Rocky Start

[Andy_W]

Hi, fairly new to the caravan world after upgrading from a VW T5 (self-built) camper, did our first trip away last weekend at Carsington Water (Great Site). Everything worked well, apart from having the wrong pegs for a hard pitch. The only thing we found is the caravan still rocked a bit when walking up and down, the steadies were all down and nipped up, i didn't go too mad as they appear to be attached to the floor not the chassis.

The van is a Coachman 580/5, so it's quite long, I think about 7.4m total, and I have seen some talk about stabilising jacks that are put underneath the chassis, once levelled.

Does anyone have any experience of these?

 

[Dustydog]

Do you leave the jockey wheel down?
Some caravan floors can feel “spongy”. Have you checked the floor to chassis mountings. They do come loose.
You could use these. https://www.vevor.co.uk/rv-jacks-st...el-camper-leveling-jack-4-pack-p_010897531715

Usually used on static caravan homes . The issue will be where do you place them ?Floor 👎,chassis 🤔 axle 👍.
Over many decades I have never felt the need for extra jacks😉

 

[Kevin M]

I use the screw in pegs with an impact drill, even these failed last week on site, ended up knocking them in with a lump hammer. The hard standing pitches can be like concrete sometimes!
When setting up, I let things rest for a few hours then go round and give the steadied a tweak, I don’t go overly mad as I always envisage damaging something by jacking up. I’ve also found that having the handbrake on steadies things up.
Enjoy yourself, it’s a great hobby.

 

[GaryB]

We use Carsington a lot and the ground can be a challenge for any pegs as they just don't seem to "bite". Using 2 x rock pegs per pegging point on the awning (driving them in crossed) seems to work well.

 

[Andy_W]

Do you leave the jockey wheel down?
Some caravan floors can feel “spongy”. Have you checked the floor to chassis mountings. They do come loose.
You could use these. https://www.vevor.co.uk/rv-jacks-st...el-camper-leveling-jack-4-pack-p_010897531715

Usually used on static caravan homes . The issue will be where do you place them ?Floor 👎,chassis 🤔 axle 👍.
Over many decades I have never felt the need for extra jacks😉

Yes, I left the jockey wheel down, as this was used to level from front to back, I am just not sure what amount of movement once levelled is normal

 

[IanB1485]

The caravan will still be on its wheels which together with rubber suspension bushes on the trail arms of the axle will allow some movement as the weight shifts. The rear steadies are on the rear legs of the chassis and with the front steadies and jockey wheel should brace the caravan, try tightening them up a bit more next time. The steadies can take a lot of force , just don't try and jack the caravan off its wheels !

 

[Jcloughie]

As above. Most of the weight is carried on the wheels through the suspension. So some bounce is to be expected. I use cheap scissor jacks. (I would not use them on the car), under the chassis close to the wheel. I put them in after levelling up. It helps. Or what Dusty suggested in #2.



John

 

[Hutch]

Yes, I left the jockey wheel down, as this was used to level from front to back, I am just not sure what amount of movement once levelled is normal

On my Coachman 560, I level the caravan and then drop the steadies with an electric drill on the max torque setting, not the drill mode, and then after the caravan has settled for 1/2 to 1 hour just go around the steadies again. I don't feel any appreabile movement of the van.

 

[toad a caravan]

I place wooden blocks between the steadies and ground so that the steadies aren't as extended, helps to make caravan more stable

 

[Andy_W]

just don't try and jack the caravan off its wheels !

i get the feeling this has

On my Coachman 560, I level the caravan and then drop the steadies with an electric drill on the max torque setting, not the drill mode, and then after the caravan has settled for 1/2 to 1 hour just go around the steadies again. I don't feel any appreabile movement of the van.

Thanks, what drill do you have?

 

[Hutch]

i get the feeling this has

Thanks, what drill do you have?

I use a 24v Parkside from Lidl, nice and light, with a 2 amphr battery.