SELF-LEVELLING SYSTEM – MAKING MOTORHOME LIFE EASIER
Following the official UK launch of a new aftermarket motorhome hydraulic self-levelling system, we speak to the man behind the launch, Oliver Drinkwater, managing director of E&P Hydraulics UK.
Self-levelling systems are already fitted on some motorhomes as original equipment, usually on new, high-end models. But now you can have the same system retrofitted to your current motorhome.The joy of a self-levelling system is that it is designed to make motorhome life easier – quite simply it takes the backache out of levelling your motorhome once on site.
There are several other advantages to a system such as this – like raising the motorhome to allow for a wheel to be changed, or lifting it clear of the ground when it’s stored for the winter (which can help preserve tyres) and even allowing owners to remove some or all of the wheels as an extra deterrent to thieves.
But there are many other things to consider, not least that the systems are costly and will eat into your payload.
The E&P Hydraulics system is not new: it is already fitted to German prestige marques, such as Carthago, Hymer, Concorde and Niesmann+Bischoff as original equipment.
But now, following its UK launch last year, it is available on the aftermarket, which means owners of any motorhome typically weighing from 3.5 up to 24 tonnes can pull on to a site, step outside, press a button and be level within a couple of minutes.
No need for levelling blocks, spirit levels or any of the other paraphernalia that is needed to ensure your ‘van is level.
That said, you may still need boards to spread the weight on very soft ground, although the jacks come fitted with a 23cm diameter plate, so the likelihood of needing extra boards is remote.
The system is available through a network of eight specialist engineering companies – all of which have been vetted and passed a training course ensuring they are qualified to fit the E&P Hydraulic levelling jacks, which come with a two-year parts and labour warranty.
The obvious selling point is that within minutes of arriving on site, your motorhome is level and stable – there is no movement whatsoever even when your partner rises in the night to walk to the loo. There is also an ‘inclination function’, which allows users to empty the wastewater tank easily.
However, while the system can be fitted to a smaller ‘van, it is really aimed at larger, high-value motorhomes where the cost of the self-levelling system – from £4,400 to £5,200, including fitting and VAT – can be justified.
Larger motorhomes, in theory anyway, should also come with a greater payload, which should be able to easily swallow the 45 to 65kg weight of the standard leveling system (the weight varies depending on the size of the motorhome). There is a lighter version, which uses aluminium jacks and cuts the weight by some 45%. However these lighter jacks are not telescopic unlike their standard counterparts.
NOW IN THE UK
Oliver Drinkwater, the man who imports the system into the UK, will be familiar to many readers as he is the man behind VB Air Suspension, which was established here in 2006 to sell air suspension to users – including those with motorhomes. The new E&P leveling system is a perfect match as it can be used alongside the air suspension.“I saw an opportunity here to talk to the same customer about the two products,” explains Oliver. “Air suspension and self-leveling both work very well together.”
So, last year, he created E&P Hydraulics UK Ltd to sell and fit the system here. He has now appointed eight accredited dealers – independent engineering companies that can cope with fitting the systems to even the largest of motorhomes.
“To become a dealer you have to go through a 52-point scoring process,” explains Oliver. “It is a rigorous process to become and remain a dealer. We assess the size of the workshops, the ramps, etc and they need the skill set to work on the chassis.”
There are dealers in Scotland (Fife), North (Doncaster), the West Midlands (Birmingham), East (Stowmarket), London and Southeast (Bolney, West Sussex). It is expected that a dealer in the northwest and east midlands will be appointed shortly.
As you may have gathered, fitting the new system is not a job for the DIYer. “Absolutely not,” says Oliver. “Some readers may have the technical skill but our products are only as good as the fitting process – all our fitters are trained in Holland and are assessed until they are able to operate and fit on their own – the whole success is down to the quality of the installation.”
CONTACT
SCOTLANDBois Bridge
North Road
Inverkeithing
Fife
KY11 1HQ
T: 0845 226 8101
W: www.centraltaillifts.com
NORTH
Specialist Automotive Products
Unit 13, Wellsyke Industrial Estate
Bentley Moor Lane
Adwick-Le-Street
Doncaster
DN6 7BD
T: 01302 215 296
E: [email protected]
NORTH WEST
Advanced Specialised Products Ltd
Unit 28
Long Wood Road
Trafford Park
Manchester
M17 1PZ
W: www.advanceautoelectric.com
WEST MIDLANDS
Conrad Anderson
57-59 Sladefield Road
Ward End
Birmingham
B8 3PF
T: 0121 247 0619
W: www.conrad-anderson.co.uk
EAST OF ENGLAND
Ride & Levelling Systems
Stonham Barns
Pettaugh Road
Stowmarket
Suffolk
IP14 6AT
T: 01449 710102
W: www.rideandlevellingsystems.co.uk
SOUTH EAST
Rosmia
Unit 2 & 3, Crosspost Industrial Park
Cowford Road
Bloney
West Sussex
RH17 5QU
T: 01444 882233
W: www.rosmia.co.uk
SOUTH WEST
Courtside Conversions
1 Woodward Road
Howden Indusrtial Estate
Tiverton
Devon
EX16 5HW
T: 01844 256048
W: www.courtsideconversions.co.uk
IRELAND
David
Byrne Ltd
c/o CGI Foodpark
Knockgriffin
Middleton
Cork
T: 00353 8725 33261
E: [email protected]
