Leveling Ramps

[TONCAZ]

Having spent 5days in Brittany and now in Spain, noticed a lot of French MH owners reverse up there ramps as I drive up mine, can't see the difference, is there any?? Might be a daft question but would like opinions.

 

[oldiesontour]

Reverse is usually lower ratio than 1st so easier on clutch

 

[Paul.]

I have found that if your alone you can see one of the ramps when you reverse up, so it takes the guesswork out of when you reach the top.
Paul

 

[DJIT]

It depends, but if for example I was facing downhill, I would usually roll forward onto the ramps so they also act a bit like a chock on the wheel.

 

[Bernie P]

I have a feeling that the obligatory safety paperwork that came with mine had a big red cross through a picture of a van reversing up them!
No idea why, I've done it both ways.

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[SpeedyDux]

With the ComfortMatic when I am travelling solo I find it easier to reverse onto the levelling ramps. Going forward seems harder to get it right, for some strange reason.

 

[Cockers]

I drive up my ramps due to mud flaps front and rear, reverse once and caught the rear mud flap. So alway drive up now, and use a chock to stop any movement if needed

 

[varaizian]

Funnily enough I asked the same question under “Mounting Ramps” last Monday and got a few very similar replies.

 

[Jewellbags]

Buttttt… the other question is if you drive up the ramps are they better on the front wheels or the rear ones ?

 

[BouncyBoatFolk]

Reverse is usually lower ratio than 1st so easier on clutch

Isn't it the other way round? 1st is a lower ratio than reverse, TTBOMK. But if you're happy reversing up
Mike.

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[oldiesontour]

Isn't it the other way round? 1st is a lower ratio than reverse, TTBOMK. But if you're happy reversing up
Mike.

No reverse is usually lowest ratio in the box

 

[varaizian]

Buttttt… the other question is if you drive up the ramps are they better on the front wheels or the rear ones ?

Doesn’t that depend on which end needs to be raised?

 

[BouncyBoatFolk]

Buttttt… the other question is if you drive up the ramps are they better on the front wheels or the rear ones ?

It depends on the ground incline, and grip. My van has a lower bias on the front axle, so I try to exploit that wherever possible. On some sites there quite regimental [ mental] and you have to park facing outwards, this is generally to aid extraction in an emergency, or breakdown as just about every van will have a towing point on the front.
Mike.

 

[varaizian]

No reverse is usually lowest ratio in the box

I thought that too but some knowledgeable people on here disagree and I simply don’t know.

 

[enark]

Reduction ratios 1st 3.727:1; 2nd 1.952:1; 3rd 1.290:1; 4th 0.875:1; 5th 0.647:1; REVERSE 3.154:1; Final drive ratio 4.933:1 (74/15)

For a manual x250…

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[Lenny HB]

With the ComfortMatic when I am travelling solo I find it easier to reverse onto the levelling ramps. Going forward seems harder to get it right, for some strange reason.

With a Comformatic it s better to drive forward onto ramps as said 1st is lower than reverse very easy to do in a clutch reversing onto ramps with a Comformatic.

 

[cyberyacht]

I'v done it both ways. Depends on the terrain

 

[VXman]

Doesn’t that depend on which end needs to be raised?

And whether you are in a Fiat or a Mercedes.