PC GUIDE TO...Levelling up

Automatic caravan levelling takes the effort out of pitching, and new entrants to the market are bringing prices down, says John Sootheran

- 

AFTER A LONG TOW (or a short one for that matter), the last thing most of us want to do is spend 20 minutes with a spirit level enduring an intense upper body work-out, while shouting at our other half.

The problem

What we’d rather be doing is exchanging pleasantries about the destination, the campsite and the pitch over a chilled glass of wine or a nice cup of tea.

Sadly, unless you like to sleep with your feet above your head or shower in a cubicle that doesn’t drain, levelling your caravan on its pitch is vital.

Before technology became involved, caravan levelling often required the use of ramps and cranking the jockey wheel up or down; only then could you lower all four pesky corner steadies. Along the way you likely discoved muscles that you didn’t even know that you had.

None of it is that difficult, to be fair, but it definitely falls into the category of ‘chore’, and it was always noticeable that the children dashed off to ‘explore the campsite’ before I could requisition some child labour for winding duties.

The solution

The easy answer is to invest in an automated system. These marvels use state-of-the-art gyroscopic technology to assess the stance of the caravan while it’s on the ground, and the computer brain then activates hydraulic rams that are fixed to the caravan chassis.

These drop down and lift the tourer into a 100% level attitude, laterally and longitudinally.

The corner steadies then drop down to support the tourer in its new, level position.

Here in the UK, there are five or more companies now offering this supremely handy tech.

How it works