Do levelling jacks replace the handbrake and chocks, can the wheels be lifted off the ground?
No. Levelling jacks are no substitute for a parking brake or chocks, and you must not lift all wheels off the ground while levelling. When the wheels are lifted off the ground the vehicle can slide off the jacks; industry guides describe this as a serious injury risk. Since a towed caravan has no parking brake of its own, chocks are mandatory; chocks are recommended on motorhomes as well.
Rules for correct use:
- Do not lift all wheels off the ground. Levelling is not the operation of raising the vehicle into the air but of bringing the body to a horizontal plane. If the wheels are lifted off the ground, a lateral force can slide the vehicle off the jacks.
- The chock is always in place. The chock width must be greater than the tyre width, and chocks must be placed in front of and behind at least one wheel, on both sides of the vehicle.
- A towed caravan has no handbrake or transmission lock of its own; the only thing preventing movement is the chock. On a motorhome only the rear wheels are locked in the park position, so chocks are still recommended.
- Order matters: place the chocks first, then lower the jacks. When setting off, retract the jacks first and remove the chocks last.
- Ramp/block limit: if more than three layers of blocks would be needed on top of each other, reposition the vehicle.
Each jack of the KTS200 has a load capacity of 2000 kg; this means it can safely carry a portion of the load, not that it has a lifting or braking function. The jacks are not designed to prevent the vehicle from moving.
Full coverage of the topic: How to choose levelling jack capacity