Steadies Vs Semi Air

[These Big Adventures]

My Mrs has said she feels a bit sea sick when we're parked up (more so when the kids are moving around in the overcab bit) so looking into solutions. Was looking into steadies or a couple of scissor jacks but just wondering if semi air suspension will also stop some of that movement?

 

[Manic]

I think steadies or levelling system (expensive option) because even with air bags they would help but you would still have movement in the tyres.
We use our wind down steadies which help.

 

[Adrian140974]

We have both, air suspension and self levelling. Air suspension first and does not solve your issue. The only way to sort it is the self levelling. Best investment we have made

 

[Vic]

As above. After trying every method over the years, hydraulic levels are the only thing that has worked. Not the answer I suspect you wanted to hear.

 

[paddymcc]

We have air suspension and steadies. I don't think that the air suspension helps whilst the steadies do for your problem. If I'm away alone in the van I don't bother with the steadies but do if there are more of us.

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[Lenny HB]

We have full air makes driving a dream but has no effect on rocking when stationary. When leveled with the air if the rear is at full heigh it makes the rocking worse. We love the van rocking in the wind.

If you want a stable van that doesn't rock when parked up hydraulic Jack's are the only answer.

 

[Adrian140974]

Towtal in Stoke did our self levelling this year, reasonable price and first rate job. Many systems available but we went with Amplo, which is mid range, any higher spec not needed in my opinion. Awesome just turning up to pitch and pressing a button, 1 minute later all level and steady.

 

[These Big Adventures]

Thanks all, think I'll go with the more reliable option as were going travelling in it for 2-3 years. Is the TESA system well regarded?

 

[Adrian140974]

We could not use as our vehicle is to heavy so I am unable advise, sorry

 

[Landy Andy]

We have both semi air assist and rear steadies.

The air assist stops a lot movement if running them at a reasonable pressure, but the rear steadies do more, as they bypass the tyres, and suspension movement, joining chassis to the ground. Neither are stopping the movement fully, and that will certainly be the case for your situation due to the front not being supported/assisted at all, so with an overcab you will still get a fair amount of movement still.

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[BillyKontiki]

I fitted AL-KO klick fix wind down steadies so easy to fit and use, I recon they take out around
50% of the movement and a fraction of the cost of other systems.good luck.

 

[Minxy]

Semi air won't stop it as others have said as there is still movement in the suspension, the only way to stop it is to make the chassis 'solid' by having something that goes to the ground to prevent movement, ie self-levelling system or steadies. I've got some scissor jacks which I'll be trying with our MH to see if it helps as when I'm in bed at the back and hubby starts moving around in the front it's like a herd of elephants are bounding about! If they do work I'll either see if there's a way to fixe them to the underside permanently (upside down) or just put them out when needed.

 

[Guigsy]

We've got steadies at the rear. If we've on a site for a few days, I'll jack them down. It does take a lot of the rock out.

I am a bit terrified that I'll drive off one day with them down though...

 

[RustyRuss]

I bought these trailer jacks on Ebay and welded them to the tow bar bracket on the back of the van. You need to get the van level first then wind them down. I don’t use them to actually level her. They work brilliantly.

Cheers!

Russ

 

[Minxy]

I bought these trailer jacks on Ebay and welded them to the tow bar bracket on the back of the van. You need to get the van level first then wind them down. I don’t use them to actually level her. They work brilliantly.

Cheers!

Russ

Are they actually legal seeing as they stick out at the sides?

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[RustyRuss]

Minxy they detach and I store them in the side locker when on the move….. But a good question!

 

[Jackd]

Are they actually legal seeing as they stick out at the sides?

MOT time may be an interesting discussion

 

[RustyRuss]

Had her MOT’d about 4 weeks ago, no issues. In fairness the tubes they attach to only stick out about an inch beyond the side of the van at that point, effectively like a steel bumper bar. At that point on the van they are actually inside the total width of the rear of the van. Take a more careful look at the stands in the ebay advert….

 

[Minxy]

Minxy they detach and I store them in the side locker when on the move….. But a good question!

It was with you saying you'd welded them on that made me think they were 'permanently' attached.

 

[Landy Andy]

We've got steadies at the rear. If we've on a site for a few days, I'll jack them down. It does take a lot of the rock out.

I am a bit terrified that I'll drive off one day with them down though...

Most, if original equipment, fold if you accidentally drive off forward. Not that I have tested mine. I put the wind handle across the pedals to stop that, if I did forget.

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[Feltwell]

Hydraulic jacks for a full cure, but they are both expensive and heavy.

My van came with fold down legs at the rear, which you couldn't put any pre-load on - so they just dug into the ground overnight and were pretty useless, by the morning they were always 1/2" above the now-compressed ground.

So I changed them for Alko steady-legs, which you wind down with a handle and can put a decent amount of pre-load on, they work a treat.

We don't have anything for the front of the van, but even with 3 kids, just the rear legs are enough to take the worst of the movement out. We really notice it if we don't put them down.

 

[Lenny HB]

Thanks all, think I'll go with the more reliable option as were going travelling in it for 2-3 years. Is the TESA system well regarded?

Not particularly I would pay the extra for E&P hydraulic Jack's.
This might be of interest.

Tesa

Thoughts on TESA auto levelling systems are they worth paying for. Tia

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

 

[MartinandBev]

Thanks all, think I'll go with the more reliable option as were going travelling in it for 2-3 years. Is the TESA system well regarded?

Friends of ours just had their system fitted here in Spain and its brilliant, much lighter than the hydraulic system and very quick to level

 

[funsterSwede]

Friends of ours just had their system fitted here in Spain and its brilliant, much lighter than the hydraulic system and very quick to level

Full set as in all 4 or just the one pair? Any idea how much it was? Looking to possibly get ourselves a full set in the spring..

 

[MartinandBev]

Full set as in all 4 or just the one pair? Any idea how much it was? Looking to possibly get ourselves a full set in the spring..

I can tell you exactly, for all four fitted and added to the technical document for ITV here in Spain it was just over €3000, here is the factura

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[Hettie's Crew]

Thanks all, think I'll go with the more reliable option as were going travelling in it for 2-3 years. Is the TESA system well regarded?

E&P or HPC, after a great deal of research are in my opinion the two best. Personally I think the HPC is the better of the two and as such bought it.