Diamond wheel lock on my Elddis

[Grahamh]

I read the thread on here about fitting these. Do you really have to jack the van to fit them ? I thought you could just move the van slightly as you park it (with the mover) until the lock lined up?
Recently renewed my insurance and saw that premium is reduced if you fit one. Was tempted by the price of these second hand but not if I have to jack up the van to fit.

 

[MichaelE]

It does depend on if you have a single or twin axle van ? yes on a single you can roll the van backwards or forwards to line up ( the tyre valve gets in the way so the lock wont fit in that segment of the wheel) twin axle you have next to no chance of lining the wheels up to fit them without jacking the van up.
One thing to look out for is when you jack the van up the suspension moves so if you fit the locks jacked up when you lower the van the jam against the wheel so puts extra stress on the wheel, you have to move the wheel to compensate.

 

[Grahamh]

Hmm,
I thought the old wheel clamp was a pain but at least there was no jacking involved. Does the inner part stay on the chassis all the time then?

 

[PaulT]

Hmm,
I thought the old wheel clamp was a pain but at least there was no jacking involved. Does the inner part stay on the chassis all the time then?

If it's similar to the Al-Ko secure system then yes it does. Once you've got used to fitting it, it's no trouble especially on a SA caravan. I've got them on my TA Bailey and have got a small trolley jack which fits between the wheels. A couple of pumps on the handle, spin the wheels, fit the locks and lower. Simple, takes about a minute. It's not so easy if the 'van is on levelling blocks but, in that case, I usually line it up on the mover and fit only 1 lock plus hitch lock.

 

[MichaelE]

Hmm,
I thought the old wheel clamp was a pain but at least there was no jacking involved. Does the inner part stay on the chassis all the time then?

If it's similar to the Al-Ko secure system then yes it does. Once you've got used to fitting it, it's no trouble especially on a SA caravan. I've got them on my TA Bailey and have got a small trolley jack which fits between the wheels. A couple of pumps on the handle, spin the wheels, fit the locks and lower. Simple, takes about a minute. It's not so easy if the 'van is on levelling blocks but, in that case, I usually line it up on the mover and fit only 1 lock plus hitch lock.

Are you saying that you put the locks on when the van is jacked in the air?

 

[PaulT]

That's right - often the wheels are still brushing the ground so it's not a long way in the air.

 

[MichaelE]

The suspension moves quite a few inches before the wheels actually move, when you lower the caravan the suspension cannot move as you have locked it in that position so you are putting the full weight on a small section of the alloy wheel?
I did this way as well when i first fitted them and couldn't remove them as they were so jammed, i had to raise the van to release them again.

 

[PaulT]

The suspension moves quite a few inches before the wheels actually move, when you lower the caravan the suspension cannot move as you have locked it in that position so you are putting the full weight on a small section of the alloy wheel?
I did this way as well when i first fitted them and couldn't remove them as they were so jammed, i had to raise the van to release them again.

I did make this point in a posting a few years ago but various members assured me that it wouldn't matter that the wheels moved slightly. I've never had the problem with jamming.

 

[PaulT]

The suspension moves quite a few inches before the wheels actually move, when you lower the caravan the suspension cannot move as you have locked it in that position so you are putting the full weight on a small section of the alloy wheel?
I did this way as well when i first fitted them and couldn't remove them as they were so jammed, i had to raise the van to release them again.

I did make this point in a posting a few years ago but various members assured me that it wouldn't matter that the wheels moved slightly. I've never had the problem with jamming.

What I omitted to mention was that once the locks are on (and before lowering the 'van) I put the handbrake on - this stops the wheels rotating.