Van movement when trying to sleep

[richmoorecalifornia]

I have a 2012 California SE
2 adults and 2 kids , kids go in the pop to and me and my wife sleep “down stairs”.
We always have terrible sleep because the kids roll around in there sleep causing the van to rock. So much so I got motion sickness at 2am.

Do others suffer from this and what can be done to combat it?

Cheers

Rich

 

[Stu@rt]

I have a 2012 California SE
2 adults and 2 kids , kids go in the pop to and me and my wife sleep “down stairs”.
We always have terrible sleep because the kids roll around in there sleep causing the van to rock. So much so I got motion sickness at 2am.

Do others suffer from this and what can be done to combat it?

Cheers

Rich

I know what you mean. A level van helps to eliminate than giddy feeling. Or better still ensuring that your head is very slightly higher than your feet. Difficult to achieve if the kids face one way and you another. But we have on occasions slept downstairs with heads to the front of the van to alleviate that.

 

[Mr T]

I have a 2012 California SE
2 adults and 2 kids , kids go in the pop to and me and my wife sleep “down stairs”.
We always have terrible sleep because the kids roll around in there sleep causing the van to rock. So much so I got motion sickness at 2am.

Do others suffer from this and what can be done to combat it?

Cheers

Rich

Make the kids sleep downstairs?
Any rolling around in the pop top bed will rock the van unfortunately.

 

[andyinluton]

If it’s a massive problem get a couple of cheap small bottle jacks & put one under a jacking point on each side, pump them up just enough that they take a small amount of load, that will stop the van rocking.

Just don’t forget to remove them before driving off.

 

[yossarian]

The cause is a result of the van being parked on springs.

Various solutions spring (sorry) to mind. All involve defeating the springs one way or another.

• Mount van on jacks.
• Tie down body.
• Adjustable travel suspension.
• Modify shocks to have zero travel when parked
• Etc

 

[WelshGas]

Get a tent for the kids. Will only get worse as they grow.

 

[yossarian]

Fiamma Plastic Stabilising Jacks

Fiamma Plastic Stabilising Jacks,Fiamma Jacks safely stabilise your vehicle because they are sturdy and offer a large support surface

www.fiammastore.com

It's a solved problem, I wouldn't worry about the weight limit as you will not lift the van with them.

 

[Loz2286]

Alcohol?

I'll get my coat....

 

[Azteccamper]

Alcohol?

I'll get my coat....

It’s just judging the right amount to give the kids. Don’t want them wetting the bed!

 

[DavidofHook]

Yo

Get a tent for the kids. Will only get worse as they grow.

You beat me to it Welshgas

 

[richmoorecalifornia]

Thanks for all the responses. I think I will give alcohol and jacks ago

 

[Skylark2.0]

Shout "Stop squigeting" loudly. It doesn't work but you feel better...

 

[Lambeth Cali]

We sleep in the roof. Kids downstairs. This summer my quite tall 12 year moving was enough to wake me up. I imagine me moving woke her up.
It’s a real problem. Jacks are not a practicable solution for us.

 

[Haves1979]

We have this with ours, assume it's because the cali is sprung quite soft.

Wonder if those who have upgraded to fancy suspension (Bilstein etc), see an improvement? Can only assume so as it seems it reduces body roll when driving.

 

[B J G]

We have this with ours, assume it's because the cali is sprung quite soft.

Wonder if those who have upgraded to fancy suspension (Bilstein etc), see an improvement? Can only assume so as it seems it reduces body roll when driving.

Logically heavy duty ARB's (anti roll bars) would improve the stability.
Lowered and therefore stiffer springs would also be beneficial as would uprated shock absorbers - to a very small degree.

Tyres can also have an effect. I had Nokian 235/55/17 All Season tyres and could sway the Cali by hand (pushing on a back corner) as the sidewalls were quite flexible. Fitted Michelin CrossClimate SUV 235/60/17 tyres and could no longer sway the Cali by hand. SUV tyres have stiffer sidewalls than car type tyres. Commercial van tyres would be the same for stiffness I'd expect.

 

[M88GAV]

We have this with ours, assume it's because the cali is sprung quite soft.

Wonder if those who have upgraded to fancy suspension (Bilstein etc), see an improvement? Can only assume so as it seems it reduces body roll when driving.

I have upgraded to lowered coilovers on mine and it still rocks. I don’t know if it’s any better than standard suspension as I had it changed before my first camping trip, but would assume it makes some difference. Looking for a solution myself too. I did try some cheap scissor jacks and tried them on my drive. I didn’t get anyone to move about in the roof bed but was able to still rock the van by pushing it outside. The faff of having to mess about with jacks, that would also sink on a wet camp site made me give up on that idea

 

[Ch1pbutty]

Never noticed any movement but I sleep like a log.

But that said we have had uprated ARB’s fitted (standard springs/suspension) which take the roll out when driving, so would imagine they would do the same when parked up.

 

[tedgina]

Logically heavy duty ARB's (anti roll bars) would improve the stability.
Lowered and therefore stiffer springs would also be beneficial as would uprated shock absorbers - to a very small degree.

Tyres can also have an effect. I had Nokian 235/55/17 All Season tyres and could sway the Cali by hand (pushing on a back corner) as the sidewalls were quite flexible. Fitted Michelin CrossClimate SUV 235/60/17 tyres and could no longer sway the Cali by hand. SUV tyres have stiffer sidewalls than car type tyres. Commercial van tyres would be the same for stiffness I'd expect.

We also have heavy duty ARBs and better shocks it is a big improvement an unexcepted bonus with the suspension up grade

 

[Cali Phillip]

Logically heavy duty ARB's (anti roll bars) would improve the stability.
Lowered and therefore stiffer springs would also be beneficial as would uprated shock absorbers - to a very small degree.

Tyres can also have an effect. I had Nokian 235/55/17 All Season tyres and could sway the Cali by hand (pushing on a back corner) as the sidewalls were quite flexible. Fitted Michelin CrossClimate SUV 235/60/17 tyres and could no longer sway the Cali by hand. SUV tyres have stiffer sidewalls than car type tyres. Commercial van tyres would be the same for stiffness I'd expect.

Interesting the difference in flex on the suv tyres, do you notice any difference in the wear compared to the non suv version ?

 

[Skiver]

I know what you mean. A level van helps to eliminate than giddy feeling. Or better still ensuring that your head is very slightly higher than your feet. Difficult to achieve if the kids face one way and you another. But we have on occasions slept downstairs with heads to the front of the van to alleviate that.

I disagree with this. It’s actually better to sleep with your head slightly lower than your feet ( or your feet slightly elevated). As it keeps your blood circulating and stops that heavy feet feeling !

 

[IanE]

Make sure the hand brake is on? Makes a big difference

 

[Jenny H]

Yes Ive had this problem too - slightly better if the fidgets sleep downstairs I found.
And as suggested more alcohol too!

 

[soppelsa]

Heavy duty rear springs, ride suffers a bit hard but stopped a lot of the rocking.

 

[Dave Wickham]

leave the kids with the grand parents and get a good night sleep

 

[GrumpyGranddad]

Give all the males a viagra at bed time. Stops them rolling over during the night