Ramp obsession ..am I missing something?

[PG’s trips]

Travelling around France I see so many motorhomees using leveling ramps even when the ground is spirt level level or is on firm ground. I have a set, yet to use them, what am I missing?!

 

[chaser]

Travelling around France I see so many motorhomees using leveling ramps even when the ground is spirt level level or is on firm ground. I have a set, yet to use them, what am I missing?!

No idea , got a set in the ambulance , in five years they have never been out of the bag.

 

[Guigsy]

Travelling around France I see so many motorhomees using leveling ramps even when the ground is spirt level level or is on firm ground. I have a set, yet to use them, what am I missing?!

A lot of vans are very low are the front. So even on level ground, you're pretty wonky.

 

[Bobby-gg]

Are you happy enough with a sloping bed?

If so, you don't need ramps!

My other needs a level bed, so we carry ramps

 

[ontheroadagain]

Our motorhome sits slightly lower at the front.
As a result the shower is slow to drain and it works much better if the van is level.

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[Wombles]

When we had a 3 way fridge it only worked when the motorhome was level but no such problems with the compressor fridge so rarely use ramps now Perhaps some of them have similar fridges so ramps are essential.

 

[HugoBNB]

We are not too fussy about being perfectly level. Our MH is higher at the back. What we try to do is find a pitch on a slight slope to even this out. If not, we may pop the ramps under. We never bother if we are on a car park stopover.

 

[Hawkstone]

My van is rear end high so we often use them to stop me rolling into the front of the overhead cab bed at night
Joking aside we rarely use them if the ground is fairly flat but it doesn’t take much to mess up the shower drainage. At motocross we park in some ridiculous places so as long as the kettle doesn’t slide off the hob and I am not too squished in bed, we can usually manage ok.

 

[Jane And Rog]

We put up with it as long as our heads are not lower than our feet in bed. But we correct left-right usually.

 

[TerryL]

Ours tends to be nose down generally, made worse when the assisted rear suspension "relaxes" after a trip and rises an inch or two. If there's any slope we try and face up it, however of course there are usually other considerations. If it's totally flat and we're staying only one night we tend not to bother, but for longer stays I tend to use the ramps to level us out. Usually only takes a minute or two with practice.

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[steve69]

Our motorhome sits slightly lower at the front.
As a result the shower is slow to drain and it works much better if the van is level.

Agree - if you want the shower tray to drain, then ramps it (usually) is.

Oh - and I've just thought. If you are on wet grass, ramps under the drive wheels will help you move again.

 

[Mleabon]

We wonder the same thing.

 

[Dorwyn]

Likewise I often wonder why they bother. Sometimes they look less level than when they started. Our friends have rear air suspension, and can pump up the rear end and turn the van accordingly, which seems like a good idea. We got ourselves bogged down and marooned on a sideways steep slope a while ago, and had to jack up all ends to make a level base until the ground dried sufficient to move. Since then the van's rear end has looked extremely high. Odd.

 

[Vanman]

Bit of a divergence, but then you've had your allotted #13 on topic posts My better half has me drop the stabilizers even on the flattest of plots as she says it reduces the wind and moving around van sway

 

[Northernraider]

Never use them ... if I can't get reasonably level then I'll use a few stones under the offending wheel.

Ramps cross the border from parking in to camping apparently. Using what nature left doesn't. But 99% of the time I can get level using nothing. And always on wildspots.

If campsites can't provide level ground they should be free

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[Northernraider]

#notmyvan

 

[TCG]

always put the self levellers down,, makes the van far more stable, and doesn't stop people "knocking because the van aint rockin"

 

[Richard n Ann]

Don't use them often, just on long stays it's worth levelling.

 

[hja]

Our van is nose down. A lot of sites seem to provide pitches that slope slightly from back to front, no idea why unless for drainage. In that case we will drive in nose first and probably be level enough. However we used levels recently so we could pitch nose out and see the sea instead of a bank. I do like it level enough so I don’t roll at night.

 

[PaulC70]

Are you happy enough with a sloping bed?

If so, you don't need ramps!

My other needs a level bed, so we carry ramps

Same here, otherwise I get back and hip pain :-(

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[Gaston aires]

I find when the toilet door stays open it’s level
Phil upmecassette

 

[Brize]

Have probably had to use mine more often for a side slope rather than front or back slope.

 

[Tonks]

Travelling around France I see so many motorhomees using leveling ramps even when the ground is spirt level level or is on firm ground. I have a set, yet to use them, what am I missing?!

Very little. In the last decade I've used mine three times. If the kettle stays on the hob, and my head is above my feet when I sleep, I'm fine.
I was on a site in the Welsh/English borders where a small-ish Hymer was on ramps, despite the entire site being pretty much pancake flat. I have no idea why the occupier bothered.

 

[DavidG58]

I think longer vans notice the effects more than shorter, but also find self levelling fitted more on longer than shorter vans

I gave my ramps away when I fitted E&P

 

[nicholsong]

No idea , got a set in the ambulance , in five years they have never been out of the bag.

Like you chaser we carried Quatros around for 5 years without using them - they are now left at home.

I was never level for long on the boat.

Non-slip glass coasters solve drinking problem.

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[Silverman]

Don't use them often, but needed the highest level last week.

 

[Suenliam]

Since downsizing to a 6m whoosh bang, we find we don't need them nearly as much now. Used ours once in the 5 weeks in France recently. We have the lower lighter weight ones but will buy the 3 level higher ones because when we do need them ... well we do need them!
Sue

 

[steve69]

, and my head is above my feet when I sleep, I'm fine.

As you get older (like me), it's recommended that you sleep with your feet slightly higher than your head for blood circulation reasons. Just saying.

 

[bigwood]

Our current Transit based coach build sits fairly level but with the bed being lengthwise it’s more comfortable to sleep feet down. On the odd occasion it’s not been level it’s easier to turn the van round than faff with leveling ramps.
Only once a site warden told me to turn our van round. As he spoke a German van pulled on to the pitch next to us the same way. The warden grunted something and walked off.

 

[Donkster]

Travelling around France I see so many motorhomees using leveling ramps even when the ground is spirt level level or is on firm ground. I have a set, yet to use them, what am I missing?!

What I'm I missing? Uneven ground,,,, Well you see, I find that if there is a slope bet your bottom dollar the wife wants me to face the other way. So out come the ramps. This time it worked perfect without them