Stable support in every situation with the right caravan steadies
Correctly supporting your caravan is a must for every camper and an essential part of a successful holiday. This can be done with simple manual plug-in steadies, or even more conveniently with electric and hydraulic steadies.
We will show you the differences between all the AL-KO VT systems and answer the frequently asked question: can steadies be used for jacking up the caravan—for example, over the winter period?
Mechanical steadies
Perfect for all campers who prefer to manually support their vehicle by winding the steadies themselves, these provide absolutely secure support on any terrain. They are easy to fit and available in different variants for each chassis. If you park your caravan on soft ground such as sand, mud, or snow, even the best steady can sometimes sink in slightly. In this case, it is advisable to use a stable base (e.g. wooden boards, stone slabs, or AL-KO Big Foot steady feet).
Tip: Many campers use a cordless screwdriver to raise and lower their steadies. While this is certainly more convenient than winding the steadies by hand, we advise against it. In particular, if powerful tools are used, there is a risk of lifting the caravan. This can damage not only the caravan structure but also the thread and the mounting point of the steady. If you do wish to use a cordless screwdriver, do so with the utmost caution and make sure not to use full power.
AL-KO VT plug-in steadies
The plug-in steadies from AL-KO VT are available in two versions: as Stilform steadies, they can support up to 1,000 kg, and as Premium steadies, up to 2,500 kg.
For special ground conditions such as soft or uneven surfaces, the AL-KO VT Big Foot feet are a helpful accessory. These steady feet, measuring 20x18 cm, are extra wide and thus provide an increased surface area. Mounted directly onto the steadies, these “flat feet” offer added security and help prevent slipping even on unstable ground conditions.
They are also a decidedly more elegant solution than placing boards underneath. When the steadies are folded away, the Big Foot remains attached directly to the underside of the caravan.
Retrofitting mechanical AL-KO VT steadies with Big Foot steady feet is quick and straightforward. They can be mounted on any AL-KO VT Stilform or Premium steady from model year 2001 onwards. Older steadies can also be upgraded with the AL-KO VT Big Foot. Before attaching, simply drill the mounting holes as instructed.
Electrically operated steadies
If you’ve had enough of winding and don’t want to keep crouching down, steadies with electric motors provide a convenient alternative. Electric steadies are the right choice for anyone wanting to look after their back and park their caravan as comfortably as possible. Especially for touring campers who frequently change pitch, the extra comfort makes a real difference.
Tip: On small pitches, electric steadies have the added advantage that the caravan can be positioned much closer to hedges or boundaries because there’s no need to leave space for manually winding down the steadies.
UP4 electric support system from AL-KO VT
With the electric UP4 support system from AL-KO VT, setting up is easy and much quicker than with a hand crank. Using a remote control, all four steadies can first be extended electrically, and then each can be individually adjusted to the correct height. This saves time during setup and lets you stabilise your caravan at the push of a button—effortlessly.
UP4 is compatible with caravans up to 2.5 tonnes and, thanks to its galvanised metal parts, is protected from corrosion so you can enjoy your steadies for many years. In the premium version, the AL-KO VT Big Foot steady feet come factory-fitted, ensuring the necessary stability on resilient, soft surfaces.
Another advantage: The electric steady system can be perfectly combined with the AL-KO VT RANGER manoeuvring system. Together, they form a true dream team: while the AL-KO VT RANGER safely manoeuvres your caravan into its designated position—even on steep or tight pitches—UP4 puts the steadies into the right place at the push of a button. Both functions are conveniently operated via a single remote control.
Thieves have no chance with the UP4 support system. An integrated anti-theft device ensures the steadies can only be moved manually using a special key, preventing unauthorised tampering.
The UP4 steadies fit every AL-KO VT chassis and can also be retrofitted.
Hydraulic caravan steadies
The Rolls-Royce of support systems
When touring with your caravan and you finally find a beautiful spot to stay for the night, there’s only one thing you want: set up your caravan and relax. But often the ground is sloped, and rarely is any pitch perfectly level, so aligning the caravan can take valuable holiday time spent with a spirit level and wheel chocks.
But there is a solution: With hydraulic levelling steadies, the stress of setting up and levelling your caravan is a thing of the past. Hydraulic levelling steadies move your caravan into a perfectly horizontal position at the push of a button, fully automatically. In just a few minutes, your caravan is perfectly level both lengthwise and crosswise, and your holiday can begin.
LevelC hydraulic levelling steadies
The LevelC hydraulic levelling system needs only a sporty two minutes to bring a caravan fully automatically into a level position.
A total of six hydraulic steadies do the work: in the first step, the two main steadies, mounted to the left and right of the axle, are deployed to level the caravan across its width. Next, the longitudinal axis is aligned. Instead of mechanical corner steadies, hydraulic Big Foot corner steadies are used in the LevelC system to achieve the perfect horizontal end position. This is supported by an electronic spirit level built into the control unit.
The system can be operated via:
- a permanently installed control panel,
- a small touchpad, which sits in a dedicated charging station in the caravan but can be removed and used as a wireless remote control—even from outside the caravan,
- a smartphone app, which has the same user interface as the tablet.
You probably couldn't set up a caravan more automatically or quickly. Aligning the caravan first across the width and then along the length, with two steadies always moving in parallel, minimises the risk of damaging distortion in the chassis.
As described, LevelC is available as a complete system with six hydraulic steadies, but can also be ordered as a compact version with two hydraulic axle steadies and four mechanical corner steadies.
Genuine added value: LevelC is compatible with almost every type of caravan and can be dismounted and fitted in your next caravan if you change vehicles.
Why mechanical and electric caravan steadies do not replace a jack
Steadies are called steadies because they are intended only to support a parked vehicle. Contrary to what many campers believe, steadies are not designed for levelling the caravan, but merely to provide stable support. If a caravan is lifted off the ground using the steadies, for example to level the vehicle or change a wheel in this way, significant point loading is placed on the chassis. This can distort the chassis and damage the superstructure.
The only exception: With the hydraulic caravan steadies LevelC, the caravan may be lifted. Unlike the other support systems, the two main hydraulic steadies of LevelC are engaged at the main axle rams. This means that the main load is channelled into the frame via the large steadies near the axle, so there is no risk of twisting.
Changing a wheel
Wheels should always be changed using the AL-KO VT jack, which is specifically designed for AL-KO VT chassis and mounts in a way that will not cause any damage. The AL-KO VT jack is available both as a mechanical version for caravans up to 2,000 kg and as a hydraulic version for caravans up to 3,000 kg.
Jacking up for the winter – necessary or not?
Whether or not to jack up during the winter is a frequent topic of discussion on camper forums. In fact, today's chassis are so robust that they can withstand long periods of standing still. Nevertheless, the tyres and the axle’s suspension package will benefit from some load relief during this time. Such relief can be achieved using axle stands placed on the frame near the axle, which is the most stable area of the entire running gear. Additionally, the caravan can also be supported using the steadies.
However, relieving the load using the winding steadies is also perfectly sufficient for winter storage. To avoid damaging the chassis, only relieve the caravan, never fully lift it out of the suspension. Load relief means only slightly raising the axle. You can check this at the wheels: the wheels should not be hanging in the air but should still have slight contact with the ground.
Tip: The “flat spot” that can appear on the tyre due to the caravan’s own weight is no longer visible when the load is properly relieved.
