Access to steadies

[Guest]

The rear steadies on my new caravan seem much more recessed and further under the van than my previous caravan, meaning I have to bend down much further to see the 'nut thing'  to put my drill bit onto. If I don't want to bend down I have to fish around until I can feel the drill bit locate. On days when my back is bad, it could be a struggle, but Im sure I will cope.

 

It would be nice to get a length of steel bar welded to the nut to extend it slightly further out so its more visible and easier to reach. Anyone ever made any adaptions like this to their steadies?

Edited September 4, 2019 by Guest

[Stevan]

I have seen people who have attached a length of plastic pipe to the underside of the van so there is nowhere else for the drill adapter to but onto the steady.

[iansoady]

I keep meaning to paint the hexagon white to help find it but always forget.....

[Guest]

3 minutes ago, iansoady said:

I keep meaning to paint the hexagon white to help find it but always forget.....

 

You'd have to find it first!

[Johnaldo]

26 minutes ago, Stevan said:

I have seen people who have attached a length of plastic pipe to the underside of the van so there is nowhere else for the drill adapter to but onto the steady.

 

That's exactly what I did 2 days after buying my van!

 

Very simple job - just 2 lengths of plastic household waste water pipe, drilled as per diagram, and screwed into the underside of the wooden floor - no need for pipe-clamps. (Make sure your winder fits inside the tube - I use an extended one in a drill).

 

 

John

 

 

Edited September 4, 2019 by Johnaldo

[macafee2]

to save welding onto the steady how about a hexagon tube that fits over the steady nut. wield a nut onto the tube with a hole drilled into the tube. screw a bolt with another nut on it, into the nut on the tube, through the tube and tighten against steady. once tight, then tighten second nut. you can then attach to the extended hexagon tube but it will be a larger diameter so you would need another socket or stick a smaller hexagon inside to bring it back to original size

 

macafee2

[Guest]

12 minutes ago, Johnaldo said:

 

That's exactly what I did 2 days after buying my van!

 

Very simple job - just 2 lengths of plastic household waste water pipe, drilled as per diagram, and screwed into the underside of the wooden floor - no need for pipe-clamps. (Make sure your winder fits inside the tube - I use an extended one in a drill).

 

 

John

 

 

 

Worked for us on 2different caravans, simple design and works.

[Dave Capiro owner]

Place a mirror on the floor

[Guest]

14 minutes ago, Johnaldo said:

 

That's exactly what I did 2 days after buying my van!

 

Very simple job - just 2 lengths of plastic household waste water pipe, drilled as per diagram, and screwed into the underside of the wooden floor - no need for pipe-clamps. (Make sure your winder fits inside the tube - I use an extended one in a drill).

 

 

John

 

 

 

Good idea 

[bubble2015]

Jonaldo has it exactly right.!

I did that 3 years ago after reading about it on the forum.

Bit of a fiddle to attach the plastic tubes in the right place but once done they have never needed any alteration.

[PWoodley]

Maybe not the cheapest option but what's another £46 on top of the price of a new van!

 

https://www.al-ko.com/shop/uk_vt/products/caravan-accessories-1/corner-steadies-accessories/comfort-kit.html

 

 

[Guest]

53 minutes ago, PWoodley said:

Maybe not the cheapest option but what's another £46 on top of the price of a new van!

 

https://www.al-ko.com/shop/uk_vt/products/caravan-accessories-1/corner-steadies-accessories/comfort-kit.html

 

 

 

I didn't realise they sold them, but as you say its a lot of money for what effectively are plastic tubes. I think the DIY option is the way to go 

[Jaydug]

1 hour ago, LeadFarmer said:

 

 its a lot of money for what effectively are plastic tubes. I think the DIY option is the way to go 

 

If you go to Wickes you can buy tube and clips and it'll cost you £4.   And you'll still  have 2.5 metres of tube left over  

Here's mine which I knocked up more than 10 years ago.

 

[Artleknock]

I have no trouble at all finding the steady nut, there is a cutout on the skirt to show you where it is.

If you have problems bring yor caravan around to my house and I will do it for you

[Guest]

28 minutes ago, Artleknock said:

I have no trouble at all finding the steady nut, there is a cutout on the skirt to show you where it is.

If you have problems bring yor caravan around to my house and I will do it for you

 

So you make holes, in skirts!!!

[WispMan]

18 minutes ago, LeadFarmer said:

 

So you make holes, in skirts!!!

They are put there by the caravan manufacturer,  in our case, a Bailey Pageant

[Vin Blanc]

3 hours ago, Jaydug said:

 

If you go to Wickes you can buy tube and clips and it'll cost you £4.   And you'll still  have 2.5 metres of tube left over  

Here's mine which I knocked up more than 10 years ago.

 

Now that's what I call good thinking!  Well done jayjug.

 

Vin Blanc

[Guest]

14 hours ago, Jaydug said:

 

If you go to Wickes you can buy tube and clips and it'll cost you £4.   And you'll still  have 2.5 metres of tube left over  

Here's mine which I knocked up more than 10 years ago.

 

 

Nice and simple, I like that 

[Johnaldo]

Even simpler without brackets  😁

 

 

John

[Guest]

After six months of cursing every time I have to locate the steady sockets, I have  finally got around to sorting this out, copying previous ideas posted here. I used 40mm pipe to give plenty of room for the drill attachment to fit onto the socket..

 

 

 

 

Edited March 19, 2020 by Guest

[OWOMW]

On our Fleetwood there are galvanised steel guide tubes which are welded to the steady framework, and a couple of holes drilled across the end of the tube to fit a padlock to prevent entry of a socket.