Does anyone have an Al-Ko secure compact wheel lock, (bright red that fixes onto the wheel of the caravan). My parents have just bought one but are now wondering if they have done the right thing as it seems to be quite difficult to line the wheel up in order to get the bolt through. Anyone got any advice as the best and easiest way to achieve this. Many thanks Hazel.
Al-Ko secure compact wheel lock
- Thread starter Hazel_374324904
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To make them secure as possible they have to be a "snug" fit. The outcome of this is that it is time consuming to get the wheel accurately lined up.
I have a single axle van and with that I find it best to engage my mover and swat by the wheel inching the van to one of the right places.
If its a twin axle then its very much more difficult requiring one or more wheels being jacked up to get both fitted. Don't think I would bother with a twin and just settle for paying the normal insurance premium.
I have a single axle van and with that I find it best to engage my mover and swat by the wheel inching the van to one of the right places.
If its a twin axle then its very much more difficult requiring one or more wheels being jacked up to get both fitted. Don't think I would bother with a twin and just settle for paying the normal insurance premium.
I also use the motor mover which makes the job easier but Alko recommend jacking the caravan especially with a twin axle
This seems rather a struggle and some people have decided that its not worth the effort and use an alternative wheel clamp
I like it myself but a lot depends on your parent's mobility
It is more awkwad if you need to side to side level the van as well as line up the wheel clamp
This seems rather a struggle and some people have decided that its not worth the effort and use an alternative wheel clamp
I like it myself but a lot depends on your parent's mobility
It is more awkwad if you need to side to side level the van as well as line up the wheel clamp
Have to agree with John Watson, Found it near impossible to line up holes withhout using my motor mover and when I have our van out of storage at home because of a sloping drive I do not even attempt to fit but use my old wheel clamp insteadI also use the motor mover which makes the job easier but Alko recommend jacking the caravan especially with a twin axle
This seems rather a struggle and some people have decided that its not worth the effort and use an alternative wheel clamp
I like it myself but a lot depends on your parent's mobility
It is more awkwad if you need to side to side level the van as well as line up the wheel clamp
Hazel,
Unless you have a bit of luck it's nigh on impossible to get the two wheels on our TA to line up to get the snug fit that the Alko locks require. So, 9 times out of ten I have to jack up the van to rotate the wheels. The scissor jack supplied with our van makes it physically hard work so, I've just invested in a Kojack hydraulic jack. I haven't used it yet but I'm hoping that its going to make the whole process of fitting the locks plus levelling the van a lot easier and quicker.
Cheers.
Unless you have a bit of luck it's nigh on impossible to get the two wheels on our TA to line up to get the snug fit that the Alko locks require. So, 9 times out of ten I have to jack up the van to rotate the wheels. The scissor jack supplied with our van makes it physically hard work so, I've just invested in a Kojack hydraulic jack. I haven't used it yet but I'm hoping that its going to make the whole process of fitting the locks plus levelling the van a lot easier and quicker.
Cheers.
At home caravan parked on drive so I use the motor mover to position for Al-Ko wheel lock which is quite easy to do.
When touring/away it is almost impossible (without jacking) to line up the Al-Ko and level the van at the same time. So I dont bother and have invested in a SAS Secure Gold clamp which only takes a few mins to fit along with hitch lock - thats all the insurance T&C's stipulate and is adequate.
Bottom line is that if someone wants to steal your van they will regardless of security devices which after all can only act as a deterrent.
When touring/away it is almost impossible (without jacking) to line up the Al-Ko and level the van at the same time. So I dont bother and have invested in a SAS Secure Gold clamp which only takes a few mins to fit along with hitch lock - thats all the insurance T&C's stipulate and is adequate.
Bottom line is that if someone wants to steal your van they will regardless of security devices which after all can only act as a deterrent.
Glen's Mate
It makes it a lot easier on our single axle(1565kg max) than the Alko jack which requires arms like Popeye and a spinach diet!
The Kojack also fits the jacking points on the Nissan X Trail so I just carry it in the car boot using the space for the standard car jack minus some polystyrene
It makes it a lot easier on our single axle(1565kg max) than the Alko jack which requires arms like Popeye and a spinach diet!
The Kojack also fits the jacking points on the Nissan X Trail so I just carry it in the car boot using the space for the standard car jack minus some polystyrene
I find the Al-Ko a complete waste of time as it takes so long to line up the wheel for a secure fit. I'm too old to be messing about with jacks. And if you are trying to level the van at the same time... give up!
I've just bought a Bulldog EuroClamp. On or off in just a few seconds. Wish I knew about this problem before I bought the Al-Ko.
I've just bought a Bulldog EuroClamp. On or off in just a few seconds. Wish I knew about this problem before I bought the Al-Ko.
Hi Hazel, If you get the clamp lined up as close as possible then unhitch and swing the van from side to side you will find you can get just a small amount of movement on the wheel to line it up.
I have a twin axle van and I have found the easiest way is to drive one wheel onto a couple of layers of plastic sheet, insert the one clamp and then skid the van on the sheets to line up the other clamp.
I have a twin axle van and I have found the easiest way is to drive one wheel onto a couple of layers of plastic sheet, insert the one clamp and then skid the van on the sheets to line up the other clamp.
One of these came with our new van & I am very impressed with it. For single axle vans like our it has so far been very easy indeeed to line the wheel up. The added bonus is it's lightness to carry & difficulty in removal by thieves. The only thing that puzzles me is why they are always fitted on the nearside wheel when it would make more sense to fit them on the offside. After all, wheelclamps are as much as a visual deterrent than they are a physical one, so if you erect an awning on site. you effectively hide the wheel clamp !
I had to park up a friends T/A in November and what I did was line the back one up, then wound the jockey wheel up until the front wheel just left the ground. Spun the wheel into position and applied the locks.
I will admit to having only done it once but it worked really easy.
I will admit to having only done it once but it worked really easy.
Should have mentioned that I chocked the back wheel first.I had to park up a friends T/A in November and what I did was line the back one up, then wound the jockey wheel up until the front wheel just left the ground. Spun the wheel into position and applied the locks.
I will admit to having only done it once but it worked really easy.
Hi Watson(JohnG),Glen's Mate
It makes it a lot easier on our single axle(1565kg max) than the Alko jack which requires arms like Popeye and a spinach diet!
The Kojack also fits the jacking points on the Nissan X Trail so I just carry it in the car boot using the space for the standard car jack minus some polystyrene
I read your (and others) comments back in December on the thread discussing the virtues of the Kojack. This ultimately nudged me into buying one. I also have a large tow car, a Merc ML270, so it will live in the car. So, thanks for your original comments.
I know what you mean about needing arms like Popeye - it was no fun having to jack the van with the Alko jack especially if it was pouring down!
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