Storing Levellers/Chocks

We would like to get some decent size levellers for our Symbol, but are wondering where to store them.  We are always short of room inside the cupboards and other storage areas and don't want to have them just floating about inside, when not in use.
Any creative ideas?

Have you got a bike rack?

I made a bracket to store ours out of the way on the rack, and secured them with ratchet straps. A bit fiddly to get them off and back on, but they do take up a lot of room inside the van!!

Unfortunately not any more.  We now have a tow-ball rack but don't always take the bikes, so it is not always on the van.

Have you got pockets on the inside of the cab doors ? If you removed one would the levellers, in the supplied bag, fit on the step between the cab door and the passenger seat ?

The passenger would have to be careful to remove them when getting out of the van but they are big enough that it wouldn't be easy to miss them !

Need to imagine inclement weather conditions when arriving on site or leaving. These are usually the first and last things that you play with so they need to be immediately accessible and stowed quickly especially when it's .issing down. If not ever wanting to store them in the van, then Gromit's suggestion does make sense. Therefore suggest always have your tow ball carrier in situ and somehow securely fix a storage box sufficient to hold not only levellers but also handle for rear stabilizers? EHU,hoses chemicals etc. All these things stowed together on the outside will take any needless hassle out setting up and decamping, more so if it's not pleasant outside.

Two possibilities occur to me from reading the above two posts.

1). Quilter's suggestion would not work for us, but they could be stored just in front of the passenger seat, and possibly moved forward a bit to be used as a footrest if the passenger has short legs!  

2). Keeping the tow ball mounted carrier in place all the time might be a nuisance, as they stick out quite a long way to the rear. Might it be possible instead to make a small storage box which would fix onto the tow bar? It shouldn't be too difficult to come up with a fixing of some sort, and it doesn't need to be massively strong.

When the bike carrier is in use it should be easy enough to stow the ramps in between the bikes.

I shall investigate, as that's the set up we are now using - hence the use of the past tense in my earlier post.

In my Duetto I place them in the side door foot well. First thing out, last thing in.
I'm always interested in how people make use of storage areas. I've changed things around, and I am still experimenting to see what works best, but it's a very personal thing isn't it?
Jollywalker

On my van they are in the wet locker - but van conversions don't have one - though Dave should, I think?

inspiredron wrote:On my van they are in the wet locker - but van conversions don't have one - though Dave should, I think?

I have Ron, and that's where they are at the moment. They take up most of it though, so I would like to get them out of there if possible and use the space for the little gas stove and all the outdoor cooking bits and pieces.

Plus the trust watering can of course!

shame there is not any under chassis storage for this sort of stuff, the metal draw (under the floor accessed from the rear doors) doesn't seem deep enough to be really useful!

Can you get a rack that fit directly to the rear doors, preferably one door, so that they can still be opened and then strap them to the rack (along with the folding chairs, table etc). wouldn't need to be very deep so wont make the van much longer.

I assume you cant put anything on the roof as its fibreglass?

mike

What a clever boy!! Well done Mike.

The ramps are needed fairly infrequently so it might not be a problem if it's a bit inconvenient to retrieve them. I'm sure there's room somewhere under the skirt (as it were! ) and some sort of sliding or drop down bracket shouldn't be beyond the wit of man.

I love a challenge - so thanks for that!!

rather like the drop down spare wheel ;)
Once you have designed and made it, can I see some pictures!

cheers
mike

I just put them in the toilet cubicle. It's not needed driving to and from a site (well we don't anyway) and then you take them out on arriving anyway.

Same here, Noggin!

Well I did start my post saying I didn't want them in the van.... but am coming round to the idea that they may have to be.
And it is a useful suggestion about on the bike rack - but certainly don't want that on all the time: we have a rather nice detachable towball (Westfalia - recommended!) so we don't even always have a towball available.
But the best concept I think is to find some space underneath - I have had a quick look and of course being a Symbol (=short if you are not familiar) there isn't a lot.  But maybe?  Thanks for the suggestion Gromit; we should probably go ahead and get some and see if we can find a way.
Thanks again, Angus

Sleepy wrote:Thanks for the suggestion Gromit; we should probably go ahead and get some and see if we can find a way.
Thanks again, Angus

No problem - it might even work!!

I would suggest getting some chocks, even if they are a bit of a pain to store. They are almost essential on sloping pitches.

The Milenco Triples are arguably the best, but they are quite bulky. The Fiamma ones are quite a bit smaller and the tip of the nose tends to split. It doesn't matter though, as it has no affect on their use, and once cracked they seem to go on forever.

Just my opinion.

Gromit wrote:What a clever boy!! Well done Mike.

The ramps are needed fairly infrequently so it might not be a problem if it's a bit inconvenient to retrieve them. I'm sure there's room somewhere under the skirt (as it were! ) and some sort of sliding or drop down bracket shouldn't be beyond the wit of man.

I love a challenge - so thanks for that!!

just been under our van (looking at a leaking water drain tap) and there is space behind the water tank. There is the hand brake linkage but I think a drop down hinged shelf could work.......

Mike

We have always had PVC conversions and as I prefer my seat well forward I have always stored our Ramps strapped to the front of the drivers seat base.

I note most vans have no rear step now, It would not take much to fabricate a step incorporating Ramp storage these would then be to hand when required without struggling underneath a vehicle.

 

Alf

We store ours behind the passenger seat with the EHU cable with a securing strap, as they're always the first things out of the van we've found this the best place.
Still leaves plenty of room to get between the front seats and in through the side door.

Levelling blocks? Find somewhere level- ish to park, stop or camp and a watering can? Do you carry pot plants or your own vegetable patch? That must be one of the most ungamely things to store in a 'van

biffobear wrote:Levelling blocks? Find somewhere level- ish to park, stop or camp and a watering can? Do you carry pot plants or your own vegetable patch? That must be one of the most ungamely things to store in a 'van

Eh?

Gromit wrote:

inspiredron wrote:On my van they are in the wet locker - but van conversions don't have one - though Dave should, I think?

I have Ron, and that's where they are at the moment. They take up most of it though, so I would like to get them out of there if possible and use the space for the little gas stove and all the outdoor cooking bits and pieces.

Plus the trust watering can of course!

I know that the overcab locker was made much smaller but I was unaware that the wet locker was also small in newer vans!
In my wet locker (which is dry!) I keep:  Ramps and chocks. two warning triangles, 2 gallon bucket, wooden plank for jack base, grip mats, winder for steadies, wooden pads for under steadies, Whale filling hoses and selection of tap connectors (in bucket), window sponge/squeegee on long handle, a plastic box containing mallet, pegs, hold down straps etc for awning, a rolled up doormat for outside the habitation door and an extra 18m or so hook-up cable (not 25m because a fox chewed through it). I used to carry as well 2l of Elsanol and 2l of pink before I started using bio detergent and I still carry the Elsanol for a quick sterilise every couple of weeks. I now have space for my tow rope! And everything is reasonably accesible when I take out the plastic box and the bucket.  The only issue is that the upward opening lid of the locker tends to fall on my head while I am getting things.
So I am surprised that your ramps take up most of the locker - mine tuck away with 3/4 of them tucked in the area to the rear of the locker door - our locker goes almost to the rear wheel arch.
Another reason to be glad that we specified 2011 body style on our 2012 van!  The 2012 did not even have a wet locker or the option of the (smaller) overcab locker.

Blimey Ron - sounds like one of the grand kids could sleep in there if necessary!

Ours is nothing like as big, but I should clarify that we've got Milenco 3 ramps and they are quite a bit bigger than the Fiamma ones. Even so, you "wet" locker is something to envy.

Just had a look at yours on this video, and the door looks about the same as ours. I think you must have bigger internal dimensions though.
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In the front passenger door foot well, one flat with the other on its edge.

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This was my solution on the Broadway, I've now done 5000 miles with this and it works superbly! Easy and out out of the way !

Ray