The one thing to bear in mind is that regardless of which jack type you use, the footprint of the jack is important. Many of them have relatively small footprints and although they will work fine on tarmac, on a grassy verge they could be unstable.
The trolley jack has the advantage of having a large stable footprint and so will work een on an uneven surface, which is where you are likely to be in the event of a breakdown as you do not wish to try and change a wheel in the lane of a motorway, do you?
I use a 2 tonne trolley jack from Machinemart which has its own case for carrying. Yes, it is a bit heavier but sits at the back of the boot and can also be used for the car.
However, if you fancy a device similar to Reg's then Riversway Leisure are selling the identical thing at a discount price, or so they say.
The trolley jack has the advantage of having a large stable footprint and so will work een on an uneven surface, which is where you are likely to be in the event of a breakdown as you do not wish to try and change a wheel in the lane of a motorway, do you?
I use a 2 tonne trolley jack from Machinemart which has its own case for carrying. Yes, it is a bit heavier but sits at the back of the boot and can also be used for the car.
However, if you fancy a device similar to Reg's then Riversway Leisure are selling the identical thing at a discount price, or so they say.
Hi dusty,
I wasn't advocating a particular make of jack, jut the safest design principal. Cheap hydraulics (even some expensive ones also) cannot be trusted over long periods, in case the stop valve leaks or the system springs a leak some where in which case the jack will collapse without intervention to stop it.
That simply cannot happen with a screw jack of adequate capacity.
As a lady who tows solo quite often I wouldn't have any of the jacks here as first choice.
All of our caravanning group have airbag "Easy-Lift" style jacks as first choice.
They are light in weight and compact. No physical effort needed to opperate as they work off the car exhaust and will lift any caravan that has sunk into mud or sand with ease.
Draper sell a reasonably priced version.
All of our caravanning group have airbag "Easy-Lift" style jacks as first choice.
They are light in weight and compact. No physical effort needed to opperate as they work off the car exhaust and will lift any caravan that has sunk into mud or sand with ease.
Draper sell a reasonably priced version.
Do you put something on the top of the inflatable bag so it pushes against the metal frame?I was advised not to use this type of jack on a caravan as it inflates around the frame and actually pushes the van up against the floor,
Placing the air bag under the chassis member and axle does no damage at all.
On a car trailer with the bag just under chassis member by the time the bag inflates enough to lift, the bag is filling out and comes no where near the floor.
You might damage your caravan with any jack used without thought!
On a car trailer with the bag just under chassis member by the time the bag inflates enough to lift, the bag is filling out and comes no where near the floor.
You might damage your caravan with any jack used without thought!
My friend had the air bag and now has the Kojack
He had a problem attaching to his Mondeo exhaust
One man's meat etc
He had a problem attaching to his Mondeo exhaust
One man's meat etc
I use a small bottle jack from machine mart. I've got a simlar idea to reg's under our van to captivate the jack piston.
We carry some 10x2" timber for levelling and this doubles up as base pads for the jack.
If the van is too low to get the jack under, just use the timber under the deflated wheel to gain height. I would never re-use a tyre that has gone flat while in motion as there would be significant weakening of the side wall, so dragging it up a couple of 2" timbers won't do any harm.
Also remember to put the steadys down while changing the wheel just in case.
Finally have a practice run at changing a wheel at home before you do one for real. You'll work out a plan of attack then before you have to do a real one in the rain at night. Trust me it's guaranteed to rain just when you could do with out it (sods law).
Steve L.
We carry some 10x2" timber for levelling and this doubles up as base pads for the jack.
If the van is too low to get the jack under, just use the timber under the deflated wheel to gain height. I would never re-use a tyre that has gone flat while in motion as there would be significant weakening of the side wall, so dragging it up a couple of 2" timbers won't do any harm.
Also remember to put the steadys down while changing the wheel just in case.
Finally have a practice run at changing a wheel at home before you do one for real. You'll work out a plan of attack then before you have to do a real one in the rain at night. Trust me it's guaranteed to rain just when you could do with out it (sods law).
Steve L.
Thanks for the riverside link, i have ordered the jack today, the spec is the same as the kojacklite, apart from max lift which is 10mm less.
Hi i have beel looking to find this air bag on the net, any odea where i can find it , or what doesc it come under in drapers web site
cheers
graham
Well that's good service.
2 tonne trolley jack complete with plastic case that I ordered off an ebay seller on Tuesday night arrived today special delivery.
2 tonne trolley jack complete with plastic case that I ordered off an ebay seller on Tuesday night arrived today special delivery.
With Air bag jacks you should get attachments to fit twin exhausts or block linked exhausts.
I would struggle with regular jacks, the air bag lifted a caravan out of a soft muddy roadside verge. Our friends pulled onto whay seemed to be firm ground when a tyre puncture. No regular jack would work, air bag lifted it easily
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