Parking up at service stations on route?

[jwa]

Hi everybody, hoping somebody can give me some advice?
Being new to caravanning we are unsure whether to drop the leg supports down when parked up on route?
We stopped at a motorway service area on the M40, on our way back from the North and as it was raining we sat in the van for a cuppa and sandwich. The wife was a bit hesitant, but I thought as the van was hitched to the car it was not a problem?
Got me thinking though, will that put extra stress on the towbar? Should I drop the rear supports?
Thanks for any replies,
John

 

[Parksy]

Hi John
Yes, you should lower the corner steadies if you park for a break inside the caravan to avoid the possibility of distorting the chassis and exceeding the weight limit for the towbar and towball.

 

[Lutz]

I wouldn't be as over-cautious as Parksy. The extra load that you put on the towbar when entering the caravan is an almost static load that is only a fraction of the dynamic loads that the towbar has to endure while actually towing. These are much higher than the noseweight that you measure in a static condition. For that reason, lowering the steadies only makes sense for comfort - the caravan won't bounce about while moving around inside, but there is no need to lower them for purely structural reasons.

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hi John,

I take different view to Parksy, Firstly let me say there is nothing wrong with dropping the steadies if you wish, but from an engineering point of view I believe it is not necessary for the following reasons.

Lets consider the design of the tow bar. For reasons that can be explained (if you want) there are two types of nose load on the ball. The first and simple one is the static nose load. This is what you set when you load the caravan, but when the caravan is actually towed the loads on the tow ball will be very different, and they are called dynamic loads. The interaction of mass and accelerations can produce loads that are many times greater than the static loads.
Even conservatively estimating the difference, a tow ball can experience a dynamic load of 4 to 5 times the static. Consequently the ball and its fixings have to be able to withstand the dynmnaic loads, so for example a car with a static nose load limit of 75Kg will also handle a minimum dynamic load of 300Kg and probably more.

Now lets look at what happens when you get into a parked caravan. Just as when loading the caravan the nose weight will increase when you move objects forward in the caravan. The same thing happens when you move about inside the caravan, but your whole weight is not transferred just to the tow hitch. In most cases the furthest forward you can sit is about two thirds the distance between the hitch and the axle, and any weight is shared by the same proportion, so for a 12 stone person sitting right at the front only 8 stone or less will be supported by the hitch.

So even with two 12 stone people sitting right at the front only 16 stone (101Kg)of additional load would be transferred to the tow hitch, which is still far less than the dynamic loads the hitch can safely handle!

As for Parksy's other point about distorting the caravan chassis, Read up what the manufactures state in there product instructions, but bearing in mind the points about static and dynamic load abilities, caravan manufactures also have to consider similar dynamic load issues. I think that if a caravan was destructively distorted simply by moving about inside, they would be guilty of selling goods with a design fault.

Basically John, you don't have to put the steadies down unless the manufactures require it, but neither the car or the caravan will be damaged if you don't, but you may find it more comfortable with the steadies.

 

[jwa]

Thanks very much, I guess then, from what you say, that it is safe enough and will not damage the van or car, but for comfort I could drop the corner supports to prevent the van bouncing. We only got in and sat down then ate a sandwich before locking up again, checking around the van and driving off.
We aim to tour France next summer and would appreciate being able to park up a few times on the way down to the Atlantic coast and have a break. Being able to climb in the van would be useful, plus I have heard of caravans being broken into whilst parked up and the owners are in the service area? We very rarely leave the van unattended at services.
Really loving the whole experience however and appreciate the honest advice given on this forum.
John

 

[RayS]

Don't think it is necessary to lower the steadies, but putting down the jockey wheel will take the load off the towball and stabilise the van to some extent, and it's quick and easy to do. Remember to retract it before you drive off, although you will soion be reminded if you forget.
Oh and if stopping for a brew (a0)lighting gas is not allowed in motorway service areas (b) remember to trun it off at the bottle or regulator before leaving.