Levelling blocks

Another 'Newbie' question.  In my brief time with my Duetto I haven't yet needed levelling blocks and they take up a lot of room. Camp sites have been level and with wild camping here in Portugal I've had no problem finding a level site.  Obviously they'd be needed at a very sloping site but in your experience does that happen often enough to be worth losing that storage space?

Only you can answer that. Opinion here is about 50% in favour.

We tend to use them as we find it makes moving about the van so much more comfortable. If we are only staying overnight or using the van daily we may spend a little longer finding the best lie and not use them.

When you say that they take up a lot of room, were you thinking of using cupboard or locker space to keep them?
I have a pair of large ones which came in a storage bag, they normally travel in the toilet compartment and if not needed on site, they are stored under the van. They could just as easily travel in the centre aisle like my trolley and chairs do. These also go under the van when on site and not being used.

Frank

I have them for my Duetto, in a storage bag. When traveling they sit in the side door footwell, and if not needed at the site I either put them in passenger footwell, or under the van.
Jollywalker

I've had them on all of my vans, and I always use them if there's any sort of slope, as it's annoying to find yourself falling off the end of the bed in the middle of the night...

I also find that a storage bag is pretty much essential if you have to store them inside the van, because the slugs that invariably hide up in the voids under the ramps can wander around inside the bag, rather than escaping and wandering around inside the van!

Ours are kept in a drop down rack that I made under the rear of the van. Out of the way until needed, which is probably about one in four or five times we pitch.

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Worth noting that many vans are low at the front, so the direction that you pitch can often correct a slight slope.

Gromit wrote:Worth noting that many vans are low at the front, so the direction that you pitch can often correct a slight slope.

I find this solves our problem 8 out of 10 times for fore and aft levelling. The levels come into their own when it's an unavoidable slope to the side, especially for efficient fridge operation.
Like lots of things we carry, I find it's best to have them and not need them rather than to need them and not have them.
Mind you, when my wife trips over some gear I've carried for 6 years without using, she doesn't tend to agree...
Al.

Gromit wrote:Ours are kept in a drop down rack that I made under the rear of the van. Out of the way until needed, which is probably about one in four or five times we pitch.

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Darn, your good. 



Personally I carried ramps for years and never used them so I cant be bothered nowadays.

I haven`t any and do not intend to get any, went off caravans for the faffing about and ramps come into that territory, Just my opinion, as long as the glass doesn`t slide off the table that`s fine.   

For comfort, efficient fridge operation and water drainage, I would say they are indispensable.

Never had a problem.water drains very quick, fridge works well.

I use mine very regularly, I think because most of my UK nights are on 'club' sites that have fairly level pitches and my van being nose down, I prefer the bed being closer to level.

I use Fiamma levellers, which only have 2 levels and always end up on the higher level, which still doesn't level out a spirit level bubble, but helps my sleep.

Maybe the inbuilt spirit level in the head must be a male thing. My wife is the same as Daisy mae, so long as the glass doesn't slide off... Whereas I have to be either perfectly level or slightly head up before I can sleep. Many's the time we've ended up sleeping head to toe if I've decided in the night that the opposite way is preferable!
Al.

We carry our Fiamma levelling blocks in the passenger footwell of the Boxer van: one horizontal and one vertical. They are regularly used either individually or doubled-up under one wheel.

We always sleep horizontal or feet down. Our measure of level is the behaviour of the toilet lid: if it stays up then we're sufficiently level.

Bartfarst

Actually,  perhaps I have been lucky,  either that or I gauge the pitch angle before siting, CMHC are level I find, all the CL`s / CS`s I have been on, have been as well, pub parking was level,.  

I am out to enjoy the journey and the end camp,  last thing on my mind is worrying "am I level," as I said, I havene`t found a problem. as yet if ever I do, I will cope with it. When in Kent years ago with a caravan, that had a very steep hill, the managers kept wooden  ramps that slotted into each other, specially made, depending where on the hill you were sited.

My Husband always had to have it level where ever we went.Probably more important in a caravan, as only a single centre axle, where as MH `s have four wheels. more stable.

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Sometimes a plastic block isn't enough

I carry them but very seldom use them. I found an Android app. Clinometer, that has a bubble level with degree marks.  I can usually drive to a spot on th epitch within 2 degrees either way and that is level enough. On my Nuevo th estandard Fiammas will correct by about 3 degrees.

As said before it's all about the fridge. Anything out of level means that your fridge has to work harder and a tilt of more than 5 degrees could stop it working altogether. Look in your handbook for guidance. 
Rich..

If I haven`t had any problems and it works as it should, why would i want to change anything.?

Every ONE does what they do, which is right for them, not necessarily true for  others. 

i have 39 years  experience of caravans , from 15` -  25` which we still have , which I have towed, and my 2 motor homes, levelers were carried in caravans sometimes used, 

NO levelers in my MH`s never needed.So we will just agree to differ.   

Twice in a two week trip round Brittany, careful parking and knowing if your vehicle is nose or tail low is a great help.

BUT when you do need them, you really need them!!

The van has to be level for me. Like Boxerman, ours go under the van or in the storage tent if not used on site and just in the back by the chairs for traveling. Wouldn’t go without them.

Always check for slugs before putting them away. I have this “thing” about slugs

Every motor home I have owned has been slightly down on front, so rather than shunt around trying to get level so you don’t slide down the bed put the levellers under, for one night maybe not. Always carry them

We always carry them as the ayatollah will always pick the pitch with the best view, no matter which way it slopes!! She then requires the front of the van to face the view, that is her job done. The problem of levelling the van is total mine.
I would just like to point out to the ladies that I am not complaining, I know which side my bread is buttered and I know who operates the butter knife.

Paul