Update on our E&P levellers (1 Viewer)

BillandHelen

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We have now been using our levellers in conjunction with our rear air suspension for a while now on our panel van conversion and thought it would be useful to give our experience.

We are currently on a stellplatz/camping place in Ahrweiler in Germany, very crowded due to wine festival happening this weekend! Our "pitch" was uneven back to front and side to side by quite a lot! Previously we would just have put up with it, and sponged away all the water in the uneven shower.

However, this time, lower rear suspension ( great for unloading bikes off rack ) auto level with the E&P, then finish off with some minor manual adjustments to fully level, time taken 2/3 mins! Just superb!

We can't quite believe the difference they have made, everything absolutely level and no movement, whatever you do (ooh err madam!!). The self levelling suspension is also super, great with weighty electric bikes on the back, we didn't need to raise rear on ferry, despite having to reverse on, but good to know we could!

So convinced, we are booked into Mick at SAP for full air, should give us every option we ever need for levelling, emptying or just fab stability when driving.

Was expensive experiment for us, especially on a panel van, but fully convinced now, just need to keep the van long enough to get our value from it!!

Bill
 

Theonlysue

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Not long enough!
Why did you need to manually adjust it?
 
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BillandHelen

BillandHelen

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Auto levelling, when really uneven, only gets so close, after that you can do adjustments manually, we like the front up a touch as our shower drains to a single point at rear!!

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Blue Knight

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everything absolutely level and no movement, whatever you do (ooh err madam!!).

Hi Bill,

I've three questions for you:

1. I'm far too young to know what you mean by the bracketed bit - can you explain please?

2. A cheeky question: What will be the total spend once you've got the full system fitted.

3. How much does a sponge cost.:D2

All the best,:rolleyes:

Andrew
 
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BillandHelen

BillandHelen

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Andrew, sponges much cheaper option for clearing water in shower!

Cost, relatively is extortionate or if you have the means entirely reasonable, you will convince yourself either way!!

For levellers and full air suspension, not much change from, whisper it, £10k.

But offset against the cost of plastic levellers and sponges .......

Bill
 
Feb 24, 2013
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We have both but can't do what you do. If we use auto then switch to manual all the legs retract first.

Also when we use auto the air suspension drops first then levels.

Good sysyems though, but frustrating when it says too uneven to auto level but then you can manually. Get that about 1:5 tries

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Blue Knight

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Andrew, sponges much cheaper option for clearing water in shower!

Cost, relatively is extortionate or if you have the means entirely reasonable, you will convince yourself either way!!

For levellers and full air suspension, not much change from, whisper it, £10k.

But offset against the cost of plastic levellers and sponges .......

Bill

Thanks Bill, I'll stick with the sponge for now but nevertheless it has given me the idea of starting one of those 'Just Giving' pages for my new levelling system.

I've just googled the bracketed comment - you very naughty chappy (y)

All the best,

Andrew
 

funflair

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Auto levelling, when really uneven, only gets so close, after that you can do adjustments manually, we like the front up a touch as our shower drains to a single point at rear!!
I am sure you know that you can customise the "level" setting to be slightly nose up or down depending on your preference (I'm nose down)

Martin
 
Jun 6, 2012
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Can you customise it yourself or does Mick have to reprogram it? I've got E&P and would like to tweek the auto level to be a little more offside.

Dave.

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Theonlysue

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Not long enough!
The instructions tell you how to do it. :)
 

funflair

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It must add a load of
payload. Do you still manage to keep in weight or have you had it up plated?
That would depend on the payload that you started with, if you were down to your last 50kg you might think about it if you have 500kg spare you would be OK.

Martin

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Oct 29, 2008
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We have full air and levelling on our PVC.
There was a recent software update for my system that made the dropping of the sir and the activation of the legs faster and it levels at a lower height now. Mick would need to do the update if it's available for your set up. Ours is the latest version and needed to be updated as it was slow to respond.
 
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The instructions tell you how to do it. :)
Thanks.....I have read the instructions but it talks about setting the zero point...calibration...I just wanted confirmation if this was the procedure to adjust the automatic level
 

funflair

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Thanks.....I have read the instructions but it talks about setting the zero point...calibration...I just wanted confirmation if this was the procedure to adjust the automatic level
Setting the Zero point is telling the system what attitude you want it to Use as level in the automatic cycle, so yes you can set Zero at nose up or down or even out left to right if you wish.

Martin

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R

Robert Clark

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If you reset the level point on E&P I understand that it breaks the link with the VB air suspension.
 
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Luckily I don't have VB air......yet:D

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BillandHelen

BillandHelen

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Hi jezport, yes, as we only have the rear air Mick had to disconnect from the levellers, apparently for panel vans you need full air for the connection to work, news to Mick as well!! It's no big deal, we move rear up or down manually first, stick it into service mode, then use levellers.

When we are in for full air going to get Mick to set level as slightly nose up, help the water to run down the shower drain a bit easier! First world problems, eh!!

Just been in Germany for a week, not only not seen any funsters, hardly seen any uk campers! Been a nice sunny week, but now raining in a cloudy and cold Bocholt, last stellplatz before back up for Rotterdam ferry tomorrow.

Bill
 

Chipster

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Getting there!
If you reset the level point on E&P I understand that it breaks the link with the VB air suspension.
It should be fine. Done a reset/ calibration on mine a couple of times and it still drops the suspension first when dropping jacks in auto.

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Oct 29, 2016
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I have read many times of the merits of The E&P leveling system and the 5K cost, which would be more easier to swallow if you were intending to keep your van for a long period of time. Surprisingly though, I haven't heard of anyone saying that they would have it removed from existing van and reinstalled on new van. therefore are the costs of doing this even more prohibitive than the initial purchase price.?
 

stewartwebr

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I have read many times of the merits of The E&P leveling system and the 5K cost, which would be more easier to swallow if you were intending to keep your van for a long period of time. Surprisingly though, I haven't heard of anyone saying that they would have it removed from existing van and reinstalled on new van. therefore are the costs of doing this even more prohibitive than the initial purchase price.?

Timely post regarding removal and replacement as that is what I am currently in the process of doing. The difficulties I have faced have been around availability of an E&P Engineer to actually carry it out. When a deal is struck the dealer wants the transaction to progress as quickly as possible. This caused me an issue with no one able to do the job for at least 5 weeks. Fortunately, the dealer had an E&P technician working for him, but the dealer was not an E&P specialist, the employee gained the experience from his previous employer.
Agreement was reached that he would remove the system from my Flair at my cost and I could arrange to have it installed on the new Morelo. The removal cost was 250GBP which was 3 hours labour.
The Morelo is booked into Mick in Doncaster next Monday to have the system fitted. Fortunately, it appears the location of the jacks is exactly the same for both vans, so should be no need for any additional brackets. The hoses look okay, but Mick seems to think they will need to be replaced, but he will see what he can do. Estimate to refit the system is around 1200GBP. So the cost to swap system appears to be around 1500GBP
With regard to the full V4 Air suspension, I would not be without it. The improvement on ride and stability is very apparent. However, I would never have the air suspension without the levelling. VB claim the full V4 system has the ability to level which is true. However, you are sitting on 4 air bags, the slightest wind (especially in large high sided van) it feels like you are on a ferry in rough seas, you roll around like crazy.
 

Mr Chrysalis

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@David M Franks - this is just what you need to stabilise your van for your telescope!

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Doctor Dave

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It must add a load of
payload. Do you still manage to keep in weight or have you had it up plated?

You can of course remove from the van a heavy jack and the previously used levelling ramps so that off sets some of the E & P weight.


Dave
 
Jul 29, 2007
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This is us at Durdle Door campsite on a sea view pitch a few weeks ago, even with blocks under the jack we still weren't completely level. Must be interesting showering or sleeping with out jacks.
IMG_20170821_152050.jpg
 
Oct 29, 2008
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I would think that most pvc s are close to the limit unless re plated.
Not on the Maxi chassis.
We had nearly 500kg payload before up plating so had no problems with payload.
We up plated and now it would be pretty much impossible to over load with 1500kg payload, unless I take up bullion smuggling.
We have weighed it and still have 500kg spare (spread well between axles) when fully loaded.

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Popeye

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I have E&P and rear axle air assist. I now leave Auto alone and manually adjust the E&P, I reckon I am taking about 20 or 30 seconds longer than auto but I don't get all six wheels dangling in thin air with the manual adjustment.
 
Oct 29, 2008
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I have E&P and rear axle air assist. I now leave Auto alone and manually adjust the E&P, I reckon I am taking about 20 or 30 seconds longer than auto but I don't get all six wheels dangling in thin air with the manual adjustment.
Since I had the software update mine levels a lot lower. May be worth speaking to mick.
 
Oct 29, 2016
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stewartwebr many thanks for giving an answer to one of my concerns about E&P leveling "portability" between old van and new van replacement. As always, its easier to find new installers, more difficult to find re-installers!. Still at least you have a date now with Mick at SAP, the cost overall of £1500, is what is to be expected, I suppose, as their website quotes 2 days to fit a new system, so I suppose you will have build the cost of a two night Travelodge into the deal,(as we would have to) unless its local to you, or you have friends nearby.
Good luck, and many thanks for answering my post

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