. This took a long time, longer than it took to put the big tent up that we chose to get rid of for this very reason!!! I made sure I slept on the side that was uppermost!! Anybody got any hints for an unlevel site?? We had stacking blocks to go under the steadies but that didn't make a difference either.

The next problem we had is returning to the van to find the water pump had gone into overdrive and was trying to suck water out of the aquaroll. It drained the aquaroll and had thrown it all out of the drain even though the lever inside was set to the horizontal position which should have meant it was closed??!!

I was completely fed up! I almost thought about selling it and giving up altogether! We tried the pump again the following day and it seemed ok but I am worried it may malfunction again when we are away from the van for longer and burn the pump out.

On top of that, we got the porch awning out to find the roof, even though we only bought it last week, had loads of slits in the material!! That has gone back with no quibbles today.

Anybody have any ideas what we can do next time please with regards levelling and any ideas about the pump? Sure it wasn't human error as we both checked it. We wondered if the caravan being unlevel played havoc with it.

Thanks

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Center Parcs April 2015
Chestnut Meadows Bexhill August 2015
Once in lifetime trip to Florida Oct 2015!!!

Barbie Girl

13/5/2013 at 5:20pm
Location: Essex
Outfit: Eldiss Odyssey 534 & VW Touareg V10

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Possibly unlevel van may affect the pump, we always switch our pump off at night and when we go out just incase we get a leak and it pumps all over the van, can't help with levelling, we do the best we can with a spirit level then have a few drinks and don't care, but I am sure someone will give you some advise....which I will also look at

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tparkes

13/5/2013 at 5:35pm
Location: sunny nottingham
Outfit: Lunar Clubman

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We tend to use some short lengths of decking to pile up under the steadies, but it sounds like you did this anyway. I suppose its just practice. Good luck next time - or choose a level site!

Teresa

Opensauce

13/5/2013 at 6:00pm
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I suggest you use campsites that are more level, it must have been really bad as you describe it. How high are your levelling ramps? If you look in a caravan showroom you will see they have stepped ramps which are better, get the biggest you can, they come in pairs but you can always flog one. What you should not do is level caravan as suggested using corner steadies as jacks as this will stress the bodywork & possibly cause water ingress.

If the pitch is so sloping you can't get it level with highest ramp available then you need another pitch tbh. Or get one of these but expensive.

jasie

13/5/2013 at 6:04pm
Location: Bath
Outfit: Bailey Palermo & Kampa Brean

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we have got leveling down to a fine art.

When you roll up, park the van where you want it

DONT unhitch yet - get a spirit level in a place where you know its level (doorway ro something to measure left/right.

Now you need to put a ramp or blocs under the lower wheel - a bit of jigging and rolling on/off using the car (or motomover if you have one) to get the optimum level left/right only. Careful with using ramps as you will find it will roll down a little when you unhook from the car.

Now apply handbrake - unhitch and now level for/aft using the jockey wheel and your spirit level.

Then drop your steadies - this is what they are for - dont apply additional turns to try to level!

I have only ever found one site that was perfectly level in the past 4 years!

re the water, had you closed the hot water drain - that my usual mistake!

Jax365

13/5/2013 at 6:08pm
Location: south cheshire
Outfit: VW Caddy Maxi

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Like Tentz said, if the site was that unlevel, you should have asked, nay demanded! a more level pitch. It's usually ok back to front on the levelling side, you can always seem to get that right, using the jockey wheel and a spirit level, but side to side is really hard if you need to get one side/wheel higher.

Re - the pump... seems like the unlevel ground was to blame, but are you sure the pump wasn't going before you left? Reason I ask is because just not turning off a tap properly would keep the pump running.

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snowy747

13/5/2013 at 6:10pm
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Yes for goodness sake don't try to level with the steadies, they are literally there to stop the wobble not to take the weight of the van!

We used to do what Jasie advised, should work just fine.

Ali

Gram

13/5/2013 at 6:30pm
Location: Padded Cell
Outfit: Calvin Klein Straitjacket & manacles

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Quote: Originally posted by MadMum1972 on 13/5/2013

....We went to a park that was extremely unlevel and didn't have a clue how to level it.........

We went with experienced friends and they said to bring the steadies down further on one side and shorter on the other.....
....We had stacking blocks to go under the steadies but that didn't make a difference either....

I don't want to be rude about your friends, but their "advice" is extremely ill-informed and dangerous - steadies must never be used to level a van; they're not designed or intended for this. They are just for steadying the van after positioning (and levelling - by whatever other means) is completed. Try to lift the van with the steadies and you risk damaging them, the chassis and/or the floor. "Stacking blocks" are only for where a pitch is so sloping that the steadies when fully extended can still not reach the ground - or to spread the load if on muddy ground.
The best possible solution to sloping pitches is (wherever possible) to park with the nose up or down the slope and use the jockey wheel to get level. If you have to park sideways on the slope, ramps (bought or home-made) are really the only answer.

Gram

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asdj45

13/5/2013 at 6:49pm
Location: Chippenham
Outfit: Bailey Pageant Cabriolet and tents

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AS above site caravan, level left and right with chocks, pulling the van onto chocks but remember to chock other sides and behind the wheels also as the van may "swing / twist" as it unhooked, put spirit level just inside the doorway and check for sideways level, make sure brake is applied. Use jockey wheel for front to back levelling. Check spirit level again, if ok as above use wood, packing or decking so that you only have to wind down the steadies a short distance, again they stop the "wobble" and are not "Jacks" .

Some fridges will be affected in van not level also - sounds like yor water in line tap may have stuck open if it was pumping water straight out onto the floor, just operate it a few times and it might free it.

Good advice above to switch things off if you go out otherwise you might return to a burnt out water pump.

Andy

the black fox

13/5/2013 at 7:08pm
Location: flint north wales
Outfit: swift challenger 480se 2002

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your getting some good advice here ,take it in .my advice would be to research your sites better ,a concrete level pitch would also help till your more experienced ,don't give up though its all fun

lunarvenus

13/5/2013 at 8:13pm
Location: None Entered
Outfit: lunar venus

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Yeah as above, always level the axle first some wood under one of the wheels etc. Then Higher or lower jockey wheel to level from front to back, then lower legs, done.

Don't worry about pump, ours does it too, I just turn the pump off at the switch when I'm not using it.

ct955

13/5/2013 at 8:18pm
Location: Leicester
Outfit: coachman avocet565 + discovery sport

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We always go for hardstanding at moment they usually level. Also we always turn off pump at night and if we go out just in case.

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MadMum1972

13/5/2013 at 9:37pm
Location: Hempstead Kent
Outfit: Vango Genesis Airbeam 500

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Thank you. We were on a hardstanding pitch but it had a slope to it. We did go to see if we could change pitch but everybody had gone home who was in the know!!

Great advice, thank you so much. Such a learning curve but I guess that is half the fun!

We will turn the pump off in future, that is a good idea. Anything else it is wise to turn off as a precaution?

We have our first week long holiday in the May half term. I am looking forward to it!

Thanks again, brilliant people!!

-------------
Center Parcs April 2015
Chestnut Meadows Bexhill August 2015
Once in lifetime trip to Florida Oct 2015!!!

STUPOT69

14/5/2013 at 1:30am
Location: PRESTON
Outfit: Bailey Ranger 550 6

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Hi Guys,

I am too A New to all this, I have purchased A Millenco Leveller, I have used the Van on 5 occassions now and never had the need to use it.It also is a quite Cumbersome piece of kit,I am just wondering if its needed?? I have never seen anyone on a site use one Yet?? If its not needed,i think I will sell it on.

Thanks in advance

Stu

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chinster1957

14/5/2013 at 7:00am
Location: Essex
Outfit: Swift Challenger 480

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We have a Bulldog leveller (similar to the Milenco one) and find we need to use it on most sites we visit. We like it and wouldn't want to be without it but I do know its not everyones cup of tea.

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Some people are just all show. I don't mind that if the show is worth watching, but .....

Opensauce

14/5/2013 at 7:35am
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Quote: Originally posted by STUPOT69 on 14/5/2013

Hi Guys,
I am too A New to all this, I have purchased A Millenco Leveller, I have used the Van on 5 occassions now and never had the need to use it.It also is a quite Cumbersome piece of kit,I am just wondering if its needed?? I have never seen anyone on a site use one Yet?? If its not needed,i think I will sell it on.
Thanks in advance
Stu

The day after you sell it you will need it. There is nothing worse than an unlevel caravan. If you do sell it at least keep a large stepped wedge but the big advantage of what you have is that caravan can be levelled once parked.

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