Self levelling

[BikerGraham]

Thought would be appreciated .

We have a 2017 Bailey autograph which to be honest we are very happy with. Have looked at what we would like to replace it with over the last year and, well there’s very little, unless we want to spend an awful lot of money, which we can, do but reluctant to do as we are happy with what we have.

So our thoughts have turned to what to do to improve our van. One of which is to install self levelling. Now at around £7k it’s a big investment.

So would you spend so much on a 9 year old van, even thinking of keeping it for another 5 years.

Cheers peeps
Graham

 

[WESTY66]

All depends on if you’re going to get 5 years worth of value out of them, it’s not for everyone, some people cannot justify having them fitted, that said, I wouldn’t want to be without them now I’ve had them!!
Would I fit them again on a new van?? Probably if it was a keeper

 

[martxer]

How important to you is being level?
We are thinking of self levelling as well but when ever we go anywhere more often than not we don’t bother with ramps as they are a faff and we are not too precious about being level.
However it does mean you are restricted in how you park in order to get the van level ish without ramps.
I still can’t make up my mind if it’s worth it

 

[BikerGraham]

How important to you is being level?
We are thinking of self levelling as well but when ever we go anywhere more often than not we don’t bother with ramps as they are a faff and we are not too precious about being level.
However it does mean you are restricted in how you park in order to get the van level ish without ramps.
I still can’t make up my mind if it’s worth it

TBH never really thought too much of them in the past as always level enough. But when we were on one site for 7 weeks in Spain over winter we thought they would be good idea to be level and stable I.e. not rocking. Plus the boss did also say she hated it when we did use the levelling ramps which do use on occasion.

 

[martxer]

TBH never really thought too much of them in the past as always level enough. But when we were on one site for 7 weeks in Spain over winter we thought they would be good idea to be level and stable I.e. noticing. Plus the boss did also say she hated it when we did use the levelling ramps which do use on occasion.

Those that have levelling do rave about it so I will probably take the plunge at some point just struggling to make the sums add up at the moment. I can see the benefit but having managed for 16 months without ,computer says no

 

[Hettie's Crew]

We had them (HPC) on our Hymer from 2018 and didn’t think twice about getting them (Alko HY4 this time) on our replacement motorhome.
It’s the stability and levelling that you get used to.

 

[Grummyb]

If you don't use levelling ramps very often and manage to get level without too much issue I think you are falling into the bits what everyones got so must be worth having trap so I would say don't bother

 

[Bobby-gg]

BIL had them on his transit, and they were fantastic - setting up sideways at Mighty Dub Fest at Alnwick and he could just press the button on his remote and let it do its thing.

Plus, he'd park it on his drive with the jacks just taking the weight off the tyres, prevented flat spots and maybe also an added anti theft device

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[BikerGraham]

If you don't use levelling ramps very often and manage to get level without too much issue I think you are falling into the bits what everyones got so must be worth having trap so I would say don't bother

Understand what you are saying, although it’s not that train of thought for us.

I think my main query is to have them fitted to a 9 year old van ?

 

[BikerGraham]

BIL had them on his transit, and they were fantastic - setting up sideways at Mighty Dub Fest at Alnwick and he could just press the button on his remote and let it do its thing.

Plus, he'd park it on his drive with the jacks just taking the weight off the tyres, prevented flat spots and maybe also an added anti theft device

Well they would be handy at Knebworth as have a motorhome pitch for the mighty Maiden

 

[WESTY66]

Understand what you are saying, although it’s not that train of thought for us.

I think my main query is to have them fitted to a 9 year old van ?

I would say it doesn’t matter how old the van is, it’s how long you’re gonna keep the van once you’ve had them fitted

They’re also very handy for the older comfortmatic vans and you’re not slipping the clutch riding up the ramps

 

[Lenny HB]

Never used to bother us being level as long a as the wine and glasses didn't slide off the table.

Had full air on the last van could get level 90% of the time.
Put Jack's on this van and now can't bear being 1mm out of level.

I always feel with expensive items if not fitted in the first couple of years I'll never do it.
It would be a hard desision on a van of that age but with Jack's you can move them to the next van for a couple of grand providing it's a similar chassis.

 

[lorger]

We gave it serious thought when we bought our van new, that was June 20 and at the time they were around £4-£5k but due to Covid left it and won’t bother now.

Remember you can always remove them and have them fitted to new van if you ever change.

 

[BikerGraham]

I would say it doesn’t matter how old the van is, it’s how long you’re gonna keep the van once you’ve had them fitted

They’re also very handy for the older comfortmatic vans and you’re not slipping the clutch riding up the ramps

Thanks mate, that’s an opinion I was looking for.

Like I say we are happy with the van. Have looked to change but nothing really does it for us at the moment. I know for many that may seem strange given the reputation of Bailey’s but we bought it at 5 years old and have had it nearly 4 years and really happy with it. The layout is ideal for us the way we use it. We have up plated to 3850 to give a little extra payload which suits. Ideally we would like a large garage for the scooter but happy enough with a trailer for that for now.

 

[BikerGraham]

Never used to bother us being level as long a as the wine and glasses didn't slide off the table.

Had full air on the last van could get level 90% of the time.
Put Jack's on this van and now can't bear being 1mm out of level.

I always feel with expensive items if not fitted in the first couple of years I'll never do it.
It would be a hard desision on a van of that age but with Jack's you can move them to the next van for a couple of grand providing it's a similar chassis.

Thanks Lenny understand what you say and yes did look into fact can move to another van when we do eventually change.

Am looking at the HY4 with weighing function at £6800 which can be fitted to any chassis I think.

Agree that in the past as long as the wine glass doesn’t slide off the table and the fridge works on gas then it’s level enough.

 

[Terry]

Looking at it from a convenient point of view yes from a money £50 ramps or 7k probably use 20/30 times a year - ok if money no object but?

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[Hettie's Crew]

As said above we had the HPC system and would and did highly recommend it, until we got this HY4 system, it’s just soooooo much smoother and less dramatic and jerky in its operation.
The HPC pretty much always had the front wheels up because it deployed the rears and lifted slightly leaving further for the front to go to get level. The HY4 appears to stabilise the rear leaving less lift required at the front, quick and smooth.
Bonus was, cheaper than the HPC too, including the weight function.
Fitted by Armitages who have the most experience with HY4.

 

[Lenny HB]

Am looking at the HY4 with weighing function at £6800 which can be fitted to any chassis I think.

I would have preferred them but they are flipping heavy.

 

[Chipster]

It’s not just the level. It’s also being more stable, lot less movement moving about in the van and on windy days for example. Sorry can’t advise if you alone will get value from it but as already mentioned it can be moved. It is a big outlay though. Our system is nearly 10 years old now, still ok so for us it’s been a good thing.

 

[BikerGraham]

As said above we had the HPC system and would and did highly recommend it, until we got this HY4 system, it’s just soooooo much smoother and less dramatic and jerky in its operation.
The HPC pretty much always had the front wheels up because it deployed the rears and lifted slightly leaving further for the front to go to get level. The HY4 appears to stabilise the rear leaving less lift required at the front, quick and smooth.
Bonus was, cheaper than the HPC too.
Fitted by Armitages who have the most experience with HY4.

Thanks, appreciate the detailed info.
We have Hedleys up here who fit the system. They put my tow bar on last year and was impressed with them.

 

[BikerGraham]

I would have preferred them but they are flipping heavy.

Yep, 68kg I believe

 

[Lenny HB]

Yep, 68kg I believe

I thought they were 72 compared to 55 for E&P.

 

[Hettie's Crew]

68kg, BUT, there are variables if your particular chassis requires an additional cross braising bracket.

 

[ManTheVan]

They’re definitely a luxury, but man, they make such a difference to our overall enjoyment.

No rocking in the wind or when one of us goes to the loo in the night. The shower drains properly, it’s easy to change a wheel, empty the tank and makes it far more difficult to steal the vehicle. Will it ever pay for itself? No, but neither will the MH. It’s a luxury that we are extremely lucky to be able to have.

We had HPC on our previous MH. We know the new owner and the system is still working brilliantly.

With the new MH, we asked Wattguardz to fit M-Level when the MH was in for its alarm. They also fitted MAD air suspension and uprated electrics. M-level is a British-built system and works a treat. Of course, the funster discount which they extend to members also saved us big time, meaning the levelling was even better value.

Only you know whether your finances can stretch to having levelling fitted. If you can, I heartily recommend it. If not, then keep enjoying the adventure!

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[Mr Colpot]

We have had self levelling on our last 3 motorhomes and the current one was 14 years old when we bought it. We have HPC on this one whereas the previous two were E&P. I find the HPC a little more clunky and ours has fewer features than the E&P (eg being able to recalibrate the level)

We need the bed to be dead level to sleep so they are almost a necessity for us so the age of the Motorhome wouldn't stop us having them fitted.

 

[PhilG]

£7k buys a lot of diesel. A friend has it on his Burstner, been stuck on it 3 times.

My wooden levellers cost me 2 pints of beer, and weigh less than a levelling system.

Its just something else to go wrong, especially when they sit unused for a long time.

At £1000 it would be a maybe, any more than that, its a hard no.

Thats 25 ferry crossings.

Or another motorcycle.

 

[Broadway]

They are expensive but in my view good value. As well as easy levelling they provide stability and ability to change a wheel. We had them fitted to our first van and swapped them to the new van without any difficulty. We had the E&P system fitted by SAP in Doncaster, great service and always very helpful with any subsequent queries.

I wouldn’t hesitate to have them fitted.

 

[KASPAR]

We have the M-Level set up, installed at VanBitz as was, now WattGuardz. Fair price and with Funsters discount.

Particularly useful when parking at home on a type 1 MoT with plastic grid system 'pitch' to keep the wheels off the ground and deter theft.

We've used on all sorts of places; site pitches grass/hardstanding, lay-bys, pub car parks, friends driveways, streets outside houses, quaysides. Level, stable and stops movements in winds / storms / passing traffic (trucks).

It's only money, can't take it with you.

 

[stevewagner]

If you don't use levelling ramps very often and manage to get level without too much issue I think you are falling into the bits what everyones got so must be worth having trap so I would say don't bother

You’re missing the point. It’s not just levelling it’s about stabilising the motorhome. No rocking or movement when someone gets up in the middle of the night or when Wendy. I don’t believe people spending 6/7k is falling into any trap.

 

[Dave and Di 🌞]

Oh he wants to be in the self level gang on La Media

No funning aside Graham you won't regret it, I think I am right in saying HPC is the lightest but could be wrong the E&P/ AlKo or HPC are all good kit which I have had both. Like said above you can alway take them with you when the time comes to buy a new van.