CARAVANNING FOR
BEGINNERS! |
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PART 4
LEVEL A CARAVAN |
You will not enjoy a comfortable stay
if your caravan isn't level on its pitch. We show you how it's done |
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Choose your pitch carefully
The first thing to bear in mind when you arrive on site is to choose your pitch carefully. If you are visiting in the peak season, you'll probably have little or no choice in the pitch allocation, but if you can choose your pitch, balance out the attractiveness of its location with how level it is. If you choose a fairly level pitch, you can avoid any problems.
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Using a spirit level inside
For front-to back levelling, careful use of the corner steadies is usually sufficient to support your van in a level position. With single-axle tourers especially, raise or lower the jockey wheel to level the van, and use a spirit level on a flat surface inside the van to check on adjustments. Only use the steadies to support the van once it is in position, not to lift it.
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When to use a levelling ramp
It gets trickier when you need to level a caravan from side to side. You'll need a levelling ramp, which you can get for around £15 from accessory stores. Reverse onto your pitch and stop about a foot further back than you need to be. Place your ramp in front of the wheel on the low side of the caravan.
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It's easier with an assistant
If you have help, place a spirit level parallel to the axle on the A-frame or inside the door. While your assistant watches the spirit level, slowly drive the car forward until the level's bubble is centred. Handbrake the van and chock the raised wheel. If you are on your own, make gradual changes, checking the spirit level each time.
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When to use levelling blocks
If the van has been raised significantly, you may find the corner steadies no longer reach the floor. In which case, you'll need to put something substantial under the steadies. Don't use bricks or stones as these may crumble or move. Use two levelling ramps stacked one on top of the other to create a flat platform, or floorboard-sized – 6in wide (152mm), ¾in deep (19mm) – wood blocks, but ensure they are secure.
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• If you don't have a spirit level, there are other ways in which you can get your van level. First, there is levelling by eye. Stand five metres back from the side of the van and see which side looks low. Make your adjustment and then check again. We favour the 'bean can' method. Place a can of beans on its side on a flat, smooth surface inside the van and see which way it rolls. If it rolls very slowly, the van may not be worth levelling further. Sit inside and check for comfort.
• If your van has its waste-water exits at the back, avoid pitches that, when the van is level, have the waste outlets too low to the get the waste containers in place. Either find another pitch or park the van the other way around.
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