Why soft ground creates specific problems for caravans
A caravan has more contact points with the ground than a self-propelled vehicle — ramp boards under the axle wheels, a jockey wheel foot at the nose, and four corner steadies. Each of these concentrates load onto a small surface area. On firm ground, this is fine. On soft ground, each contact point can sink — not all at once, and not evenly.
The result is a setup that looks level when you finish and reads out of level by morning. The van hasn't moved — the ground has given way incrementally under load. Understanding which contact points are most likely to shift on each surface type is the key to getting soft ground levelling right the first time.
The core rule — always board under ramps
On any surface softer than compacted gravel, always place a rigid board under each ramp before you drive onto it. The board does two things: it spreads the wheel load over a much larger area (preventing uneven sinking during setup), and it gives the ramp a stable, flat base so the step height you calculated is actually the step height you get.
A ramp tilted even 2° by a soft surface underneath changes its effective rise — which means OzLevel's ramp block calculation will be off. Board under the ramp, ramp sits flat, calculation is correct.
What to use as boards
| Material | Best for | Pros | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|
| 17mm+ plywood (600×600mm) | All soft surfaces | Rigid, flat, spreads load well, cheap to cut yourself | Heavy if carrying many; seal edges to prevent moisture uptake |
| Purpose-built levelling boards (e.g. Camec, Fiamma) | Grass, clay, compacted sand | Lightweight, designed to interlock with step ramps, compact storage | More expensive; some flex under heavy tandem vans |
| Rubber stabiliser pads | Corner steadies and jockey wheel foot | Non-slip, waterproof, compact | Too flexible to use alone under ramps on very soft ground |
| Flat rocks or pavers | Emergency use | Free, often available on bush sites | Uneven surfaces can tilt the ramp; don't rely on these as primary solution |
The jockey wheel foot — the problem most guides miss
Every guide about soft ground levelling covers ramp boards. Very few mention the jockey wheel foot. For caravan owners this is a significant oversight, because the jockey wheel foot is a small, concentrated contact point that carries significant nose weight — often 150–300kg depending on the van's ball weight.
On soft ground, the jockey wheel foot will sink. Slowly, over hours, it presses into clay or damp grass, and the nose of the van drops. What read as level on the pitch axis at setup reads nose-down by morning. The van hasn't moved. The ground under the jockey wheel has.
What to use under the jockey wheel foot
A purpose-built jockey wheel foot pad — a thick rubber disc designed for this contact point — is the best solution. Most caravan accessory stores carry them. A 200×200mm piece of 12mm rubber mat cut to size also works. In a pinch, a flat piece of timber under the foot does the job. The goal is to spread the nose weight over a larger surface area so the foot stops sinking.
Corner steadies on soft ground
Corner steadies are stabilisers — not load-bearing levelling devices — but they still have a foot contact point on the ground. On soft clay or damp grass, steady feet can sink overnight, particularly the rear steadies which tend to carry more lateral load as the van rocks under wind or foot traffic.
Use corner steady pads (rubber or plastic pads designed for this purpose) under each foot before winding down. If you don't have dedicated pads, a piece of plywood cut to 200×200mm works. Wind the steadies to firm contact only — not load-bearing — and the reduced force on each foot significantly slows any sinking.
How each surface behaves — and what to do
Soft grass (including many caravan parks)
The most common soft surface Australian caravanners encounter. Grass sites vary enormously — dry summer grass is firm, recently watered or rained-on grass can be soft enough for significant sinking. Always board under ramps. Use a jockey wheel foot pad. Place steadies on pads. Check level in the morning, especially after rain.
Clay and dirt
Dry clay is harder than it looks and may not need boarding. Wet or damp clay is treacherous — it compresses readily under load and the compression is uneven. If the surface has been recently rained on, treat it as soft and board everything. Watch for the tow vehicle churning up the approach path as you drive onto ramps — churn makes the surface in front of the ramps unstable for the subsequent ramp position check.
Sand (coastal and inland)
Rigid boards are essential on sand — flexible rubber mats don't work well because they conform to the sand surface and can tilt the ramp. 17mm+ plywood is the best choice. Drive slowly onto ramps; spinning wheels dig into sand immediately. On beach campsites, park on the firm damp sand line if possible rather than dry loose sand. Check level morning and evening — sand redistributes under load more than any other surface.
Compacted gravel
Generally stable enough to skip boards under ramps, though a pad under the jockey wheel foot is still worthwhile. Be aware of loose gravel on top of a softer substrate — the loose layer can shift slightly, changing your effective ramp height. If the gravel layer is thin, treat it as the substrate underneath.
Tandem axle on soft ground
Tandem axle caravans need two ramp pieces per low side in any conditions. On soft ground, they need a board under each of those ramp pieces. That's two boards on the low side — one under each ramp piece, placed flat and level before the ramp goes on top.
The boards for a tandem setup must all be the same thickness. If one board is thicker, one axle sits higher than the other, creating a rocking horse effect across the two axles. Cut your boards from the same sheet of plywood and you won't have this problem.
Soft ground kit — what to carry
Most of the soft ground levelling kit is compact and light. Here's what experienced Australian caravanners carry:
- Ramp boards — 1× 600×600mm 17mm plywood for a single axle; 2× for a tandem (one per ramp piece on the low side). Store in the external storage bay strapped flat.
- Jockey wheel foot pad — purpose-built rubber disc, or 200×200mm rubber mat cut to size. One per van.
- Corner steady pads — four pads, one per steady. Small and light.
- OzLevel Caravan — to measure the effect of any sinking the next morning and calculate the jockey wheel adjustment needed to correct it.
Frequently asked questions
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How do I level a caravan on soft grass?
Always place a rigid board under each ramp on soft grass — 600×600mm of 17mm plywood is the practical standard. Place a rubber pad under the jockey wheel foot, and use corner steady pads on all four steadies. Check your OzLevel reading in the morning — overnight sinking on damp grass is common, and a quick jockey wheel adjustment corrects any pitch drift.
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Why does my caravan go out of level overnight on soft ground?
The most common causes are the jockey wheel foot sinking (drops the nose, causing pitch drift) and corner steadies subsiding (can change side lean slightly). Both are fixed by using pads under each contact point. Check OzLevel in the morning to quantify the drift and wind the jockey wheel accordingly to restore pitch.
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Do I need extra boards for a tandem axle caravan on soft ground?
Yes — one board per ramp piece. A tandem axle needs two ramp pieces per low side, so that means two boards per low side (four total on the low side). All boards must be the same thickness so both axles rise to the same height and the van doesn't rock between them.
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What can I put under caravan ramps on sand?
Rigid 17mm+ plywood boards are the best choice on sand. Flexible rubber mats conform to the sand surface and can tilt the ramp, changing its effective step height. Drive slowly onto ramps — spinning wheels dig into sand immediately. On very soft dry sand, consider stacking two boards to prevent the board itself from sinking.