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Why E&P Hydraulic levelling for caravans?

The levelling system for caravans

E&P Levelling system for caravans - Level CThe E&P Hydraulics Level C is capable of levelling a caravan in under 2 minutes and is designed specifically for caravans to provide impeccable stability on any ground

Why Level C?

Campsite pitches are rarely level. This can lead to sleeping on a slope while your caravan rocks and shakes in the wind; cupboard doors fall open and water doesn’t drain away from the shower or sink. In most cases, it takes chocks or a jack to level your caravan. This takes time and effort… which is the last thing you want when you’re on holiday, especially if it’s cold or raining.

E&P Hydraulics set the benchmark when it comes to levelling systems for caravans, offering fully automated levelling with the Level C Complete while the Compact System provides an affordable semi-automatic alternative.

E&P Hydraulics Level C Complete for CaravansLevel C Complete

The E&P Level C Complete system offers the gold standard in levelling for your caravan, providing unparalleled stability and fully automatic levelling in under 2 minutes.

When activated, the system lowers two hydraulic axle jacks, levelling your caravan side-to-side. Four hydraulic corner steadies are then deployed, levelling front-to-back.

In Manual mode the wheels can be raised off the ground, enabling you to rotate your tyres in the winter, avoiding flat spots. The sides of the caravan can also be lifted independently, to facilitate emptying the wastewater tank.

Download a product sheet for Level C Complete

E&P Hydraulics Level C Compact for CaravansLevel C Compact

The E&P Level C Compact system is an affordable, semi-automatic levelling system that offers the perfect solution if you’re looking for automated side-to-side levelling at a more affordable price.

The system comprises two hydraulic axle jacks that can either be operated automatically or manually to level your caravan side-to-side. Levelling front-to-back can then be achieved manually with a jockey wheel and corner steadies.

 

Download a product sheet for Level C Compact

Touchscreen levellingLevelling your caravan by touchscreen

E&P Hydraulics levelling systems are provided with a control panel that’s fitted in your caravan as standard. Upgrade options also include a removable touchpad that functions as a wireless remote control when it’s removed from its docking station. Then there’s the intelligent E&P Hydraulics app for smartphones and tablets for the ultimate wireless interface that’s always at your fingertips.

Build quality

Level C is a state-of-the-art system, designed around knowledge and experience. The base plates for the legs are built with stainless steel, making them resistant to rust, even after years of use, and all key components are coated to protect against corrosion, stone chips, rain and dirt.

Caravan owners also have to pay special attention to the weight of any additional accessories, which is why Level C is constructed with premium, lightweight materials.

E&P Hydraulics Level C for caravans InstallationInstallation

E&P Hydraulics’ levelling systems for caravans are available for most common single and twin-axle chassis types. The hydraulic jacks are fastened to the chassis with adapters that are designed to match your caravan body, which means no welding is necessary and any existing warranties will remain intact.

Why Rosmia?

As the UK’s longest-serving E&P Hydraulics Premium Dealer, we are experienced and fully accredited installers who work with competence and care. Contact us if you would like to discuss the benefits of an E&P Hydraulics levelling system for your caravan. Our team can talk through your requirements and advise on appropriate recommendations.

Check out the Level C FAQs

Three things you need to know before buying a hydraulic levelling system

E&P hydraulics levellingWhy should you consider a hydraulic levelling system? Levelling your caravan or motorhome is one of the first jobs when you arrive at your holiday destination. Whether it be for a one-night stopover or a two-week summer holiday, your vehicle needs to be level for many reasons. The traditional, manual way to level your vehicle is tedious, hard work and can be quite time-consuming. Especially if you’re having to set up in the dark or after a long journey. A hydraulic levelling system takes all that pain away and levels the vehicle perfectly in under two minutes. Leaving you to get the bags unpacked and start enjoying your break. Simply, all you have to do is press a button and the system levels your vehicle for you.
Here are the three main things you need to know about a hydraulic levelling system. You can find more detail about the systems below, but in a nutshell, here are three key things to consider;

1. Simplicity of hydraulic levelling

Make sure your hydraulic levelling system is easy to use. You don’t have to be technical. You just press a button and the system does everything for you. You don’t even need to maintain the system as it’s all contained within a closed-loop hydraulic system. There is no need for a spirit level, chocks, drill for winding the legs down or any other gadget or tool.

2. Solid and stable position

Levelling your motorhome or caravan is important to maintain good working order of the fridge and to ensure good drainage from your sink and shower tray. It also protects you from buffeting in strong winds and helps to ensure you aren’t sleeping on an angle! But for added comfort, a strong and stable levelled pitch will stop any sway when walking in, out and through your vehicle. Making your vehicle a much more comfortable environment.

3. Payload pay-off

The system is hydraulic so is very strong and can support pretty much any motorhome or caravan, but make sure the hydraulic levelling system you choose doesn’t take away too much weight from your payload. With E&P’s hydraulic levelling system, there obviously is some weight added to the vehicle but it’s only 25kg for caravans and 55kg for motorhomes up to 5.5 tonnes GVW. Still giving you plenty of payload for the extra comfy camping chairs.

E&P Hydraulic Levelling

There are three versions of the E&P Hydraulic levelling system: The main two systems are Level M for motorhomes and Level C for caravans, but there is also Level C Compact for caravans which is a semi-automatic levelling system (we call it semi-automatic because you still need to wind the corner steadies down manually so it’s a little different).

Select your level:

Hydraulic levelling system installation

E&P Hydraulics’ levelling systems are available for most common motorhomes and caravans. The hydraulic jacks are fastened to the chassis with brackets or adapters that specifically designed for your vehicle or caravan, which means no welding is necessary and any existing warranties will remain intact.

As the UK’s longest-serving E&P Hydraulics Premium Dealer, we are experienced and fully accredited installers who work with competence and care. Contact us if you would like to discuss the benefits of an E&P Hydraulics levelling system for your motorhome or caravan. Our team can talk through your requirements and advise on appropriate recommendations.

 

‘Out and About Live’ discuss E&P Hydraulics levelling for caravans

The essential task of levelling a caravan has remained stubbornly low-tech for half a century, relying on wooden planks, or, at best, bespoke, but still basic, plastic levelling ramps.

But, all of a sudden, the 21st century arrived. The pace of change accelerated and engineers turned their attention to the boring and unsophisticated task of winding up and down four metal legs every time we pitch and break camp.

Even for those who choose to use a rechargeable drill to quicken the process, it’s still surely caravanning’s dullest task?

Self levelling system for caravans

Along came automatic caravan levelling systems…

Then, in 2007, with a buzz and a whir, a company in Blackburn changed all that. Enter the E&P Levelsystem, which magically levels a caravan at the touch of a button. Suddenly, there was an alternative to winding a handle or getting out a drill (assuming you’ve remembered to recharge it!).

To begin with, E&P made levelling products that a specialist fitter would retrofit to your tourer. The process is pretty straightforward and takes just a day for the full system.

But then, the Explorer Group began offering the ‘elbow-grease-removing’ system as standard on its luxury Buccaneer caravans.

I clearly recall its public unveiling, at the Buccaneer factory in County Durham. E&P Hydraulics gave us a lesson in this new, luxury method of levelling.

They passed us a handset. At the touch of a button, a series of rhythmic motor sounds emerged from the axle area of the giant Buccaneer, as two substantial pistons, with big, flat bases, slowly descended.

Hydraulic legs

As the feet touched the ground, the big Bucc shifted and tilted on these hydraulic ‘legs’. Within a few seconds, the caravan was level from side to side, on the far-from-even ground.

Then, as if with a mind of its own, the system turned its attention to the front-to-back levelling. Four giant corner steadies descended, emitting metallic, whirring sounds. Within two minutes, a caravan that weighed just shy of 2000 kg, was level. Impressive.

Next, Lunar saw the labour-saving potential of Levelsystem and fitted it to its new brand of caravan, Alaria, launched last year. That brought the number of models with auto-levelling appeal as standard to eight.

Caravan magazine’s technical expert, Terry Owen, availed himself of this new advancement. He has a Levelsystem fitted to his Bessacarr 645 and says the ease of pitching firm and level is a brilliant asset to his enjoyment of caravanning.

And there’s now a cheaper, alternative option, too. E&P makes a cut-down version of the Complete Caravan Levelsystem, called Compact Caravan Levelsystem. Less cost. Less impact upon your payload. More appeal? Well, perhaps.

Unless your techie appetite means nothing less than the maximum amount of engineering, hydraulics and wizardry will do.

It’s good to have the option, though. This is why we decided to find out more. So Caravan magazine headed to Blackburn, and the headquarters of E&P…

How does Levelsystem work?

The brilliant thing is its simplicity: it has a hydraulic pump, an electric motor, two-axle jacks and four heavy-duty legs of E&P’s own design (fitted with AL-KO’s Big Footplates). When you start the system, the hydraulic pump engages and feeds the jacks with 170 bar of pressure to raise the caravan.

The right jack exerts the most pressure and comes down first, levelling the caravan side to side. Then the front legs come down to stabilise, followed by the left jack descending to finish the side-to-side levelling process.

Finally, the rear legs lower to make the final adjustments. All in under two minutes (I videoed the process in real-time and it took just 1 minute 27 seconds from the first whir to the final thunk).

Can Levelsystem be fitted to any caravan?

The levelling system can be fitted to any single or twin-axle caravan. The only difference is where you mount the axle jacks. On a single-axle they’re mounted behind the axle and on a twin, you mount them in between (forward of the rear axle).

What are the components?

The Complete kit comprises the two axle jacks, the hydraulic pump system, the electric motor, the CPU or ‘brain’, pressure switch, valve blocks and the pipework leading to the jacks and leg pistons.

What maintenance does it require?

The levelling system is fully sealed and self-contained (it’s a closed-loop system). It needs no topping up of fluid and the only maintenance required is a quick spray of silicone-based lubricant (WD40) on the axle jacks, and on the leg pistons to eliminate the possibility of corrosion.

Is there a maximum weight of caravan?

This is a simple but mighty piece of kit; the jacks are capable of lifting a remarkable three tonnes! That’s the heaviest caravan on the market, fully laden with eight people inside. Impressive.

How levelling controlled?

There’s a fixed control panel in the caravan, a remote handset, and for those wanting to have the ultimate in tech, there’s an app in the pipeline, too. Launching in 2018, the app will be compatible with existing levelling systems (a minor software upgrade will be needed, but will be compatible with all existing levellers).

How much does it weigh?

By this point, you’re probably thinking that all this hardware is going to add a bit of weight to your caravan and thereby drastically reduce your available payload. It’s not as heavy as you might think, though. The factory-fitted unit adds 28kg and the retro-fitted Compact kit only 20kg. While it does impact your payload, it’s only by a manageable amount.

How much does it cost?

The Complete system, with two axle jacks and four hydraulic levelling legs, costs £2957, including parts, labour and VAT. The Compact system, with just the two axle jacks, costs £1808.

Can Levelsystem be moved to a new caravan?

When you get around to changing your caravan, there’s no need to leave the leveller behind; switching/upgrading will cost around £1200.

How long does it take to fit?

Complete system – one day; Compact system – four hours, by one of the 15 authorised UK fitters.

What gradient is the system designed for?

Levelsystem operates on a gradient of up to 5%. And when the gradient is greater than 5%? As you would normally, on extreme undulating ground, you will need wooden blocks.

You then activate the manual mode to bring down individual legs until they hit the wood platform, then simply allow the unit to auto-level.

Are there any other benefits?

If your caravan is in storage, you can raise the wheels off the ground, so it just sits on the jacks for prolonged periods, to prevents tyre flat-spots.

Plus, when the jacks are down they constitute an extra security measure because the wheels are not in contact with the ground.

Power failure?

And finally, I ask what happens if the site’s 240V power fails and my battery runs flat with the jacks and legs down? (Or it’s been on a video shoot, and no one bothered to plug it in despite using the levelling system repeatedly all day (As once happened in our team!). It doesn’t use much power, but operate it 25-30 times, and it will drain the leisure battery.)

It turns out there is an emergency retract button. You simply connect the caravan 12-volt cable up to your car in the usual manner (as if you were hitching up) and press the button. This will bypass the leveller’s ‘brain’ and retract everything, meaning you won’t be stuck on a campsite with an immovable, if perfectly level, caravan.

For more information about E&P Hydraulics Level C caravan levelling system, CLICK HERE.

Source: Out and About Live.

E&P: Levelling with touchscreen

The newly revised hydraulic levelling system for motorhomes from E&P Hydraulics is now called Level M and offers users even more comfort. In the past the motorhome steady legs were controlled at the touch of a button; in future, this will be achieved simply and conveniently using a tablet and/or smartphone app, both of which have the same user interface. One advantage of the new, modern operating concept is that it can be updated in terms of user interface and functions. The small touchpad is provided with a fixed charging station in the motorhome. When the tablet is removed from this unit it functions as a practical, wireless radio remote control from which the entire levelling system can also be controlled from outside the vehicle. Simply touching the tablet or smartphone screen commands the system to automatically level the vehicle horizontally. The hydraulic cylinders can also be moved manually so that, for example, a motorcycle carrier can be loaded more easily.

Motorhome levelling system

The principle of the E&P hydraulic levelling system is quite simple. The legs are extended hydraulically out of a cylinder at the push of a button and position the vehicle perfectly horizontally within 120 seconds. But behind the simple functionality, there is a lot of experience and complex technology.

The hydraulic support system includes steady legs, pump blocks, oil reservoirs, hydraulic lines and electronic control. At a press of the button on the remote control, the pump starts and pumps oil from the tank into the cylinders of the steady legs. The steady legs of the E&P system extend in pairs until they contact the ground and a counter-pressure is built up in the system. Thanks to the electronic spirit level integrated into the control unit, the system starts to extend the legs further until the vehicle is horizontal. To ensure that no damaging forces act on the superstructure, the legs are always extended in pairs on the longitudinal or transverse axis and always with just the amount of travel necessary. Depending on the model, when fitted to a motorhome the hydraulic system can move up to 10,000 kilograms per leg. That is sufficient to level a 22-tonne vehicle.

Each E&P system is matched to the weight of the vehicle. The electronics control the travel of the legs via the pressure in the respective cylinder. This means that the system does not need any susceptible electrical sensors on the legs. All systems are fastened to the chassis supporting points using adapters specially designed for the respective vehicle and body type, which means that no welding is necessary.

An overview of the E&P Level M levelling system:

• For motorhomes from 3.5 to 22 tonnes permitted gross weight
• Available with different stroke lengths
• Drive-off protection – the system functions only when the ignition is switched off
• Hydraulic pump is driven by a powerful motor (12 V / 24 V – 800 W)
• Fully automatic levelling at the push of a button
• Semi-automatic operation of pairs of supports
• Emergency operation in case of power failure
• Lowering of the supports in pairs to avoid stresses being exerted on the chassis or body
• Permanent protection against corrosion, stone chips, moisture and dirt
• Stainless steel base plate as standard
• Can be integrated into an existing air suspension system
• Level and steady in maximum of two minutes
• Easy touchscreen operation
• Compact and light
• Maintenance-free
• Cable and line routing protected from dirt and moisture

The software can also be retrofitted to enable control using a smartphone app (iOS and Android). This requires a WiFi module that is integrated into the control cable between the control unit and touch panel or conventional operating panel and is supplied with power to operate the levelling system by pushing a button. Power off is automatic after five minutes of inactivity.

For further information on the E&P Hydraulics Level M motorhome levelling system, CLICK HERE.