My new Challenger came with a free Alco wheel lock that fits in the segment of the alloy wheel. I have used this van five times and have not once had a clear segment to fit to the back plate.It is now parked on its pad in the garden with a segment clear to lock but the tyre valve is in the way, so that reduces my four segments to three. Is this another white elephant like the old Status ariel.
Alco wheel lock.
- Thread starter J.Lo
- Start date
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Hi John
You have to jack the caravan up so that you can turn the wheel so it will line up so you put the bit in or move it with a motor mover.
Mark
You have to jack the caravan up so that you can turn the wheel so it will line up so you put the bit in or move it with a motor mover.
Mark
John,
The chances of you parking your van in the exact position to fit the alko lock are slim to nil. I've had my van, with alko lock, for 18 months and have had to adjust its position every time I have used it. If I am using the car to manouver the van into position I do not unhitch it till I make sure the wheel is in correct position to fit the lock. Fortunately I have a mover fitted and that makes positioning the van and wheel much easier. Others recommend getting the van in the position you want then jacking it up in order to turn the wheel to correct position to fit lock, I have never had to resort to that and, to be honest, don't particularly want to go down that route. I have found that getting into the habit of checking wheel in correct position before unhitching and winding down corner steadies works for me.
I prefer the convenience of the alko lock to the more cumbersome wheel clamps I previously used.
Robert
The chances of you parking your van in the exact position to fit the alko lock are slim to nil. I've had my van, with alko lock, for 18 months and have had to adjust its position every time I have used it. If I am using the car to manouver the van into position I do not unhitch it till I make sure the wheel is in correct position to fit the lock. Fortunately I have a mover fitted and that makes positioning the van and wheel much easier. Others recommend getting the van in the position you want then jacking it up in order to turn the wheel to correct position to fit lock, I have never had to resort to that and, to be honest, don't particularly want to go down that route. I have found that getting into the habit of checking wheel in correct position before unhitching and winding down corner steadies works for me.
I prefer the convenience of the alko lock to the more cumbersome wheel clamps I previously used.
Robert
Thanks for your replies but on a rally field I more less have to chock one side to get level,I dont want to jack the wheel to use this useless piece of equipment. I have no wish to carry a jack I let Greenflag carry that. John
From your reply you have not had the missfortune of having your van stolen.Its not a useless bit of kit,you keep leaving yours off,I fit mine by jacking up the van (twin axle) and fit both in 5 mins or less.
Guess which van the " DO WHAT YOU LIKEIES "
Guess which van the " DO WHAT YOU LIKEIES "
The concern I have with jacking up the van to align the wheel is that you have to take the brake off and with the 'van perched on it's side one day I am sure that it will roll forward/backwards. Yes you can chock the other wheel but the concern still worries me.
Roy I use a top quality wheel clamp,hitchlock, corner steady lock and a security alarm all set in minutes without the need to jacking up wheels on unstable ground.
John " I dont want to jack the wheel to use this useless piece of equipment"
I will give you a tenner for it, plus I will pay postage !!! For a bit of useless kit that's got to be fa fair price ???
Val & Frank
I will give you a tenner for it, plus I will pay postage !!! For a bit of useless kit that's got to be fa fair price ???
Val & Frank
I really like the Alko lock and had many of the misgivings voiced above at first
It is very compact and weighs a lot less than many others plus the insurers give a hefty discount on premiums
For levelling the van I use a longer board to give some movement and I make sure that the valve is not going to be in the wrong place before mounting the wedge.
When you've got it wrong a few times it sinks in !
The mover makes it easier as has been said above
It is very compact and weighs a lot less than many others plus the insurers give a hefty discount on premiums
For levelling the van I use a longer board to give some movement and I make sure that the valve is not going to be in the wrong place before mounting the wedge.
When you've got it wrong a few times it sinks in !
The mover makes it easier as has been said above
I had all you have,they just fall off with a bit of piping/jemmy.They left them all behind bent and battered where my van was.Roy I use a top quality wheel clamp,hitchlock, corner steady lock and a security alarm all set in minutes without the need to jacking up wheels on unstable ground.
I would suggest the ALCO lock would need a oxy heat etc to burn it off,not impossible but a little harder.
ref to van movng whilst jacking.
Leve the van attached to the car,then it wont move I assure you.
Leve the van attached to the car,then it wont move I assure you.
Thanks for the offer Frank but I will stick with for a while, who knows I might come to love it. whats the betting Alko will come up with some adapter for twenty quid or more to solve this problem the same they did with their stabeliser handle when towing with a fwd,I fell for that one as well.
I get someone to watch the van wheel when I unhitch and get the wheel in the right position to fit the lock. It normally just takes a bit of moving of the van to align up the lock. I think it is a good bit of security and well worth a bit of effort to fit it IMHO.
I think this is a great lock, although I did see a photo in a magazine of a twin axle van with both the locks cut off and left on the grass beside the van.
They cut them off through the next gap in the alloy.
Anyway, back to the suject - I either make sure the wheel is aligned before I unhitch, or just jack the caravan up and turn the wheel. It's simple and IMO better than a wheel clamp.
They cut them off through the next gap in the alloy.
Anyway, back to the suject - I either make sure the wheel is aligned before I unhitch, or just jack the caravan up and turn the wheel. It's simple and IMO better than a wheel clamp.
oops oxy not oxt!They were cut off with oxt acetylene cutters
No other wheel clamp would have withstood that
Hi all,
I also have the Alko Secure wheel locks on my twin axle, I arrive on site, position the caravan on leveling wedges if required, leave the caravan handbrake off but still attatched to the car and jack up the nearside using the Alko jack supplied with the caravan, if the ground is soft I put a corner steady pad under the jack to stop it sinking, rotate both wheels so the valve is at the top and fit the locks, this takes 5 minuites or so and removal takes less than 2 mins as there is no need to jack up. This is a small inconvenience to satisfy my insurance company who give a good discount for it and although removal is possible, it seems to be only with burning gear and will take some time, any other wheel clamp can be removed with simple tools or just a bar in seconds, they really are a waste of money.
None are perfect but the Alko Secure is about the smallest, neatest and most effective unit available and best of all it comes standard with a lot of caravans now.
spj.
I also have the Alko Secure wheel locks on my twin axle, I arrive on site, position the caravan on leveling wedges if required, leave the caravan handbrake off but still attatched to the car and jack up the nearside using the Alko jack supplied with the caravan, if the ground is soft I put a corner steady pad under the jack to stop it sinking, rotate both wheels so the valve is at the top and fit the locks, this takes 5 minuites or so and removal takes less than 2 mins as there is no need to jack up. This is a small inconvenience to satisfy my insurance company who give a good discount for it and although removal is possible, it seems to be only with burning gear and will take some time, any other wheel clamp can be removed with simple tools or just a bar in seconds, they really are a waste of money.
None are perfect but the Alko Secure is about the smallest, neatest and most effective unit available and best of all it comes standard with a lot of caravans now.
spj.
I used to keep my caravan on a farm with a load of others, when I changed my very old buccaneer for a brand new Swift Charisma 570, it was the newest one there. It was about 3 weeks before it was broken into. The buccaneer was there more than a year with no problems.
Nothing was taken they just stuck a screwdriver in the lock and had a look around. This was a major pain as Swift took 4 months to supply the correct lock, so it sat in the dealers compound, unlocked!
I firmly believe the alko lock is the only reason I still have that caravan. I think maybe they were looking for the bag that comes with the lock (which is kept well away from the caravan!!)
I have heard that most wheel clamps are easily removed and hitch locks might as well not be there at all (I still use one for a little extra security though). I suppose that at the end of the day if they really want it, they'll have it, but I'm damn sure not going to make it easy for them!
Nothing was taken they just stuck a screwdriver in the lock and had a look around. This was a major pain as Swift took 4 months to supply the correct lock, so it sat in the dealers compound, unlocked!
I firmly believe the alko lock is the only reason I still have that caravan. I think maybe they were looking for the bag that comes with the lock (which is kept well away from the caravan!!)
I have heard that most wheel clamps are easily removed and hitch locks might as well not be there at all (I still use one for a little extra security though). I suppose that at the end of the day if they really want it, they'll have it, but I'm damn sure not going to make it easy for them!
John - the man at Sold Secure told me that when they tested the Alko wheel lock it was so good that they had to create a diamond category for it as it was above the standard required for the previous highest category - gold.
Like others have said, I manouevre into position with the car before unhitching. I did this on a three month tour recently, with no problems.
My advice would be to stick with it, as this is one of the best bits of equipment for a long time, even if it is a bit expensive.
Keith
Like others have said, I manouevre into position with the car before unhitching. I did this on a three month tour recently, with no problems.
My advice would be to stick with it, as this is one of the best bits of equipment for a long time, even if it is a bit expensive.
Keith
In the August CC Magazine there's a picture of 2 Alko Locks that have been gas-axed off.
Sold Secure don't test for removal by this method yet any self-respecting pro thief will have this equipment. The "Diamond" category is nothing more than a marketing ploy in my opinion.
I got these (I need 2 for my twin axle).
http://www.jsbhublock.co.uk/indexhtml.html
I'd say they are less awkward to fit than an Alko lock but take slightly longer as you have to jack up the van, take a wheel off and put this on. Because of this it is not a replacement for a wheel clamp but for use when on site or in storage I don't find it too bad. I'd rather not have to do it - but the reality is that if you want to keep the 'van you have to make these efforts!
I believe they are much more of a deterent than the Alko type hub-locks (and the bulldog version). They say it is not possible to remove them without fusing the hub and making the van unmovable. It could still be loaded onto a flat-bed and driven away so it isn't infallible, but nothing is.
Bottom line is that security is a trade off with convenience. Everybody needs to make their own informed choice. "Sold Secure" is a tool to allow purchasers to make an informed choice. Just be sure to read the small print.
Oh - and for the record, I don't have any connection with the hub-lock other than having bought a couple. I just think it's worth serious consideration by fellow caravanners dazzelled by all the "Sold Secure" shiney stuff out there!
Sold Secure don't test for removal by this method yet any self-respecting pro thief will have this equipment. The "Diamond" category is nothing more than a marketing ploy in my opinion.
I got these (I need 2 for my twin axle).
http://www.jsbhublock.co.uk/indexhtml.html
I'd say they are less awkward to fit than an Alko lock but take slightly longer as you have to jack up the van, take a wheel off and put this on. Because of this it is not a replacement for a wheel clamp but for use when on site or in storage I don't find it too bad. I'd rather not have to do it - but the reality is that if you want to keep the 'van you have to make these efforts!
I believe they are much more of a deterent than the Alko type hub-locks (and the bulldog version). They say it is not possible to remove them without fusing the hub and making the van unmovable. It could still be loaded onto a flat-bed and driven away so it isn't infallible, but nothing is.
Bottom line is that security is a trade off with convenience. Everybody needs to make their own informed choice. "Sold Secure" is a tool to allow purchasers to make an informed choice. Just be sure to read the small print.
Oh - and for the record, I don't have any connection with the hub-lock other than having bought a couple. I just think it's worth serious consideration by fellow caravanners dazzelled by all the "Sold Secure" shiney stuff out there!
Excellent though they may be it would be difficult to move the van in the event of fire and I can't see any site wardens( CC and C & CC) letting you leave the van with no means of it being moved in emergency such as the recent floods
I'd have to also recommend the Hublock - I don't have a van but use one on my boat trailer. Very very solid product and now I actually have one I can see why they can't be burned off !In the August CC Magazine there's a picture of 2 Alko Locks that have been gas-axed off.
Sold Secure don't test for removal by this method yet any self-respecting pro thief will have this equipment. The "Diamond" category is nothing more than a marketing ploy in my opinion.
I got these (I need 2 for my twin axle).
http://www.jsbhublock.co.uk/indexhtml.html
I'd say they are less awkward to fit than an Alko lock but take slightly longer as you have to jack up the van, take a wheel off and put this on. Because of this it is not a replacement for a wheel clamp but for use when on site or in storage I don't find it too bad. I'd rather not have to do it - but the reality is that if you want to keep the 'van you have to make these efforts!
I believe they are much more of a deterent than the Alko type hub-locks (and the bulldog version). They say it is not possible to remove them without fusing the hub and making the van unmovable. It could still be loaded onto a flat-bed and driven away so it isn't infallible, but nothing is.
Bottom line is that security is a trade off with convenience. Everybody needs to make their own informed choice. "Sold Secure" is a tool to allow purchasers to make an informed choice. Just be sure to read the small print.
Oh - and for the record, I don't have any connection with the hub-lock other than having bought a couple. I just think it's worth serious consideration by fellow caravanners dazzelled by all the "Sold Secure" shiney stuff out there!
The company were very helpful as their standard Hublock is only designed to fit the two common types of caravan axle / stud type and they had one custom made to for me to fit my boat trailer set up for only a nominal surcharge.
Having seen how quickly my brother-in-law's new twin axle Challenger had it's alarm / bulldog clamp and hitchlock overcome and then the van dragged off through the fence and across the farm field I'd rather trust long term storage security to something more resistant.
Dave.
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