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Subject Topic: Levellers
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03/3/2014 at 8:01pm
 Location: Hartlepool
 Outfit: Caravan
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Hi all. So I'm still trying to get used to learning all about my 'van and I have a question about levellers. I just read the corner steadies shouldn't be used to level the 'van. Would people agree with this? We only took ours out twice last year so still have lots to learn!


03/3/2014 at 8:07pm
 Location: Yorkshire
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No they shouldn't. Front to back with jockey wheel, side to side with something under a wheel.


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03/3/2014 at 8:09pm
 Location: Hartlepool
 Outfit: Caravan
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Not take the jockey wheel up once steadies are down?


03/3/2014 at 8:09pm
 Location: Royal Forest of Dean
 Outfit:  Swift Major 4SB
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The clue is in the name. Steadies are only for steadying. Level the van using ramps and the jockey wheel then steady it with the corner steadies. They are not designed to lift the van to level it.

Rob


03/3/2014 at 8:10pm
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Correct, first level caravan side to side using leveling ramp under one wheel, then fore & aft using jockey wheel, then wind corner steadies down firmly onto ground but avoid lifting caravan with them. It helps to carry off cuts of wood to put under steadies if required on uneven ground.


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04/3/2014 at 6:11am
 Location: None Entered
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If you look under your caravan you will see that the corner steadys are attached to the floor and not the chassis so if you use them to level the caravan you are lifting the van by the floor and not the chassis.
This can stress the bodywork and damage the seals.
Dont know why the caravan manufacturers do this, it would be so easy to design a chassis that has the legs attached   

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alpiner


04/3/2014 at 9:34am
 Location: Lichfield
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Just another post to add that all the replies above are absolutely right and never to jack up the caravan with the corner steadies but furthermore, what 'alpiner' has said is absolutely true, the four corner steadies are actually fixed to the caravan floor and not the chassis.


04/3/2014 at 10:03am
 Location: Hartlepool
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Thanks for all your comments, I appreciate them. I'm going to buy some suitable leveling aids and put this down to inexperience!


04/3/2014 at 1:10pm
 Location: Lichfield
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If you are going to purchase a pair of levelling ramps then you are best to buy the ones that have the interlocking wheel chocks. When the caravan is level and the wheel chocked this is a safety feature which stops the caravan from rolling off the ramp which can be dangerous if you are ever pitched on a slight incline even though the hand brake may be applied.


04/3/2014 at 1:54pm
 Location: Derbyshire
 Outfit: Adria Altea 542DT
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Never needed any more than a few planks of wood and a set of chocks.


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04/3/2014 at 5:52pm
 Location: Hartlepool
 Outfit: Caravan
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Chocks being purpose made or wooden blocks?


04/3/2014 at 6:11pm
 Location: Derbyshire
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A set of plastic chocks from the caravan accessory shop. Only cost a couple of pounds.

Then a few planks of wood that can be easily stacked on top of each other if you require more height. Just make sure they are as wide or wider than the tyre on the van.

Must cheaper than s set of ramps.


04/3/2014 at 6:25pm
 Location: Hartlepool
 Outfit: Caravan
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That's clever advice ;-)


04/3/2014 at 6:42pm
 Location: Teesside
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Quote: Originally posted by tango55 on 04/3/2014
If you are going to purchase a pair of levelling ramps then you are best to buy the ones that have the interlocking wheel chocks.



Why does one need a pair of ramps? Surely only one is needed for side to side levelling.





04/3/2014 at 7:24pm
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FREEATLAST A pair of levellers can be used on one wheel for extra height.

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A barman is just a pharmacist
with a limited inventory


04/3/2014 at 8:16pm
 Location: Somerset
 Outfit: Bailey Olympus 540-5
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We have bought chocks and levellers but when we actually tried the shop bought levellers dh who does the towing found he much preferred the wooden planks that we now take, I think it's because it's easier to adjust with the wood? OT but similar I would also recommend one of the mats you can put under tyres to help you get off slippy pitches. We found that worked well to get off a grass pitch.



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