Nigel Hutson visits E&P Hydraulics
Levelling your van at the touch of a button makes pitching much easier, as Nigel Hutson discovered on a visit to this Blackburn-based company
IF YOU’VE BEEN to any of the major caravan and motorhome shows, there’s a good chance you’ve seen the E&P Hydraulics caravan demonstration unit, where a large sheet of Perspex forms a ‘floor’ with a shortened caravan chassis attached, along with the firm’s levelling units.
A few years ago, I visited E&P’S HQ near Amsterdam
(the company has since moved to larger premises, still near Amsterdam), where I met founder Pierre Blom and the MD of E&P Hydraulics UK
Ltd, Oliver Drinkwater.
On that visit, I witnessed the various components (hydraulic jacks, pumps, corner steadies) being assembled, and the final installation of a system on a Concorde motorhome. Suffice it to say, I left very impressed, thinking, “one day…”.
That day recently arrived, when I took our caravan to
E&P’S UK plant at Blackburn, to have the new system fitted.
While the work was being carried out, I caught up with Oliver again, to find out more about the history of E&P.
Motorbike lift
Founders Eric Klinkenberg and Pierre Blom (hence E&P) were keen motocross riders and were looking for a hydraulic lift for their bikes, which they could fix to the rear of the motorhome that they used for travelling to and from events.
While doing their research, they came across a hydraulic lifting system for RVS in the
US, but it was very agricultural and heavy-duty. That sowed the seed, however, and they developed the system for the lighter EU market in 2003.
From that point, their hobby became a business, and they made such a good job of it that high-end motorhome firm Concorde made the system OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer).
Following on from the motorhome levelling systems, engineer (and perfectionist) Pierre came up with the idea of the caravan levelling system, where, in the full set-up, four corner steadies are replaced with hydraulically driven ones, and two hydraulic jacks are attached to the axle, all pretty much operated by the press of a single button.
There’s also a compact system, which has the jacks attached to the axle; the corner steadies remain in place.
Joint venture
Oliver, who has a background in commercial vehicles, happened to visit a show in 2010 and saw the E&P system; but at that time, the firm had no strategy and all of the kits were sold by word of mouth, which led to another problem. UK dealers didn’t have training on fitting the lifting system, so often shied away from it.
In 2011, after investigations into establishing a distribution network, a joint venture was set up, and E&P Hydraulics UK Ltd came into being.
“I wanted to do things in a proper structured way. If we were to succeed, we needed the support to be in place before offering the systems on the market,” Oliver told me. “As you saw in the Netherlands, all of the systems are assembled there, and we only use quality parts sourced within the EU.”
In 2015, Elddis became the first UK caravan manufacturer to adopt the E&P levelling system, fitting it to upmarket Buccaneer models.
The first caravan I saw using the system was a Buccaneer, in 2016, on a CL in Derbyshire. We’re usually pretty adept at getting the van level, but it had taken us ages on this particular site. The Buccaneer was sorted within a couple of minutes and had its offside wheel well off the ground to become level! That simply wouldn’t have been possible with a levelling ramp.
Support network
Before taking the E&P system on board, Elddis wanted to ensure there was a network of premium dealerships in place to offer support. There are now 15 of these around the UK and Ireland.
“We want premium dealers to work to a very high level, as if the customer came to E&P,” Oliver said. “In addition to the 15 premium dealers, we now have a wider dealer network, supported by premium dealers and ourselves.
“As well as that, there’s a full European dealer network, so if a customer happened to be on holiday abroad and experienced an issue, help wouldn’t be too far away. We believe this is one of the things that sets us apart from the competition.”
For 2020, Coachman fits the E&P system as standard on 8ft-wide Laser Xcel models and offers it as an option on its other ranges, too.
In 2017, E&P Hydraulics (including the UK subsidiary) were bought out by Dexko, the parent company of chassis firm Al-ko. Although I haven’t seen it, Oliver told me that Al-ko produces its own motorhome levelling system, the HY4, on the same principle as the E&P system. “Both have their own merits: the Al-ko system is very well engineered as you would expect, but it is significantly heavier than the E&P set-up,” he said. Al-ko has entrusted
E&P UK with the distribution of the HY4 units.
Nigel’s own system
Although it’s very early days for our own levelling system, so far, I’m very impressed. When I got home after it had been fitted, the often-awkward job of fitting the Al-ko Secure wheel lock was a real doddle. I raised that side of the van on the axle jack and lowered the steadies. With the handbrake off, the caravan wasn’t going to move, and I could easily get the wheel in the right place.
On site, it’s now just a case of pressing a couple of buttons, and the caravan levels itself. It feels much more stable than before, thanks to the axle jacks. Oh, and weight-wise, my own experience is that I’ve actually saved a little with the system.
Remember that the original corner steadies are removed, and you no longer have a need for a levelling ramp, steady winder or jack! All in all, the omens are looking good.