Leveling ramps. How often should I use them?

[Stealaway]

This last few weeks we have been In France we have noticed almost everybody uses their ramps every time they stop.
Even when they have only stoping for an hour or two or just for a drink .
I can almost understand it when are staying a day or two or overnight.
Plus
Very few campsites or Aires over here are never much less than flat - ever. But they just can't help trying to get them even flatter .

In ten years I have only felt the need to be bit flatter about six time's

What am I doing wrong?

 

[CamperJack]

I lived in my van for months. Don't even own ramps...

Being a bit off level doesn't bother me. I just slept withbmy head in whichever corner of the bed was highest.

 

[Landy Andy]

I’d prefer to spend 5 minutes levelling my van, than I would spending 5 minutes of my holiday worried about why others are doing what they are doing with their vans.

 

[cliffanger]

We have a Merc chassis -if we don’t put the legs down it’s like walking on a trampoline!

 

[Captain Yoghurtpot]

I guess we use ramps on about a third of the sites.
We have a smartphone app that tells us how level the van is.

Anything much over 1% is noticeable and causes minor issues like the sink/shower not draining properly, or items rolling off the table and kitchen counter.

It takes seconds to put them under a couple of wheels, so I don't see what the issue is.

Interesting.
Whats the App please?

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Insider]

Interesting.
Whats the App please?

Truma app does this I believe

 

[Brains]

Interesting.
Whats the App please?

YescapaLevel
Freebie app on iPhones

Just put your phone on the table (or other surface that 'should' be level
Point the phone forward
Fire up the app.
It will then tell you which wheel is out and by how much.
1% is noticeable, but probably would not bother most people
2% is where ramps are a good idea

 

[TinaLes]

Only used our ramps 2/3 times since having the van. I try and park it on the flattest spot I can dont mind if its slightly down at the front so much as side to side.
Regular ramp users for the most part, must be ex tuggers I reckon, they feel the need to do something when they park up.
Sometimes, I notice their van is actually worse left to right, after they try and level it, but keeps the wife happy I guess.
LES

 

[PP Bear]

---

sleeping with my feet higher than my head

Do you shy away from garlic and start to smoke in strong sunlight

 

[PP Bear]

As a proud FLT, I rarely use them, just in case I have to depart in the early hours without the need to gather ramps in.

I do use them to work on the van (and car), front wheels up to change the oil and filter. Had the van on them only yesterday, as I needed to do some work on the exhaust, now that was a tight squeeze and impossible to get under comfortably without them.

Also used if I need to take a wheel off, or had a puncture, as getting up a ramp before jacking, really helps. Lower the van with the same method, so ramp ready, lower the jack onto the ramp, reverse off when complete

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[PP Bear]

Had to use them at the Crick boat show, but then the field we park in starts flat and is quickly filled by the early birds and then starts to climb to around a 45* angle.

That‘d bugger your hydraulic ramps.

 

[Hawkstone]

Our van is nose down a bit so we have to level that up a bit . Don’t often use them on campsites or Aires as long as the kettle doesn’t slide I am happy. However at motocross they are the most important piece of kit we own. It’s like parking in the bunkers on a golf course sometimes.

 

[Reallyretired]

Rarely use ours as can usually be OK just by changing position or orientation. Only time we just them is if the front left corner is down, in which case the shower wont drain.

 

[philann]

Yesterday watched 3 vans try to drive away forgetting they were on ramps, lots of crunching sounds

All iPhones come with pre-installed level app if you open the Measure app there is a tab for Level. If you lay the phone down it gives a ‘bubble’ and if you hold it vertically it shows an horizon

 

[MisterB]

If we are not fairly level side to side, our bathroom door can be a bit difficult to close and we have to close it with a ' bang'; almost forcing it shut., when we're level it closes easily - so there may be lots of very good reasons why people are levelling their motorhomes.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[PaulC70]

So most of you think just as I do - it's all just too much trouble.
But over here no matter what the ground is like they must get out the ramps -- if only for an inch or two! - weird .
There is a French van parked across from me now on the same flat Aire.
He has two ramps on the right hand two wheels and further one on the left hand rear.

I’d prefer to spend 5 minutes levelling my van, than I would spending 5 minutes of my holiday worried about why others are doing what they are doing with their vans.

Indeed. Live and let live instead of judging people on whats a perfectly acceptable thing to do for the many various reasons already mentioned.

Interesting.
Whats the App please?

This is the one I use

 

[Miggs]

Well the perfect solution to anyone ramp/slope/rocking averse is just head over to the classifieds and buy my van!

 

[cyberyacht]

I use ramps as required but I'm less fussy these days so long as it's near enough. Try and pitch to use any variation in terrain.

 

[Captain Yoghurtpot]

Indeed. Live and let live instead of judging people on whats a perfectly acceptable thing to do for the many various reasons already mentioned.

This is the one I use

Yes, thanks, I have one of those

 

[pelican]

Now we have a table with adjustable legs we don't use the ramps