How Low is Too Low?

[Blackadder]

A question for owners of Ducato-based motorhomes with HPC self-levelling installed. When the jacks are fully retracted ("Stored" in HPC language), how high off the ground are the pads? Anyone had trouble with them scraping on sleeping policemen or ferry ramps?

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

There are a few threads on levellers regarding dropping down etc ,maybe some info on there. Some bad fitters out there.

 

[David and Sally]

We have HPC. If you go over a sleeping policeman too fast the body of the van can bounce and the pads hit them. Just go slow. No problem.

 

[Hettie's Crew]

I thought ours were low when first fitted but they are the same as the tanks and pipes underneath. I’m just very careful if reversing over a kerb to fit in a parking space.
The lower they are the greater the lift.

 

[Blackadder]

I appreciate all of the above but...
It's not a case of the jacks dropping - they are fully retracted. The reason I asked the question is that they do seem very low - the rear ones are below the rear axle height, the feet being approx 15cm above ground, and have scraped even when going slowly. On TV I was watching a car getting on a cross-channel ferry and I'm not sure our jacks would survive the ramp! However I appreciate that if they are raised then I might have to carry some blocks to get enough "lift". I know it's a compromise but wondered how others coped. I've looked at the brackets and it looks like it's a simple job of undoing 6 bolts and sliding the jacks up to use alternative mounting holes (which are at approx 5 cm spacing). Actually the rears and the off-side front could go up by about 10cm but the there's some pipes above the near side front that mean 5 cm max.

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[David and Sally]

How far behind the axle are the jacks?

Ours are not far behind the rear wheels so no problem with ramps. We do get grounding on the tow bar though.

 

[Blackadder]

How far behind the axle are the jacks?

Ours are not far behind the rear wheels so no problem with ramps. We do get grounding on the tow bar though.

G'day
At the back the centreline of the jacks is about 42cm behind the centre of the 16" wheel you can just see the entire diameter of the jacks behind the tyre. At the front it's about 60cm. Looking at the brackets I can't see any way to make this smaller. I've spoken to the people who fit them and they say 15cm is normal and they can't go higher (or rather they refuse to do it) - that may be their spec. but I can't see any reason why the jacks can't be slid up the brackets.
It would be very helpful (andf reassuring?) if you could tell be how high off the ground yours are?

 

[David and Sally]

I'm not near the van for a few days. But, I estimate about 180 - 200mm to bottom of the pads. Don't quote me on that. Will try to find a pic.

Edit. Can you work anything out from this? Very sloping ground so jacks almost at max.

 

[DerryW]

We have the EP system. I have just been and measured both front and back fully retracted. They are both the same at 18cm. (see images).
I have as yet haven't had a problem, having said that, I'm concise they there, so take a little bit more care when traveling on uneven surfaces.

 

[Blackadder]

I'm not near the van for a few days. But, I estimate about 200mm to bottom of the pads. Don't quote me on that. Will try to find a pic.

Edit. Can you work anything out from this? Very sloping ground so jacks almost at max.

Thanks. The jack appears to be the same distance behind the wheel. I've tried to estimate the height using the wheel hub and the jack label as references but it's difficult to work out due to the perspective. If it is 200 mm (strange - your post reads 300 but when I quote it says 200?) then maybe yours are one hole higher up the bracket than ours. If you can remember to take a tape measure next time you go to the van I'd be forever in your debt. Since both vans are Buerstners it's a good comparison.

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[Blackadder]

We have the EP system. I have just been and measured both front and back fully retracted. They are both the same at 18cm. (see images).
I have as yet haven't had a problem, having said that, I'm concise they there, so take a little bit more care when traveling on uneven surfaces.

Thanks Derry - That extra 3cm could make a big difference. Have you been on a ferry with it?

 

[David and Sally]

Thanks. The jack appears to be the same distance behind the wheel. I've tried to estimate the height using the wheel hub and the jack label as references but it's difficult to work out due to the perspective. If it is 200 mm (strange - your post reads 300 but when I quote it says 200?) then maybe yours are one hole higher up the bracket than ours. If you can remember to take a tape measure next time you go to the van I'd be forever in your debt. Since both vans are Buerstners it's a good comparison.

Ok, will do. I changed my estimate to 180 - 200mm.