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?!

 

[PlacidoD]

Did not want to start a separate thread so I will piggyback on this one. I have a moderately steep slope on my drive but can nicely accommodate my 6.00 metre van fairly level on my SWB Hobby T500 setting ramps at the front.

My query: How essential if at all is it to store a van fairly level? Were I to swap the T500 for something with a longer wheel base I would have quite a downward slop back to front with the van potentially sitting there for months on SORN over the winter.

P.S. I have bolted the ramps to the concrete. With an FWD vehicle they otherwise have a tendancy to skid out from under when reversing off the smooth concrete and to crash into the garage door!!! And before anybody asks it is half a garage containing a motorcycle, Ebike etc, etc. Nowhere near big enough for a car!

Chris

 

[hja]

Our van is parked out front and is not level side to side. No problem when loading/unloading. Only issue is if we havent emptied the grey water for some reason. Without it being reasonably level it doesnt totally drain. Just put it on ramps & drain.

 

[TerryL]

For storage purposes our parking spot is slightly sloped fore and aft. I leave it nose down so that the rainwater just flows off.

 

[Montezuma]

As mentioned by many, a lot of vans sit nose down, especially when not fully loaded.

Vehicles with a long overhang, and large storage space at the rear, are more susceptible than those with a wheel at each corner, like my previous vehicle, an Autocruise Vista

No many folk travel around Europe with a minimal load, but our Adria is still nose down, even when we are packed for a foreign trip.

If there is a slope on the pitch I will use it wherever possible, to counteract the Nose-down attitude, so as to avoid having to use ramps.

If the slope is lateral, rather than longitudinal, then out come the ramps.

My wife is very fussy about being absolutely as level as a billiard table when in bed.

On returning home, even though the parking surface is dead level I have manufactured a couple of ramps up which I drive when parking the vehicle.

The front left ramp is higher than the right hand one. This causes all the rainwater that would otherwise gather on the roof aft of the beautifully profiled section that houses the drop-down bed, to run off, rather than gather on the roof around the two vents which are located in this area.

Some may consider this a bit over the top, but during winter months frozen rainwater around roof vents is not really ideal.

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[Wee Bold Davy]

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

Aah, I always wondered what the Levelling Up Ministers job was

 

[Brains]

Any pitch that is not level, I tend to use the ramps.
I find it annoying when doors don't close, and things roll off tables.

 

[Dorwyn]

I think campsites put a little slope in where reasonable to allow some runoff and drainage.

 

[1967bowesj]

View attachment 911702




#notmyvan

Engine trouble lol

 

[Cobnarowl]

How I like our van to be sloping slightly backwards.Why? So the toilet seat doesnt fall down when I'm having a p...,otherwise I have to use a peg (stop smirking) to hold both seat and lid together.
You women wont realise the problem of lid falling in mid stream to us men

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[HKF]

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.

Be careful if you have, or are at risk of, Glaucoma. Sleeping like that can increase intraocular pressure.

 

[BobJayne]

Only put our leveller out under the wheels to stop them being nicked!

 

[Lenny HB]

Never used to bother us as long as feet were lower than head in bed and wine glasses didn't slide off the table.
Then the last van we fitted full air suspension and got used to being dead level 95% of the time, so now looking at it for the new van.

 

[Reallyretired]

I only level to avoid the nose down posture which prevents the shower from draining. Level or nose up I'm happy with. Sometimes let air out of the rear air rides if it's only an inch or two. Only takes a few seconds to pump up again, note on the steering wheel so I don't forget.

 

[steve69]

Did not want to start a separate thread so I will piggyback on this one. I have a moderately steep slope on my drive but can nicely accommodate my 6.00 metre van fairly level on my SWB Hobby T500 setting ramps at the front.

My query: How essential if at all is it to store a van fairly level? Were I to swap the T500 for something with a longer wheel base I would have quite a downward slop back to front with the van potentially sitting there for months on SORN over the winter.

P.S. I have bolted the ramps to the concrete. With an FWD vehicle they otherwise have a tendancy to skid out from under when reversing off the smooth concrete and to crash into the garage door!!! And before anybody asks it is half a garage containing a motorcycle, Ebike etc, etc. Nowhere near big enough for a car!

Chris



View attachment 911924

My similar sized van has been overwintered on a very obvious slope for several months at a time. No problems so far.
Just make sure you chock the wheels and leave the handbrake off to prevent seizing .

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[pappajohn]

Why accept not being level.
There's no shame in wanting to be level.
You wouldn't be happy if your house wasn't level.

 

[oldiesontour]

Carry levelers but seldom use them, independent air assist on the rear 2 up/down switches on dash does the job more often than not

 

[cyberyacht]

View attachment 911702




#notmyvan

Perhaps he's draining his grey waste into the grass

 

[Gellyneck]

View attachment 911702




#notmyvan

You've heard the other guesses so time for the correct answer.

He's an Aberdonian and scared that somebody will think they are doing the neighbourly thing and move his waste water barrel out from under the back and pour it's contents into the trees when he's looking to sell them to the warden for watering his plants!

 

[PlacidoD]

My similar sized van has been overwintered on a very obvious slope for several months at a time. No problems so far.
Just make sure you chock the wheels and leave the handbrake off to prevent seizing .

Thanks for the reply.

Good point about the handbrake. I have just been out to release it! I always leave my car and the MoHo in gear anyway. The ramps and the slight downward slope mean the front wheels are effectively chocked anyway but I might do the job more thoroughly when on SORN.

Chris

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[Lenny HB]

Talking about wheels being chocked in Germany if over 3.5t and parked on a slope wheel chocks are compulsory.