Rear Steadies - to use or not and when

[UFO]

The Chausson Allegro 83, first registered early 2006, that we have just taken delivery of has wind-down rear steadies. We have no experience of these. The motorhome is 6.9m long and the overhang from the rear axle to the rear of the vehicle is 1.9m.

So the question is whether to use or not and when? It seems a bit of a faff winding them down and up and of course there is the very real possibility of me forgetting they are down and driving away!

Thank you for sharing your experience.

 

[mistericeman]

The Chausson Allegro 83, first registered early 2006, that we have just taken delivery of has wind-down rear steadies. We have no experience of these. The motorhome is 6.9m long and the overhang from the rear axle to the rear of the vehicle is 1.9m.

So the question is whether to use or not and when? It seems a bit of a faff winding them down and up and of course there is the very real possibility of me forgetting they are down and driving away!

Thank you for sharing your experience.

Don't bother with ours unless it's windy ....

Then seconds to wind down with cordless drill ;-)

 

[Jo001]

possibility of me forgetting they are down and driving away

seconds to wind down with cordless drill

Could you leave the drill in the cab with the cord wrapped round the steering wheel?

 

[Tonybvi]

But don’t forget to wind them up again before you drive off (the voice of experience speaking so we now have hydraulic levellers!!)

 

[mistericeman]

Could you leave the drill in the cab with the cord wrapped round the steering wheel?

Easily .....

The steady check is just part of our departure walk around ....

 

[wildebus]

The Chausson Allegro 83, first registered early 2006, that we have just taken delivery of has wind-down rear steadies. We have no experience of these. The motorhome is 6.9m long and the overhang from the rear axle to the rear of the vehicle is 1.9m.

So the question is whether to use or not and when? It seems a bit of a faff winding them down and up and of course there is the very real possibility of me forgetting they are down and driving away!

Thank you for sharing your experience.

The first thing to do as they have probably never been used is to give them a liberal dose of WD40 or the like to free them up.

Then as suggested, use some kind of power tool to wind them up and down rather than the winding handle. I carry an cordless impact wrench for mine.

 

[mistericeman]

The first thing to do as they have probably never been used is to give them a liberal dose of WD40 or the like to free them up.

Then as suggested, use some kind of power tool to wind them up and down rather than the winding handle. I carry an cordless impact wrench for mine.

Motorcycle chain lube is far better than wd40 ....

 

[r4dent]

Worthwhile winding them down and back up occasionally to prevent them seizing.

Otherwise, if you are on honeymoon or it is your birthday use them.

 

[maingate]

Had them on 2 Tag Axle vans over more than 12 years. Never used them.

 

[RichardHelen262]

Unfortunately our van doesn’t have them but our previous van had them I used them if I was staying for more than one night and also at home, to slow any would be thief down as they would have to wind them up before nicking the motorhome.
I used to put the winding handle across the peddles to remind me that the legs were down

 

[Scotia]

Handy for when you don't want people to know what you are upto during your afternoon snooze.

 

[Bigshug]

Handy for when you don't want people to know what you are upto during your afternoon snooze.

I sleep during my afternoon snooze, what else would you do??

 

[wildebus]

Motorcycle chain lube is far better than wd40 ....

as I don't have a motorbike, I a) wouldn't know that; b) have any reason to buy it and c) the "or the like" would cover that.
I would use GasPlus myself if my can was not empty.
As it is, I would use WD40 as that is what I have (A can of WD40 that you have is FAR better than a can of chain lube that you don't )

 

[mistericeman]

as I don't have a motorbike, I a) wouldn't know that; b) have any reason to buy it and c) the "or the like" would cover that.
I would use GasPlus myself if my can was not empty.
As it is, I would use WD40 as that is what I have (A can of WD40 that you have is FAR better than a can of chain lube that you don't )

Just general advice ....

I didn't say YOU or anyone else had to follow it ...

WD40 is barely a lubricant ...
Chain lube will stay on the mechanism longer .

Use whatever YOU have to hand

 

[Pudsey Bear]

We had some on one of the vans, tried them & binned them.

 

[wildebus]

We had some on one of the vans, tried them & binned them.

I gave them a go (once I freed them up with WD40 ) a couple of years ago and thought they were quite handy. I have a rear shower room and it could help stop rocking when moving down to have a shower or use the loo.

 

[mistericeman]

We had some on one of the vans, tried them & binned them.

We lubricated them with chain lube (IF you have it ;-) )
and find them useful IF it's windy OR when we can't get dead level

 

[Pudsey Bear]

I gave them a go (once I freed them up with WD40 ) a couple of years ago and thought they were quite handy. I have a rear shower room and it could help stop rocking when moving down to have a shower or use the loo.

Do tell us what you're doing in there that you need steadies David.

 

[wildebus]

Do tell us what you're doing in there that you need steadies David.

if they didn't serve a purpose, they wouldn't be fitted. good if you have a long overhang.

 

[1 Cup]

Yep if I had them I'd use them .better than chocks to level van from side to side . Not sure about a 1,5 m overhang thow. ,!

I'm still looking at hydraulic lift system or independent air bags