To reverse or not to reverse? (1 Viewer)

[cineve]

The reversing question is to do with levelling ramps. For the first time we have noticed 2 'schools of thought': the one - as we have been doing - is that you drive your van forward up front blocks, and the other is that it is better for the van to reverse up front blocks.
Any factual info out there to suppor either or?

 

[Lenny HB]

On modern vans 1st gear is the lowest so always go on forward.
Reversing on to ramps you will soon get a lovely burning clutch smell not worth the risk with the high reverse gears.

 

[cineve]

Hi.
Sorry, I didn't explain very well
It isn't the actual driving up the ramps but rather the staying up on them once parked. So in the first instance the ramps would be positioned in front of the front tyres and up you go; in the second the ramps are positioned behind the front tyres and up you go.
So the differing opinions revolve around whether there is more strain on handbrake, I think.

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[mushy]

Drive up. My reverse gear is so high I can near enough reverse up a hill as fast as I can drive up.

 

[berni109]

Makes no difference to handbrake either way drive on or reverse apply brake and leave in first gear. But that's for my PVC not sure about an 8tonne monster.
I always go for direction of least resistance- ground falling away to front = drive on - falling away to rear = reverse on.

 

[Landy Andy]

The best, if not thinking of gearing, is to drive up the ramps, with the ramps being in the opposite direction to the slope you are trying to avoid. That way the vehicle is less likely to roll off them.

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[bigtwin]

Previous respondents have pretty much provided all the information you need. I can’t add anything else to what has already been said.

Ian

 

[Lenny HB]

Also when on ramps I always use wheel chocks.

 

[Oldbob]

Drive on. Then if they decide to sink as going on they don't wedge themselves under the van.
Same coming off, their is always a possibility of them flipping up at the end and getting stuck or causing damage, also the mudflaps aren't in the way if you have such things.

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[peterc10]

Best way is not to have ramps at all. We have never regretted selling our souls to the devil so we could afford hydraulic jacks.

 

[68c]

Previous respondents have pretty much provided all the information you need. I can’t add anything else to what has already been said.

Ian

So why post?

 

[dunnah01]

Ramps for many chassis are required on level ground to lift the front. For a manual box I'd drive on forwards but my comfortmatic keeps the clutch engaged going forwards so it's better for me to reverse on.

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[Lenny HB]

Ramps for many chassis are required on level ground to lift the front. For a manual box I'd drive on forwards but my comfortmatic keeps the clutch engaged going forwards so it's better for me to reverse on.

I have a Comformatic, no difference apart from the risk of burning the clutch out if you reverse on.

 

[Podney]

Keep it simple. Drive up forwards. That’s what the professionals do.
I don’t have self levellers coz I am too mean and miserable to spend money,but the evidence suggests they are probably the most cherished add-on for a lot of Funsters

 

[dunnah01]

I have a Comformatic, no difference apart from the risk of burning the clutch out if you reverse on.

Mine hits a certain rpm and the clutch stays engaged going forwards - I've flown off the far end a couple of times. In reverse it doesn't seem to stay engaged so you can control it better. I'll try twinkle toes with my slippers on and see if that works ??

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[bigtwin]

So why post?

Why ask?

 

[dunnah01]

So why post?

Why not - every comment count?

 

[Nanniemate]

Park on the flat....

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[dunnah01]

Park on the flat....

And fall into your cab at night ?

 

[swiftsteve]

I've done both without problems. At Newbury last year, our pitch was steeply sloped sideways (we were in general camping) I had both my nearside wheels on the top of my milenco quatros and it still wasn't perfectly level, stepping out the door was like jumping from a 1st floor window.

 

[cineve]

Wow, Thank you all for so much food for thought. Am now going to throw the cat amongst the pigeons with the 2 factions ...

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[suavecarve]

I have one other factor.

If its wet, and grass and youre going to be there a couple of days then leaving the drive wheels on the chocks so that you can drive out with wife running round vehicle in the rain removing them as you go (even if you have to turn round to park) saves you nicking bread baskets from Sainsburys.

Been there done that

 

[nicholsong]

Park on the flat....

That is what we do. Because we chose where to park, not being told.

I bought Milenco Quatro levellers 10 years ago and never used them so do not carry them now.

Geoff

 

[tonyidle]

Re stopping where intended on the ramps: if you can't left-foot brake (I can't with any finesse) use the handbrake to stop where you want to. Only then release the accelerator.

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[Claire Ambler]

The handbrake is actually an emergency brake. The effort is designed to stop the vehicle rolling forward. Although you might have disc brakes all round the handbrake is normally a shoe brake.
I always try to reverse onto ramps, just watch your mud flaps from catching.

 

[Tea Bag]

was like jumping from a 1st floor window.

Hi.
Something i have tried to avoid over the years.....Forward planning ?. ? ? ?
?
Tea Bag

 

[rod_vw]

Makes no difference to handbrake either way drive on or reverse apply brake and leave in first gear. But that's for my PVC not sure about an 8tonne monster.
I always go for direction of least resistance- ground falling away to front = drive on - falling away to rear = reverse on.

Second paragraph is the important one, that way the ramps are helping to defy gravity, i.e. resist rolling away should the hand brake not be fully engaged.

First paragraph relating to strain on the hand brake. The brake is purely a friction device applied by the pull on the hand brake cable (or electric wind-on motor if you have one). I guess users always pull the brake on reasonably hard in all parking instances. If you need exceptional force to get the hand brake to hold then there is a good chance that it is faulty any way.

Unfortunately, as those with VWs with swivel seats will know, the hand brake has to be off with the driver's seat turned so we are always in gear (or Park) and probably chocked.

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[tonyidle]

The handbrake is actually an emergency brake. The effort is designed to stop the vehicle rolling forward. Although you might have disc brakes all round the handbrake is normally a shoe brake.
I always try to reverse onto ramps, just watch your mud flaps from catching.

Not long ago all brakes used shoes. The brake will operate in either direction. Stopping the van under the circumstances I described will have no effect on the longevity or operation of the handbrake and offers optimum control. An electric handbrake may not offer the same advantages. There is no safe way to "inch" a vehicle in either direction without using the handbrake (or left foot braking).

 

[mushy]

Perhaps you should get a spade and dig a groop to lower the high end and taking the strain off the handbrake.

 

[TerryL]

I use both methods - but the choice usually comes from how much room I've got in either direction. For instance if I have to park close to a hedge/wall I'll try to arrange it so that when I come off I'll be travelling away from said obstruction. Other than that if I have to use the ramps the best way usually suggests itself. Have never had problems reversing my 2007 Ducato now with over 118000 miles on it, even onto the ramps.

On the level the van sits slightly nose down, which I often just accept. However the rear air suspension assist often stretches itself after a decent run, making it even more nose down so I then need some ramp assistance. I've got Milenco Quatros which are stored in an easy to get to position in the locker; did initially have some Fiamma ones but they were not very good and the "cups" that the wheels sit in on the Quatros make levelling easy.

However, despite the Quatros being quite tall even they are occasionally not enough - so I go and park somewhere else!

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