Getting your RV as steady and level as possible has long been a tricky process involving blocks, levellers and much frustration. Alexia Santamaria talks to the experts at Apollo about an automatic levelling kit that’s changed everything.
It’s the bane of every campervan owner’s life – the eternal quest for a flat floor. The kind where drinks perch perfectly level on tables, pens and plates don’t slide as soon as you put them down – and where the whole vehicle doesn’t move every time someone turns over in bed at night. There are ways to solve this issue, of course, and anyone who has been living the motorhome life for a while will probably be familiar with furiously jamming blocks and wedges under wheels till everything is level.
Duncan and Helen MacMillan from Apollo have heard many a customer lament this struggle, so were thrilled to make the acquaintance of the MA-VE automatic hydraulic levelling kit in San Marino. “We have had such incredible feedback from anyone who has bought one. They’ve all said it removes one of the jobs they hate the most about being on the road,” says Duncan. “It can often take time to get a floor totally straight and balancing things with ramps and blocks is okay when the weather’s good, but really not much fun in the rain or at night or when you’re short on time with kids who need feeding.” The MA-VE automatic hydraulic levelling kit is compatible with Fiat, Mercedes, IVECO and Volkswagen vehicles – installers attach it directly to the chassis.
There’s a simple control panel inside and with one press of a button (engine off, handbrake on) the four legs will come down – two by two – to level the vehicle. Once down, you’ll have not only a level, but stable, motorhome – no movement, no bouncing around. Balanced, solid bliss. “We’ve actually had people with the MA-VE system installed say they’ve slept right through crazy storms and not even known it was happening!” says Helen. “People love it because the shower drains properly too.” And it’s not just good for while you’re in the campervan; it’s also incredibly helpful for changing tyres, putting snow chains on and emptying tanks. People find it very useful for winterising vehicles so tyres don’t crack or degrade from having the weight all on one spot over the months it’s not in use.
The team at MA-VE take safety seriously and include a safety hand pump with their systems to retract the feet in the unlikely case of breakdown of the unit. They have also ensured all models of jacks receive five coats of paint for protection against corrosion and a large support plate prevents jacks from sinking into the ground. The plates also have drain holes and are secured tightly to the jacks in such a way they can rotate to adapt to all types of ground, depending on where you’re parked up.
All installations require an LT400 certification since it’s being mounted directly to the chassis, but it’s all worth it for a solid night’s sleep for all – pots and pans that won’t slide when you’re cooking and no more bouncing around every time someone moves. It’s hard to put a price on sitting smugly and snugly in the warmth of your vehicle rather than going out for the fourth time to adjust the ramp ‘just slightly’ for the angle that will finally make everything flat and stable.
For more on MA-VE hydraulic levelling systems, contact Apollo on 09 424 1427 or at info@apollotv.co.nz
