Leveling a parked defender

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bri999

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I am using my 90 csw for high level photography with a 50ft mast and am finding it difficult to get the vehicle level using caravan ramps under the wheels due to body roll from the suspension.

I have looked at the jacks which caravans have fitted and wondered about fitting 4 of these to the chassis but to maximise ground clearance they will need to fold up well out of the way when not in use.

Can anyone recommend an alternative method of keeping the body level when parked on uneven surfaces?
 
Dont think caravan ones would be long enough as the defender is so much higher, hmm... bottle jacks? ( not sure how high they go though )?
 
jamie1st said:
Dont think caravan ones would be long enough as the defender is so much higher, hmm... bottle jacks? ( not sure how high they go though )?
Click to expand...
I have tried a couple of bottle jacks but they need several bits of wood to get them high enough to reach the chassis.

i found some nice motorhome leveling systems but they cost thousands!
 
bri999 said:
I have tried a couple of bottle jacks but they need several bits of wood to get them high enough to reach the chassis.

i found some nice motorhome leveling systems but they cost thousands!
Click to expand...

How about 4 high lift jacks, 1 on each corner. I bought mine brand new for £30 so would only cost £120
 
Try and get hold of 4 bog standard defender jacks, try fleabay. They will locate in the two holes in the rear crossmember, and two holes in the end of the chassis under the front bumper.

They are screw type jacks and will give you infinite adjustment

Hope this helps, Dave
 
I work in network design and planning for GSM/UMTS, we have a couple of companies with a similar setup as yours but instead of a camera on the pole, they use a GSM/UMTS antenna connected to a signal generator, so we can assess how far the signal goes if a mast is put up on a certain location.

what they have is 4 tubes welded to the chassi, similar to the ones already on the back where you fit the rock sliders, on those tubes they slide screw type jacks and then they have a spirit level at the bottom of the mast to check when its leveled..

similar to the ones on this pic.. the jacks slide into the tube welded on the chassi and then you turn it to raise the defender off the ground...

4-19.jpg
 
Fit 4 pull out jack up legs like lighting tower and a double spirit level
 
Thanks for all the ideas. I have borrowed a couple of high lift jacks today and the movement between each step is too much to adjust the height so i think i will get 3 more standard jacks and use them.
I did think about getting rock sliders with jacking points so i can level it from the sides but i dont want to lose the side steps.
 
If you have a look at the rear of a plant tariler they have a jackleg system that sits onto a round collar on the chassis. The jack has a similar collar which fits over the trailers, and a pin drops into both collars via a hole. This is then secured with an r-clip or lynch pin.

This allows the trailer, or fender in this case, to be stabilised at the chassis and avoid movement during loading. It would mean that after use you simply wind the jack leg down, pull the pin and chuck them in the back.

have a look at the attached image!! :)
 

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i may be way off on this, but will it really matter?? surely with a camera on that its gonna wobble anyway.......frig its bound to wobble with nout on it, look at the bloody height of it!

Have you ever been up on a boom lift with the jack legs down? :eek:
 
this is being seriously over complicated and pricey.

Ratchet down the suspension using straps and continue to use the levelling ramps with spirit level. you will still get the level you need with no wobble from the springs.

4 wide straps is all you need.

G
 
Personally, I liked the four land-rover jacks which go in the ends of the chassis legs. I thought that was very inventive, they would be infinitely adjustable for his spirit levelling.

I got one if ya need it, bought it on Ebay but will never use it now 'coz I carry a trolley jack and with my bull bars on it probably wont fit in the front now anyway.
 
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