Leveling of a caravan
Submitted: Monday, Jan 03, 2005 at 13:08
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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
Reply By: japmel - Monday, Jan 03, 2005 at 13:50
Monday, Jan 03, 2005 at 13:50
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
AnswerID:
91095
Follow Up By: Patrick - Tuesday, Jan 04, 2005 at 19:02
Tuesday, Jan 04, 2005 at 19:02
Hi japmel,
Picked up a copy today and it makes leveling that much easier. Thanks for the tip.
Cheers,
Patrick
FollowupID:
349863
Reply By: Rosco - Bris. - Monday, Jan 03, 2005 at 14:23
Monday, Jan 03, 2005 at 14:23
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
AnswerID:
91100
Reply By: motherhen - Monday, Jan 03, 2005 at 14:33
Monday, Jan 03, 2005 at 14:33
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.
AnswerID:
91103
Follow Up By: motherhen - Monday, Jan 03, 2005 at 14:34
Monday, Jan 03, 2005 at 14:34
Also have tandem wheels - he just used it under 1 wheel - didn't matter if other was up in the air
FollowupID:
349675
Reply By: Top Cat - Monday, Jan 03, 2005 at 16:35
Monday, Jan 03, 2005 at 16:35
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.
AnswerID:
91120
Follow Up By: motherhen - Monday, Jan 03, 2005 at 17:26
Monday, Jan 03, 2005 at 17:26
We used to use a cheap spirit level - a bowl of water
FollowupID:
349695
Reply By: Mad Dog (Victoria) - Monday, Jan 03, 2005 at 17:00
Monday, Jan 03, 2005 at 17:00
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.
AnswerID:
91121
Reply By: Patrick - Monday, Jan 03, 2005 at 21:13
Monday, Jan 03, 2005 at 21:13
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
AnswerID:
91171
Follow Up By: morgan - Tuesday, Jan 04, 2005 at 05:32
Tuesday, Jan 04, 2005 at 05:32
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
FollowupID:
349769
Follow Up By: Patrick - Tuesday, Jan 04, 2005 at 19:00
Tuesday, Jan 04, 2005 at 19:00
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
FollowupID:
349862
Reply By: japmel - Tuesday, Jan 04, 2005 at 22:32
Tuesday, Jan 04, 2005 at 22:32
No trouble mate pleased to help,
Happy Carvaning.
Regards
japmel
AnswerID:
91350
Reply By: Member - DOZER- Wednesday, Jan 05, 2005 at 08:06
Wednesday, Jan 05, 2005 at 08:06
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
AnswerID:
91379