Corner steady / jacking

[mick_374320336]

Hi,

I'm sure I've seen a thread about this but I can't find it using the search option, my 'van has motor movers fitted which means I can't get to the approved jacking points, this is probably a stupid question but can the corner steadies be used to jack up the 'van?

I haven't tried to do this in case it would break something so any answers will be appreciated.

Many thanks,

Mick.

 

[GrahamSouthBrum]

Hi Mick,

Sorry I dont understand what you mean by motor movers stoping you getting to your corner steadies.

I understand a motor mover to be what it says, it is a motorised drive system that turns the main wheels of a caravan which is nowhere near the corner steadies.

Corner steadies are not jacks for jacking up the van for leaveling, if you do you will twist the chasis.

to level your van you set your spirit level accross the axle & put blocks under the lowest wheel (do this whilst attatched to your car), then adjust your jockey wheel to level end to end.

Hope this of use to you.

Graham W.

 

[Tony A.]

mick ,

the short answer is NO they are steadies not jacks only to be used when you have the van at the required height.

I have never worried about `jacking points` indeed I didn`t know a caravan had any, I always leave the van hitched to the car and jack it up with a trolly jack under the chassis.

I also have a mover fitted, but the chassis members are like girders, mine have never suffered damage wherever I`ve jacked them up.

Hope this helps, Tony A

 

[Guest]

Agreed. Never use the corner steadies to jack the van, you will distort the chassis and have heaps of problems, and a non-resellable van. The corner steadies are just that..steadies. They are not designed to take the weight of the van.

You do not state what type of jack you are using. A trolley jack should have no problem with a motormover, as I do with my van. If it is an ALKO jack and the mounting holes are being blocked, you may wish to see if the motormover can be moved to the other side of the wheel.

 

[mick_374320336]

Hi Graham,

Sorry if I was a little vauge, what I meant was the motor movers appear to be in the way of the jacking points that you would use to change a wheel, was wondering if I could jack up the entire caravan utilising the corner steadies.

From your reply I take it that this is a no no?

Thanks,

Mick.

 

[GrahamSouthBrum]

Hi Mick,

This is a no no no no, as you can see from the other replies.

There are proper jacks on the market & even an electric one now.

The Kojack looks to be a good one that utilises pre drilled holes in the chasis, you bolt on an attachment either side of the van then attach the jack & start pumping, Alko do a similar type.

Because I have a motor mover on one side of the axle & shock absorbers the other I cannot use these jacks, so I use the bottle jack supplied with my car & put it at the end of the axle to be lifted.

A quick tip, only jack when attached to your car to stop it rolling of the jack & if you cant get your jack under the axle,

drive your punctured wheel onto the spare this will give you more room to play with.

Good luck

Graham W.

 

[mick_374320336]

Thanks for all the answers,

I'm afraid this leads me to another question, I was planning on using the corner steadies to raise the'van over winter in order to protect the tyres, I now realise i can't do that (boy am I glad I asked!)

I only have one set of rims so is it acceptable to support the weight of the 'van on axle stands or do I need to look at purchasing another set of rims?

Mick.

 

[kenneth_374315528]

Thanks for all the answers,

I'm afraid this leads me to another question, I was planning on using the corner steadies to raise the'van over winter in order to protect the tyres, I now realise i can't do that (boy am I glad I asked!)

I only have one set of rims so is it acceptable to support the weight of the 'van on axle stands or do I need to look at purchasing another set of rims?

Mick.

I have used axle stands to take the weight of the van in winter for the past 8 or 10 yrs. This also allows the wheels to be turned occasionally to stop them sticking. Ken

 

[GrahamSouthBrum]

If you jack it up for the winter, check your insurance policy. Mine states that I must have a wheel clamp fitted when unattended, so if I jack mine up, I just lift it clamp already in place & then put axle stands under the axle, then lower the steadies to suport but not take the weight, but we try to use the van as much as possible all year.

Graham W.

 

[Tony A.]

Mick,

I have just put my van to bed for the winter. I replaced the wheels with "winter wheels" they are in effect a triangle,you can buy them from a dealer, or make your own,the tyres are in the shed and protected. someone will mention wheel clamps and insurance, maybe a word with your company will help,

If they say you must have a wheel clamp fitted then it`s a trip to the breakers,or you could modify car wheels by opening up bolt holes and the centre hole,they will be good enough to stand the van on throuh the winter.

Good luck mate.

Tony A.

 

[mick_374320336]

Cheers Tony,

Why didn't I think of that!

Triangles it is, I've got some angle iron in the garage, time to break out the welder!

Mick.