What you need
- The levelling ramps (included)
- A spirit level or a level app on your phone
- Someone to guide you from outside, if possible
Step by step
Choose your spot carefully
Before getting the ramps out, look for the flattest part of the pitch: moving a metre can save effort. Avoid soft or muddy ground, where the ramps can sink or slip. Think about shade, how you will drive out and where the door will end up too.
Check the slope
Place a spirit level, or your phone with a level app, on the floor of the living area or the worktop. Check the slope front to back and side to side. That tells you which wheels need raising and roughly by how much.
Place the ramps
Put the ramps in front of (or behind) the wheels on the lower side, lined up with the tyre and with the slope facing the wheel. If the front is low, use them on both front wheels. Check there are no stones underneath that could make them unstable.
Drive up slowly
With the door closed, start the engine and creep forward on very little throttle until the wheels reach the step you need. If someone is guiding you, agree on signals beforehand. If the wheel goes over the top of the ramp, reverse gently and try again.
Secure the vehicle
Once up, apply the handbrake firmly and leave it in gear (first or reverse, depending on the slope). Switch off the engine. Check the level again: if needed, go up one more step. For sleeping, it is better to have the head end slightly higher than the feet.
Pick them up when you leave
Before leaving, drive carefully off the ramps, clean them if they are muddy and stow them. Leaving them behind on the pitch is very common, so add them to your pre-departure checklist.
Frequently asked questions
Do I really need to level?
It is not compulsory, but you sleep better, the shower drains properly and the door and cupboards do not swing open on their own. On a nearly flat pitch, simply positioning the vehicle well is sometimes enough.
Can I use ramps when sleeping in a car park?
Best not: outside campsites and service areas, putting down ramps counts as camping. More in our guide to where to sleep in a motorhome.
