If you want to change the way you spend your holiday and want a little bit more adventure without having to travel with a bunch of people you don't know, then caravanning is for you. You might think but I don't have a caravan, and that's okay because there's plenty to rent out. Caravanning can be quite fun if you pick the right people to accompany you and plan out the spots you want to visit beforehand.
You can also be spontaneous about it and spend the night where you feel like it, while on the road. You can set camp whenever and wherever you like as long as it's not intruding on anyone's personal space. Caravanning lets you bring your pets too, but in order to make your stay safe, you need to know how to level your caravan.
What Makes for Good Levelling Blocks
Materials
A levelling block should be able to withstand the pressure that's being put onto it. This depends largely on the material the blocks are made of. The best leveling block won't crack or chip even when you add a bit more weight than what it's originally meant to deal with. This goes for all kinds of conditions.
Versatility
A good pair of blocks or caravan chocks, as they're also known, are able to work with both single and dual-wheel setups. With these types of caravan chocks, you can invest in a new caravan without having to worry whether or not they're going to be compatible with it. You'll also be able to borrow them to a friend no matter what type of caravan they have.
Coating
A great addition to an already strong set of levelling blocks is a grippy surface. This is possible with blocks that come with a non-slip coating. This coating also makes the blocks more durable as it provides an extra level of protection. Although the block will possibly attract debris and dirt, this, in fact, will help increase its gripping ability.
Capacity
The weight capacity of a caravan leveller block is one of the most important factors here. If the caravan leveller block isn't able to support the weight of the wheels it can lead to an accident. Therefore, it's always important to get a pair of caravan chocks that have a somewhat higher weight capacity than the weight and load-carrying capacity of your caravan.
Levelling Your Caravan
Positioning
1. Finding the right place to level your caravan is key to safe placement. Although the location you want to spend the night or day at will have a big impact on the positioning of your caravan, it won't be a big deal if there's enough space for other caravanners to set up camp. There should be at least 6m of space between each caravan in order to keep everyone safe in case of a fire.
2. Also, if you plan on setting up an awning, make sure to accommodate the needed distance for fire regulations. It's best that the spot you're going to level your caravan has a slight slope to it. This way your wastewater drainage system will work best despite levelling your caravan.
Axle Levelling
1. To start levelling your caravan you should first start by levelling it right to left. This refers to the axle which is why it's called axle levelling. This is done with a simple tool, a spirit level. While you can do the same thing with an app on your phone, relying on the gyroscope in your smartphone isn't always a good idea.
2. You're better off with a long spirit level as it gives a more accurate reading despite it being analog. You can also use a cross-spirit level so you get a reading for both sides at the same time. The spirit level should be placed on the floor of the caravan, but just beware of placing it over any floor trims. Full contact is what you're looking for here.
Front-to-Back Levelling
1. Once your caravan is level across the axle, you should level it front-to-back next. This is done by using the jockey wheel of your caravan. In this case, you should use the spirit level on the bottom of the door sill. Then, lift whatever edge of the level has bubbles into the centre.
2. This is what tells you whether or not you need to lift or lower the jockey wheel. Make sure that when you adjust the wheel jockey you lock it and continue by lowering all four of the corner steadies. This way you will secure your caravan in place.
3. Avoid overtightening the corner steadies and ensure that they are in firm contact with the ground. Never level your caravan using the corner steadies since they're often fitted to the floor of the caravan and not the chassis which can lead to all kinds of accidents.
