Lateral Tilt (Roll)
Lateral tilt is the angle the vehicle makes with the horizontal along its left–right direction. Since the tightest tolerance in absorption refrigerators is usually on this axis, it is the critical component of levelling. In the KTS200 cycle it is closed after the longitudinal correction and then fine-tuned in the precision stage.
Roll is rotation about the long axis of the vehicle. Because the caravan body is narrow in this axis, the same angular deviation produces a smaller height difference from one side of the body to the other; the difference per metre, however, is the same in both axes. Even so, most tilt-sensitive equipment is more sensitive on this axis.
- Refrigerator: in the absorption cycle, the ammonia solution collecting in the evaporator usually starts sooner with lateral tilt. Verify the tolerance from your manufacturer's manual.
- Shower tray and washbasin: if the drain outlet is offset to one side, water collects at one edge.
- Doors and drawers: with lateral tilt, doors open or close by themselves.
In the levelling cycle roll is corrected second. Since the two axes are not entirely independent of each other, the roll correction disturbs pitch somewhat; that is why in the precision mode stage both axes are brought towards the target together in small steps. When trying to correct lateral tilt by hand it is a common method to drive both wheels on one side up onto a ramp, but rather than stacking more than three ramps on top of each other it is safer to reposition the vehicle.
Context in which this term is used: RV automatic levelling guide