What Are Caravan Corner Steadies?
Corner steadies are those trusty little legs attached to the corners of your caravan. When you’ve parked up, they’re lowered to stabilise your van, stopping it from wobbling when you’re moving about inside. Think of them as your caravan’s “steady mates” – they keep things level and secure, whether you’re brewing a cuppa or catching some zzz’s.
What Corner Steadies Aren’t Designed For
Hold on – let’s clear up a common misconception! Corner steadies aren’t built to hold the full weight of your caravan. That job belongs to your caravan's axle and jockey wheel. Overloading steadies can bend them or damage your van’s frame. Instead, use them purely for stabilisation once the caravan is already resting on its wheels and levelled with ramps or blocks. Safety first, folks!
How Do Corner Steadies Work?
Using corner steadies is simple. After parking, you manually wind each one down until it gently touches the ground. This eliminates annoying sway and keeps your caravan rock-steady. When it’s time to leave, just wind them back up. Easy, right? Well, unless you’re dealing with rusty threads or a stubborn mechanism – which is where our clever winders come in!
Power Up Your Winding Game
Who says winding has to be a workout? Grab a cordless drill with variable speed (you probably already own one!), pair it with a drill adaptor, and watch those steadies glide up or down in seconds. No more sore wrists or endless cranking. Just pop the adaptor onto your drill, slot it into the steady’s winding point, and let the tool do the heavy lifting.
Why You’ll Love This Hack:
- Speed: Set up or pack down in a fraction of the time.
- Control: Variable speed settings let you adjust for precision.
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Effortless: Save your energy for pitching the awning or exploring.
Keep Them Happy: Simple Maintenance Tips
Like any trusty travel companion, corner steadies and their winders need a bit of TLC to stay in top shape. Give them a quick once-over every few trips: wipe down the steadies to remove dirt or moisture (especially after rainy outings!), and apply a light lubricant to the threads to keep them moving smoothly. If you’re using a drill adaptor, check the winding mechanism for wear and tear – a gritty grind means it’s time for a clean. A little upkeep goes a long way in dodging frustrating jams or squeaks when you’re miles from home.
Pro Tip! Remember that WD-40 stands for Water Displacement. It's good for clearing moisture and freeing already-stuck parts, but a proper lubricant is key to preventing things from getting so bad. A bicycle chain lubricant makes a good thread lubricant for corner steadies - it's designed not to be so thick as to hold on to grit and dirt that can clog the mechanism.