Levelling for Beginners Forums

monkton

I wondered if one of you kind people could advise me on where I might find an 'idiots guide to levelling.' I do appreciate the need to level a motorhome but seek some advice on the best system to use. We are not really planning on staying at locations other than recognised sites, so how often is it likely that levelling will be required. Any assistance would be appreciated.

Dibs

Hi,

We have stayed at a large range of sites, from nice official sites with full hardstanding to Aires in france and just a field.

The only levelling devise we have ever used has been two ramps (originally home made wooden ones) and, recently, Fiamma plastic ramps. These are very flexible and can be used on the front, back or either side of the van - we don't aim for perfection, just make sure we are comfortable and things aren't rolling off the table!

geraldandannie · Moderator

Hi

I agree with Dibs. We don't always level the van off, especially if we're just there for a night. Our van has a 'nose down' attitude anyway, which suits me for sleeping (I hate my head being lower than my body).

We've got the yellow plastic Fiamma ramps, which do whatever we've wanted. If you're contemplating soggy ground, you might think about bakery trays (never used them myself) to stop you sinking / help you get away.

Gerald

Grizzly

Make sure you have a small spirit level ( the triangular kind that shows slope in two directions) and know how to relate what it shows to how level the various edges of the van are. It's also worth making sure that the worktop you put it on is level - not a given, believe me.

Put your yellow Fiamma ramps ( and I'd say buy the longer ones not the short stubby ones) in front of the wheel(s ) that need raising and drive slowly up the ramps. It helps if there are two of you; one to drive and one to shout loudly above the engine noise to say when to stop. Soemtimes just one step up is all you need, sometimes tou have to go all the way up. You'll soon get used to the knck of putting one ramp a bit further from the wheel in the first place so that wheel goes up a smaller amount than the other one, where you put the ramp right under the wheel.

You will know when you are comfortable. I find a tiny bit off level and I notice it, others are not so fussy. When you get to the stage where doors won't stay ajar or you have to cling to the edge of the bed to stay in it then you are on too much of a slope and it does make it quite tiring.

I'd say we use the levelling ramps about every other pitch we make but, with practise, it is quick to do.

Sometimes. depending on conditions, we go backwards up the ramps but I won't get into that !

G

monkton

Many thanks to you all for your advice.

drcotts

The trick is to find a place in your van which is level when the van is also level. In my peugeot boxer i use a straight spirit level and hold this along the dash just under the speedo for side to side and the inner door grab handle for front to back.

As others have said the fiama blocks are good and cheaper now (£15 a pair)

its funny how most club sites aint level presumably to prevent puddling when it rains.

Phill

Spacerunner

Before deploying the ramps I always look for dips and bumps in the ground which I can use to my advantage. Some times you only have to move the 'van a foot or two to get it level without using any levellers. BTW I use a circular spirit level, I find it gives a more accurate indication of levelness.

PS Add new word to dictionary...Levelness....state of being level

dbh1961

I use a circular spirit level, bought on eBay, and shaped to fit in the little cubby hole beside the speedo etc. When that's level, the frying pan is spot on, and everything esle is about right.

Saerch eBay for Fiat spirit level

GerryD

I always put the level on the habitation floor as this is the base for all of the parts that you want level and can be easily accessed from the drivers seat.
A tip, if you are on wet or slightly soggy ground is to reverse up the ramp. That way you have some natural motion to get off site without spinning the wheels. The theory is that once the wheels are moving you keep the van moving and leave the ramps behind to pick up once you are on solid ground.

teensvan

Hi.

We have the yellow fiamma ramps and have screwed 6x2 to the bottom of these and extended the ramp slope. This works very well but we also take with us two lengths of 6x1 and some small blocks of 3x2. The site we are on at the moment does have sloping pitches and we have used all the wood as well as the ramps. If you have a tag axle M/H do not level up by the rear wheels unless you support all 4 wheels.

steve & ann. ------ teensvan.