caravan level

excited-newbies · Veteran Member

caravan level

JRH · Guru

excited-newbies wrote:
Hi all
I have bought a T type spirit level for our caravan the ones you attach to the draw bar.
I have attachjed it just near the jockey wheel my question is do some of the gns have a level on drawbar and if so do they actually do the job they are meant to do thank you in advance for any info.
yours
excited-newbies
Chris and Vina

G'day to you both and welcome to the forum. I have a T type spirit level on the draw bar and it seems to do the job ok. I also have a spirit level in the caravan fridge as they need to be level in all directions to work properly. The caravan fridge can often be out of whack with the rest of the van so you may have the van level but the fridge can be unlevel.

NeilandRaine · Guru

I have a t level but not attached. I use it to get the van close to level then check the fridge. I can sleep with the van being 5 mil out but they reckon the fridge works better level.

Vic · Guru

I like the bulls eye levels Chris and Vina, mine is loose for checking the fridge inside etc. When I had my van I also had a small spirit level that I used for the outside. Had one of those T levels but it never seemed correct, much preferred the bulleye, had one of those on the bar too at one time.

Boroma577 · Guru

I have 2 T levels, one of the draw bar and one on the floor just inside the van door....both ends are covered that way.

And yes they work....sometimes it is a bit hard to see the one on the draw bar in the bright sunlight but it still works.

Had them on my CTs as well....all good.

rockylizard · Guru

Gday...

I use the 'bulls-eye' spirit level - not fixed to anything. Check the floor front and back and especially the floor where fridge is (middle of van) ... also sometimes check inside the fridge for level as well.

Had the T-level/s but gave up on them - too hard to get both to respond and/or reflect the actual position of the van.

Cheers

John

Smokeydk · Guru

Had a T on my CT and got one on drawbar of van...if fitting just make sure the A frame tube top is level too.mine wasnt and I had to put couple washers under the T to level it too

rockylizard · Guru

Smokeydk wrote:
Had a T on my CT and got one on drawbar of van...if fitting just make sure the A frame tube top is level too.mine wasnt and I had to put couple washers under the T to level it too

Gday...

Sorry for the silly question ... just how do you determine the A-frame is actually level therefore requiring washers under the level to make it level ?

cheers

John

Ron and Shirley · Senior Member

Our Goldstream Link Campertrailer had a 3-way fridge which needs to be reasonably level to operate efficiently.

I used a builders level, north-south then east-west on top of the fridge, to make sure it was level after adjusting the Jockey wheel and stabiliser legs etc. I also checked the floor as well but the fridge is more important.

Then I placed the T spirit level on the A-frame near the jockey wheel.

The bubble was not quite centred in one direction so needed a little packing before fixing permanently.

Always used just the T spirit level to set the camper up and never had any problems with the fridge, or that feeling that the van was not level.

Did the same with the Caravan even though it has a 12v fridge and being level is not that important.

ozjohn · Guru

I also use a bulls eye level, but the 'T' levels are OK.
Biggest problem I've seen around parks (Especially with the 'T') is that people fix them to the drawbar crossmember which on most vans is well off level. Boy! Have I seen some with the front high and others low.

Best bet is to level the van perfectly at home.
Bottom of fridge is usually a good choice, or even on the floor.
The find a spot on the drawabar where the level gives a correct reading. and mark that sposition or fix the 'T' level to that point.
The drawbar rails are usually the best place to start.
Best of Luck,
Ozjohn.

PS>
Had one bloke at a park who'd levelled the van inside, but couldn't for the love of money find a spot on the draw bar that was level.
A quick check revealed that the drawbar was bent.
Brand new van and first trip away. Ouch!

JRH · Guru

I use a T bar level on the drawbar, levelled the van before fitting the T bar.

I use a bullseye in the fridge and to date have had very little trouble levelling both van and fridge.

I get the van level with the T bar and then the wife tells me which way to go to get the fridge level, sometimes the van is slightly off level when the fridge is level but not so much that one really notices it.

Happywanderer · The Master

I have two small levels sitting at right angles on the shelf just above the fridge.. They are screwed on there permanently, were there when I bought Myrtle and think they may have come from bunnings as I have seen the same there. Quite small with plastic ends. Works very well.

excited-newbies · Veteran Member

thank you all i will take all info in and experiment with the info
yours
e-n
Chris and Vina

Elle on Wheels · Guru

Welcome to the forum Chris and Vina

looks like I need to add a tbar and bullseye spirit level to the shopping list. I wish I believed in Santa. Thanks for all the advice, I will be benefitting from it as well as Chris and Vina

Joe · Senior Member

I mounted a T level on the draw bar (I made sure that the fridge was dead level inside first and then mounted the T level to reflect that "dead level" position), but after a year or so the glass became so faded and cloudy looking that it was hard to read. Must be all the sun and perhaps road dust abrading the surface - we tend to travel a lot of gravel and dirt roads.

Anyway, it became almost useless so I returned to using the bullseye type and storing it back in the box after use.