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Leveling of a caravan

Submitted: Monday, Jan 03, 2005 at 12:08

Patrick

This maybe standard knowledge to most of you who regarly use caravans but it is something that eludes me even after undertaking considerable web searches for the answer....it's leveling a van.

I have used off-road trailers for a long time and all I needed to do was to find a slightly level site and do you best with that. With a caravan that's different as you need it level for all the sinks and drains to work. So how do you go about this.

I have stayed in a number of caravan parks and noted that other users had blocks that they moved the van on and off at differnt heights to correct the level. The van I am getting is a Jayco Freedom Outback with tandom wheels so what ever I have to do will be multiplied by 2.

I would be interested in hearing from people as to how they go about the leveling process and what they used to do it.

Thanks in advance.

Patrick
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AnswerID: 91095   Submitted: Monday, Jan 03, 2005 at 12:50

japmel replied:

Patrick

There is an artical in the Caravan and Motorhome (annual awards issue) year book 2004 that deals with leveling your Caravan.
It is in News agents at the moment two for the price of one.

(if it helps look at the bottom left hand corner of the cover issue number 69)

Regards
japmel
Reply 1 of 8
FollowupID: 349863   Submitted: Tuesday, Jan 04, 2005 at 18:02

Patrick posted:

Hi japmel,

Picked up a copy today and it makes leveling that much easier. Thanks for the tip.

Cheers,

Patrick
FollowUp 1 of 1
AnswerID: 91100   Submitted: Monday, Jan 03, 2005 at 13:23

Rosco - Bris. replied:

Pat

If it's possible, having the axles parallel to the contours solves 95% of your problem. After that it's only a matter of adjusting elevation fore and aft, which can be effected by your jockey wheel.

Cheers
Reply 2 of 8
AnswerID: 91103   Submitted: Monday, Jan 03, 2005 at 13:33

motherhen replied:

The previous owner of our Bushtracker had designed a sturdy folding triangle. Place under lowest wheel and drive up it until caravan is level. It travels folded up bolted to the a-frame.
Reply 3 of 8
FollowupID: 349675   Submitted: Monday, Jan 03, 2005 at 13:34

motherhen posted:

Also have tandem wheels - he just used it under 1 wheel - didn't matter if other was up in the air
FollowUp 1 of 1
AnswerID: 91120   Submitted: Monday, Jan 03, 2005 at 15:35

Top Cat replied:

I am not trying to be a smart ass here but I would suggest you use a tool called a spirit level..........you can pick them up at any hardware stor in various lengths.......I suggest a short one of about 300mm.

It has a small liquid filled glass that is slightly curved and a small bubble inside that will indicate when something is level when placed on that surface.

Fairly self obvious once you see one.

As suggested above........use some boards to level side to side and then use the jockey wheel to get the level for and aft before winding down the stays at the back........and also at the front if they are on your model.

The entire process shouldnt take more than maybe 10 mins or so.
Reply 4 of 8
FollowupID: 349695   Submitted: Monday, Jan 03, 2005 at 16:26

motherhen posted:

We used to use a cheap spirit level - a bowl of water
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AnswerID: 91121   Submitted: Monday, Jan 03, 2005 at 16:00

Mad Dog (Victoria) replied:

I used to carry a few blocks of timber. I didn't muck around, I had a very nice tall hydraulic jack I'd use to jack up the low side level and biff some blocks under the wheel, only take me a few minutes. You already know about the jockey wheel. Most important to level if you have an absorption fridge.




Reply 5 of 8
AnswerID: 91171   Submitted: Monday, Jan 03, 2005 at 20:13

Patrick replied:

Thanks to all those who offered their feedback to my question. I will certainly be looking at the Caravan magazine suggested and see where that takes me. The jack also sounds interesting as well.

At least I now have a definition of what a spirit level is for which I am most gratefull. Ill have to get the three of them I have in the garage and reaquaint myself with them.

Cheers,

Patrick

Reply 6 of 8
FollowupID: 349769   Submitted: Tuesday, Jan 04, 2005 at 04:32

morgan posted:

Please take this in the right spirit - we inherited a small flat circular spirit level with our van - about 2 inches in diameter with a small circle in the centre - when the bubble is in the centre the van is level fore and aft as well as across the axle. I suppose they are avail from caravan supply shops.

Cheers Morgan
FollowUp 1 of 2
FollowupID: 349862   Submitted: Tuesday, Jan 04, 2005 at 18:00

Patrick posted:

Thanks Morgan for the feedback with your tounge in check comment. I have purchased the current edition of caravan and motorhome which has a picture of the T-Spirit level mentioned earlier. It seems to be a neat unit but I will also check out your oval one to see what the price diference is.

Cheers,

Patrick

FollowUp 2 of 2
AnswerID: 91350   Submitted: Tuesday, Jan 04, 2005 at 21:32

japmel replied:

No trouble mate pleased to help,

Happy Carvaning.

Regards
japmel
Reply 7 of 8
AnswerID: 91379   Submitted: Wednesday, Jan 05, 2005 at 07:06

Member - DOZER replied:

Gday
When you stop outside of a caravan park, digging a nice little hole and putting a wheel in it is easier than walking the plank...
Happy camping
Andrew

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b4 you bag me out, walk a mile in my shoes, then your a mile away and have my shoes :)
Reply 8 of 8