Explorer Group 2005 AVANTE, Owner'S Handbook Manual

Page: 13 / 133

12
Site Arrival
SITE ARRIVAL
CHECK SITE REGULATIONS
On arrival at a camp site, you should
always check the site regulations. This
will help avoid any unnecessary conflict
with site management and other site
users.
SELECTING A PITCH
Carefully select where you wish to place
your caravan. The site should be as level
as possible, preferably not under or near
trees, well drained and away from
possible boggy areas. Consider how you
will move the caravan when it is time to
leave the site. On sloping ground it is
better to pitch facing downhill, especially
during wet weather.
SIDE TO SIDE OR LATERAL LEVELING
A quick glance at your pitch should tell
you if you are likely to need side to side
leveling i.e. leveling across the axle.
On uneven ground lateral levelling is
accomplished by the use of a leveller jack
or ramp and a spirit level placed 'across'
the caravan floor.
Leveller Jack - Place the leveller jack,
folded flat, in front of the wheel needed to
be raised to level the axle. Tow the
caravan onto the leveller jack and adjust
the height until the spirit level shows that
the caravan is laterally level.
Ramp - Reverse onto your pitch about a
foot further back than you wish to end up.
Then place the leveling ramp in front of
the wheel that needs to be raised.
Place a spirit level parallel to the axle on
the A-frame or just inside the caravan
door. It helps to have two people at this
point. One should drive the car very
slowly forward moving the caravan wheel
up the ramp, and the other should
indicate when the spirit level bubble is in
the middle.
Whichever method you use, once level,
apply the caravan handbrake and chock
the caravan wheel if necessary. Lower the
jockey wheel to ground level before
unhitching. (See index uncoupling)
You should then park your car, usually
next to the caravan furthest away from the
door side.
(On upward facing pitches when the
hydraulically damped drawbar of the
hitch becomes fully extended, it will
be necessary to compress the
drawbar slightly in order to achieve a
'clean' unhitching). With the caravan
brake on, reverse the towing vehicle
about 2.54cm (1 inch) to release hitch
lock tension and using the jockey
wheel adjustment, unhitch the
caravan as previously described.