Rear vehicle steadies.

Hi there, 
we've just taken delivery of a 2014 Winchcombe, and we're unsure if it has the 'optional' rear corner steadies. Can someone please take a picture of what they look like under the vehicle, so we know what we are looking for. And then how to use/deploy them, if we do have them.  We've found 'something' that might be it, and there is one on each side, but would like some confirmation. The vehicle is currently off site, so can't provide a picture of our own 'somethings', as yet. 

 

thanks!

Here is a photo of the rear corner steadies I removed from my Boxer chassis and the brace that is used to lower them.  Your M-B steadies will be very similar.  You can't miss them if you've got them.  They are steadies that must not be used to level the van or jack it up in any way.  Their purpose is to reduce shaking on a pitch due to high winds and people moving around the van and stepping into it.  On soft ground they are more effective if a pad is put under their feet but of course soft ground should be avoided if possible.

As a footnote to Caraman's helpful post and photo above, if you look at the rear of the van you'll see 2 holes in the skirt, one near nearside and one near offside, The holes are about 1" diameter. Peer through one, and you should see the nut which is shown in Caraman's photo: it's clearer to see on the right hand steady, in the foreground just above the rounded foot plate (not the nut on top). If there's that nut, you have the steady.

Many of us don't use the red-handled wheel brace shown in the photo, but us a suitable socket, attached to a long extension bar, and the other end of the bar attached via a little adapter to an electric drill. Saves a lot of work.  A block of wood under the foot of the steady helps spread the load on the ground, and means that you don't have to wind it down so far. But as Caraman point out, the steady is not a jack: it's only meant to steady the van. 

Cymro

PS: just thought: my reference to the two holes in the rear skirt is based on my Nuevo; i dont know if that applies to other models. But if the van does have steadies, you’ll see those winder nuts.

When the corner steadies were fitted, I didn't always put them down as I found the mechanism described by Cymro awkward to get at due to the overhanging bike rack.  When I had levelling jacks fitted I couldn't justify having them.  Removal helped reduce the rear axle mass.

I removed mine and gained twice...

1. Van weight reduced by about 20kg.
2 Wallet topped up with the £25 I sold them for!!!!

If I had your van I d bin them all that weight at the end of an already huge tail overhang is the last thing it needs....

IanH wrote:I removed mine and gained twice...

1. Van weight reduced by about 20kg.
2 Wallet topped up with the £25 I sold them for!!!!

If I had your van I d bin them all that weight at the end of an already huge tail overhang is the last thing it needs....

Unless the wind is blowing like a good'un and then on a winchcombe, same as our worcester, you will be glad you have them. Big payload on those vans so weight really isn't an issue.  In 10 years probably only used ours half a dozen times  but when they were needed they made a big difference.
Concur with all the above, about the holes in the skirt and using a socket in a drill, as long as the legs are well greased away you go.
I forgot Ian you are used to all that turbulence in your Hercules

We had reason to use ours on the Suffolk a few times, especially in Orkney.

Thinking, perhaps, obliquely

"If the legs are well greased" you may well need them!!!!

I finally went hunting and found them! I have yet to find the wheel brace or socket, but there are definitely the holes in the back skirt.  Thankyou to everyone who replied.

From experience, the manual winder is a pain as the legs are quite high so need lots of winding. Also don’t buy the 30cm socket as it’s too short so the drill chuck can end up rubbing against the fibreglass.
This one is more suitable for a Winchcombe

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/125377933869?_trkparms=amclksrc%3DITM%26aid%3D1110006%26algo%3DHOMESPLICE.SIM%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D272470%2C272611%2C271656%26meid%3Dcba251ec4713486093d70b60c0c76504%26pid%3D101875%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D4%26sd%3D226112824944%26itm%3D125377933869%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D0%26pg%3D2332490%26algv%3DSimVIDwebV3WithCPCExpansion&_trksid=p2332490.c101875.m1851&itmprp=cksum%3A125377933869cba251ec4713486093d70b60c0c76504%7Cenc%3AAQAJAAABAKAOBbj8c9I6eO4vPyI9FfMl8NhNqsULUU1TfDUZ7khl9VmukIl%252F6ksgGybHByg10HegZPMrTYlU9z2XKosZ2GcpOPMUgh86X0cuU%252FC3w9ApjCxE0o3CkZTgVRWl9vVZVsUy1IpQ2j6IylxyFuRgQzkxMWBvgkbiJgrDwoq8CLo1G4IOw7OIDAvF3fEtT9HTPYXrWC6QA7ga0x7rbZGTXldtc2bfHHpHqMBdbugUuWNP67y1h4ATu0Amju8CeDb7cS4WA5zeOXdvURqGT6O5Ns2sZBw88Ei%252B%252F1P8KMp2dduMV%252BoaDwB27Ejsrdr8ZWzdFaBeqgOirGE968%252FgRkE8dbI%253D%7Campid%3APL_CLK%7Cclp%3A2332490&epid=647604037&itmmeta=01J6PCBQZXTPDRJNJ7WEBDD4CA

Mine struggle to reach the ground  .

Molly3 wrote:Mine struggle to reach the ground  .

I saw a Dashund like that the other day.
It's legs were so short they only just reached the ground.

And by they way I have a set of these corner steadies for sale (off my Bourton) if anyone is interested. I had the hydraulic self levelling system fitted and so these were not necessary.