To save bending and make things easier , i have made some levelling chocks out of some blocks of wood and drilled holes through the centre of wood and rope passing through hole in wood, making them easier to retrieve with out bending too far.I also bent a lengthof stron wire into a hook at one end to pull anex / tent pegs out the ground much better than a claw hammer ,as the length gives better leverage to pull out of ground......Also i have cut strips of foam and use them at different sections along the awning 'arms' to stop the canvas rubbing on them.It does not take all that long for the canvas to have a hole rubbed through it ,especially if you have the full enex up for any length of time .As it appears to pull the canvas down tighter on the 'arms' .
-- Edited by herbie on Wednesday 27th of March 2013 03:56:17 PM
That is a an excellent idea to make the job of retrieving the blocks so much easier. I have used wooden blocks for levelling for many years but a few years back purchased the plastic ramp type of levelling blocks and chocks and found them so much easier to use, they don't slip away from the tyres when using on wet grass and the chocks interlock onto the ramp. David
We use both, the plastic ones cracked when used on rough ground, had to be replaced. Wood blocks add to your loadweight, but are very useful to level the van when the "legs" dont reach the ground, or the ground is muddy and they'll sink in.
When I first got the van the plastic ones weren't on the market so I made two level ramps out of that NZ Oregon Pine (Douglas Fir) that was then being used in building Pergolas. I pinned them together when the second level was required & into the ground with tent pegs that were stored in holes drilled into the ramps.
They worked well and were light weight.
Problem was that I left the accompanying chocks against the wheel for a few months on bare ground.
When I removed them I found that white ants had eaten out the base.
So I replaced them with the then readily available plastic ones. I still have the old chocks.
Also put down a gravel hard stand & always lift the van onto axel stands when at home for any period of time.
