Why the need for Levellers? (1 Viewer)

[pappajohn]

As someone has brought up the thread of levellers, can anyone help with my little problem:Blush:

Both front seats swivel to make up the lounge/dining area. Being a Ford Transit, the handbrake is in the way of the driver's seat swivelling and so has to be released (having left it in gear, of course). There is always a slight bit of movement as the brake releases and the gear takes effect - having got everything level, it ain't level anymore as we slip slightly down the block!

Anyone else had this problem and found a solution?

Phil

easy phil....

when you drive up the ramps go a little higher than needed, either forward or backward, hold it on the clutch, put on the handbrake, turn off the ignition while still holding on the clutch.


doing this iliminates the 'slack' in the gears so no slack, no roll back.
then put a block under the wheels.
then you can let the handbrake off.

 

[ronald4874]

Van Levelling

Surely its cost effective to use levelling blocks to ensure fridge, and more importantly the bed is level to avoid the expense of buying Viagra to stop you rolling out of bed.

Its very warm here in Spain on the beach.

Cheers Ron W

 

[Jaws]

I use em cos I cannot abide sleeping on a slope !
Whilst tenting a few years ago we plotted up at Sheepcote valley site.. Every morning we all woke up in the bottom of our sleeping bags with leg bits outside the tent !
get up early and wander along the path to the site of loads of legs and heds and bums sticking under tent flaps

I think that had a fairly permanent effect on me

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[pneumatician]

Levellers

First of all obtain a spirit level and decide by deduction, devination and calculus which is the level surface in your Van. No two flat surfaces will be the same.

Place your precision spirit level on the "Datum" flat surface. First of all fore and aft alignment and note the bubble position. Now turn the precision spirit level through 90 degrees so that is athwart, note the position of the bubble.
The bubble will always float to the highest end of the level. If you a lucky and it is in the middle either in fore and aft or athwart then you need only adjust in one plane.
So if the bubble is high towards the front you only need to ramp up the rear wheels, or if it just one side then just the nearside or off side wheels will need adjustment.
Sadly this is rarely the case and a bit of juggling both fore and aft and athwart may be required. Precision pitching takes great skill and patience which Caravaners cuss loudly as you reverse up and down ramps seeking that perfect position.
I trust this short and simple explanation will suffice.

The real answer is to fork out £4,000 for a self-leveling kit you then park, press a button and leave it to the hydraulics to sort it out. Unfortunately as well as the price penalty they are also quite heavy.

Steve

 

[DavidEJM]

no spirit level?

If you forget your spirit level (or can't find it), just stick a glass of water on your flat surface to ascertain which adjustments are necessary.

 

[Steptoe]

I'm with the 'shuffle around on the pitch until the toilet door doesn't swing open or shut' group though I do have (2) leveling blocks for the rare occasions when there aren't little hollows to drop wheels into.

one thing has always puzzled me though, when setting up a manual crank up satellite dish which is mounted on the roof, does the van need to be level? The instructions say to crank up to the correct elevation for the latitude and then swing round to locate the satellite; but surely if the van isn't level the dish would describe some sort of parabolic arc and might well miss the satellite altogether:Sad:

....quite why I'm worrying about this when I don't even have a dish I don't knowoh:

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[6pm Cowboy]

to avoid the expense of buying Viagra to stop you rolling out of bed.

The Following User Says Thank You to ronald4874 foe finally explaining the value of this substance.
6pm Cowboy

 

[Baker69]

We use a separate stand-alone step for our MH as the built-in Omnistor one we find is too flimsy - plus our 2 little mutts have difficulty getting in and out with them!

If the ground isn't level we can't shut the door without first moving the steps out the way so we use ramps to get everything reasonably level.

 

[pappajohn]

If you forget your spirit level (or can't find it), just stick a glass of water on your flat surface to ascertain which adjustments are necessary.

and if it slides off the surface you need to find another pitch off the hillside...

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[pappajohn]

First of all fore and aft alignment and note the bubble position. Now turn the precision spirit level through 90 degrees so that is athwart, note the position of the bubble.

or just buy a double bubble level :thumb:

work a treat and if you position it in the right spot you dont even get out of the drivers seat.:thumb:

 

[Douglas]

On our swift 630g there is a window that is level with the bead over the garage, if you dont get the van level you can endup with your feet hanging outside!!!!


Doug...

 

[Caztur]

I don't have a problem with the handbrake when turning the driver's seat round in my Transit - but I don't often turn it round, just the passenger one, as the driver's one is part of my bed.

Levelling - got two yellow cheeses for if it's really bad, mostly don't bother, being only a SWB it's ok most of the time and won't bother me unless I keep rolling out of bed.

Sorry, not being very helpful, am I?

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[olley]

Hi I am a bit confused, don't you guys just lower your jacks to level?



Olley

 

[scotjimland]

Hi I am a bit confused, don't you guys just lower your jacks to level?



Olley

I misread the post ...oh:



for a moment I thought you said jocks ...

 

[scotjimland]

Hi I am a bit confused, don't you guys just lower your jacks to level?



Olley

I misread the post ...oh:



for a moment I thought you said jocks ...

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