Caravan Jack's - Needed on a T/A ?

[JohnnyV]

This may seem like a silly question - the idea popped into my head whilst assembling the list of items we need for our new T/A.

Question: If you are carrying levelling ramps do you need a jack ?

I ask because my thought was that if you had a puncture you could either pull or push the other axle up a levelling ramp and thereby raise the van on that side - maybe this wouldn't give enough 'lift' to let the offending wheel come off the ground ? Or maybe it would ?

You can tell that I am inexperienced - so please let me know - do I need to buy a jack?

Thanks in advance

Jon

 

[Dustydog]

Jonathan

It doesn't work. The trailing wheel doesn't lift enough. I'd also be worried about possible overstressing the axle on the ramp.I suppose you could try and make it all higher with blocks but will it be safe?

I use a hydraulic jack,

 

[Mikey1]

Hi have had to jack up a van to replace a punture before with the car attatched and couldnt do it as it was lifting the back of the car up.

Had to disconnect the car seemed to putting an awful lot of stress on the chassis.

When jacking up i put the corner steadies down as i go,not using them to jack the van up.

 

[JohnnyV]

Thanks Dusty Dog - Oh well it was just an idea !

I had intended getting an Hydraulic Jack - just thought maybe I was wasting my time.

You have raised an issue though regarding Chassis strengthening points - as a novice I would have assumed that the chassis already had these ? No ?

I am picking up a new Lunar 2009 model next week guess this is something I had better ask the dealer about !

Once again thanks for the advice.

Jon

 

[Dustydog]

Jonathan

To the best of my knowledge all the Al-ko chassis require strengthening plates at the jacking points. My last three Al-ko chassis came with them as standard. I don't know about BPW chassi, but I think it is very wise to ask your dealer.

I'm afraid I have to disagree with Mikey. The safety recommendation is to jack up whilst attached to the towing vehicle. I've never had a problem.

See the comments on Kojack for levelling under "Technical".

Enjoy your new Lunar and make sure the jack you buy has sufficient lift height.

Cheers

Dustydog

 

[JohnnyV]

Jonathan

To the best of my knowledge all the Al-ko chassis require strengthening plates at the jacking points. My last three Al-ko chassis came with them as standard. I don't know about BPW chassi, but I think it is very wise to ask your dealer.

I'm afraid I have to disagree with Mikey. The safety recommendation is to jack up whilst attached to the towing vehicle. I've never had a problem.

See the comments on Kojack for levelling under "Technical".

Enjoy your new Lunar and make sure the jack you buy has sufficient lift height.

Cheers

Dustydog

Thanks again for the advice am picking up in a weeks time and will ask the question.

Just got a 2ton hydraulic jack so at least I am covered - particularly as the van has Alko wheel locks

Jon

 

[Mikey1]

The jacking points are an l shaped bracket thats bot onto the chassis just behind the rear wheels,the alko ones fit the bpw and are about

 

[Thorpedo]

Have to agree with you Mikey, despite recommendations to keep the van hitched to the car it seems to put excessive strain on the jack and the chassis.

The winding ring of my Alko Scissor jack broke last time I used it whilst fitting the Alko secure locks. I put it down to the extra strain of keeping Van attached to 2.3 tons of car and the equipment in it.

I'll be unhitching and chocking from now on.

 

[Dustydog]

I have jacked my ta both ways and will agree there is less force required when unattached. However the Bailey book is quite specific you must be attached. In all honesty and not wishing to mislead anyone is there really a right or wrong way here??

Thorpedo,

The standard Al-ko scissor jack couldn't lift a Smart car never mind nearly 1700kgs of caravan! Hence the hydraulic trolley jack. Something else to carry.

Cheers

Dustydog

 

[Mikey1]

The Alko scissor jack isnt the best in the world,but it does lie flat,a problem with bottle jacks is you cant get them under the frame to jack the van up when you have a puncture,the Kojak brackets are shorter so they have thought about this.

You arent actually lifting 1700kgs you are lifting about half this weight on a pivot.

 

[Thorpedo]

Dusty

Have to agree about the Alko Scissor Jack. I normally carry a trolley jack but forgot it so had to use the Alko.

Interestingly, after it broke I asked my Bailey dealer to replace the jack under warranty on the second annual service, but they tell me that Bailey turned this request down.

I Emailed Bailey for an explanation but to date they have not replied.

As a matter of principal I will persue this with Bailey and Alko as I think the jack is not fit for purpose and potentially dangerous.

 

[Happy-Lappy]

Thorpedo,

I always thought the Al-Ko Jack was an extra, if this is the case then it would not be covered by any warranty with the caravan dealer. I would assume you would have to take up this issue with Al-Ko themselves,

best regards, Martin

 

[Dustydog]

Martin

The Al-ko jack was supplied as part of the caravan original

equipment.

I agree with Thorpedo he should be given a replacement by Bailey.

I raised the Al-ko jack problem over a year ago and my complaints fell on deaf ears. Bailey say the jack is supplied to them with the chassis by Al-ko. True. If I really wanted to make a song and dance I could have made my dealer's life a misery. However they are very decent people so I gave up and bought a very good trolley jack for

 

[Happy-Lappy]

Dustydog and Thorpedo,

Please accept my sincere apologies, my caravan (Lunar) was supplied with a spare wheel as standard, but no jack although this too has the Al-Ko chassis, I find this somewhat amusing that some manufactures will give you the jack as standard equipment, yet will not supply a spare wheel and others are vice versa. I have bought a standard caravan jack and have used it to help level the van twice, it's awkward but at least I know it works,

best regards, Martin

 

[Dustydog]

Martin

No problem. Do have a look at the excellent cheap trolley jacks available. I wouldn't be without one.

Cheers

Dustydog

 

[Happy-Lappy]

Dustydog,

I have a 2 Ton trolley jack from Screwwfix, but I leave this at home. Maybe I should take this with me to be on the safe side, but I beleive the caravan jack I have will cope when needed,

best regards, Martin

 

[JohnnyV]

Dustydog,

I have a 2 Ton trolley jack from Screwwfix, but I leave this at home. Maybe I should take this with me to be on the safe side, but I beleive the caravan jack I have will cope when needed,

best regards, Martin

Hi all,

Well I have to concur re the manufacturers supplying one item without another - I have now got my Lunar, complete with Spare Wheel and Wheel Brace but no Jack !

Also as suggested I did check with the dealer and visually checked as well - no jacking points - book says to "Jack on the Axle".

I have now done this twice in order to fit the wheel locks - boy is this hard even with a Trolley jack - laying under the van and trying to pump the ram up was really difficult - also found that it lifts the rear wheel ok but getting the front one high enough to turn is a real problem.

Still have learnt a lesson - line up the front wheels receiver before jacking so that I only have to get the rear one in the air.

I have a bottle jack that I will use next time but I think investing in the blot on points will be the next step so that I can work upright!

By the way my book also says leave van attached to car.

Cheers

Jon

 

[JohnnyV]

Hi all,

Well I have to concur re the manufacturers supplying one item without another - I have now got my Lunar, complete with Spare Wheel and Wheel Brace but no Jack !

Also as suggested I did check with the dealer and visually checked as well - no jacking points - book says to "Jack on the Axle".

I have now done this twice in order to fit the wheel locks - boy is this hard even with a Trolley jack - laying under the van and trying to pump the ram up was really difficult - also found that it lifts the rear wheel ok but getting the front one high enough to turn is a real problem.

Still have learnt a lesson - line up the front wheels receiver before jacking so that I only have to get the rear one in the air.

I have a bottle jack that I will use next time but I think investing in the blot on points will be the next step so that I can work upright!

By the way my book also says leave van attached to car.

Cheers

Jon

 

[chris_374398963]

Do you not think it is about time the manufacturers start supplying jacks with the caravan instead of us carvanners having to buy them. Lets face it you dont buy a car without the jack. Also caravans are getting expensive now so supplying a jack wont cost much extra.

 

[JohnnyV]

Chris,

As a Newbie I find it incredible that they don't supply them - and even more surprising that the dealer didn't point this out and try and sell me one (I knew anyway so had one with me).

I think it is a serious omission - OK the jacks supplied with cars are not usually that good but they do at least work well enough to change a wheel.

If you paid over