What does fitting a levelling system to a caravan require in terms of modification and inspection?
In Türkiye the AİTM regulation sets the frame: an authorised engineer draws the project, TÜVTÜRK checks it. Take the opinion first, drill afterwards.
In Türkiye the framework for modifications to a vehicle is set by the AİTM regulation (Araçların İmal, Tadil ve Montajı, the manufacture, modification and assembly of vehicles), and the principle is that the modification is engineered and approved by an authorised engineer. Conformity with the project is established at TÜVTÜRK, the national vehicle inspection body, under the heading "Post-Modification Inspection". Exactly what will be required in your case is determined by the authorised project engineer and the inspection station; what follows is only a framework to make your preparation easier.
What you need to know
- A towed caravan (trailer) and a motorhome are different. The processes followed and the responsible parties are not the same for a trailer and for a motor vehicle; make clear which vehicle class you are in when asking your question.
- Engineering: The chassis mounting and the electrical additions are assessed in terms of scope. The authority to make this assessment lies with the project engineer.
- Post-Modification Inspection: TÜVTÜRK offers a service under this name; conformity with the approved project is established there.
- Chassis: Whether reinforcement is needed at the jack mounting points depends on the vehicle structure; consult your caravan manufacturer and the project engineer.
Who determines what
| Party | What they do |
|---|---|
| Project engineer | Assesses the scope of the installation, prepares the project and approves it |
| Inspection station | Establishes the conformity of the vehicle with the approved project |
| Caravan manufacturer | States the chassis mounting points, the need for reinforcement and the weight shares |
| AXI | Shares the technical data of the system, gives support by phone for fitting and installation |
| Vehicle owner | Collects the documents, starts the process in the right order, updates the weight records |
The weight side: which data are asked for
Weight: Every piece of equipment added afterwards, including the levelling kit, comes out of the payload share between the vehicle's maximum laden mass (MTPLM) and its mass in running order (MiRO). Check this share and the distribution of axle load and noseweight. Keep these three figures to hand while preparing: the payload share you have now, the total weight of the jacks and the control unit, and how the axle load and the noseweight change after installation. How much of that share the kit takes is dealt with under a separate heading.
Frequent mistakes
- Having the installation done and then looking for a project. The order is the other way round; taking an opinion before drilling is both cheaper and quicker.
- Skipping the electrical side. The supply line and the fusing that are added are as much part of the assessment as the chassis mounting.
- Leaving the chassis reinforcement to the installer's initiative. Whether reinforcement is needed falls within the project engineer's assessment.
- Keeping no photographs or measurements. Photographs taken during installation before the panelling is closed answer most of the questions asked later; the cable route and the mounting points are never visible again once they are covered.
- Calculating without weighing the vehicle. The values on the plate belong to the moment of manufacture; furniture, solar panels and a battery system added over the years may already have eaten the payload share. Weighing the vehicle laden on a weighbridge before installation turns an estimate into a measurement.
What this page does not cover
What is described here is a general framework; it does not take the place of the text of the regulation and does not include the exceptions specific to your vehicle class. At AXI we give technical support by phone for fitting and installation and share the technical data of the system. On regulatory compliance, however, we do not give a binding opinion; that assessment is made by an authorised project engineer and the inspection station.
The practical order is this: first make clear which vehicle class you are in, then talk to a project engineer and share the installation plan and the weight data, then have the installation done and book the inspection appointment. Keep the project and registration documents in a single file in the vehicle; that is the first thing asked for on a second-hand sale and at repeat inspections.
The full topic: RV automatic levelling guide