Jacking a Caravan

[Fouldsy]

Hello fellow van lovers, need your thoughts, New Swift van ordered with Alko Chassis I had the option to buy a side lift jack with the van but said no. Can I use the jack that came with my Kia Sorento should I need to change a wheel?

Are there standard jacking points on van chassis? and will a much cheaper scissor type jack do the trick?

I welcome your ideas

 

[Guest]

There are jacking points on an Alko chassis but they are designed solely for the Alko jack. If you wish to use anything else then it is suggested you restrict your choice to a trolley jack, or possibly a scissors jack that can fit under the axle. Either way ensure it is secure before you start and use axle stands if you are planning anything more than a wheel change. It is not recommended you use the car jack as it is probably desingned to fit a certain attachment point on the chassis of the car, not the caravan..

 

[Ken_5040834]

Can you use the inflatable jacks that work from your car's exhaust to lift the caravan?

 

[Damian]

Firstly let me say that I find the sale of caravans without a jack, but with a spare wheel, somewhat strange, and obviously a way of Dealers making even more money.

Having said that, after spending

 

[WatsonJohnG]

There are jacking points for the Alko jack but they come with the jack so can not be utilised beforehand etc.

You should jack the caravan as near to the axle as possible and never using the corner steadies,

A compact trolley jack is cheaper,easier and more stable than the Alko side lift jack.

Alko say that the caravan should be attached to the car when jacking and if you don't do that it may well fall off the jack as mine did (onto the axle stand luckily)

The advantage of the Alko jack is that it stays with the van and it also builds muscle

 

[hublock]

http://www.al-ko.co.uk/edit/files/support/2TonneJackHandbook.pdf
Look at the AL-KO site for advice on jacking and to ensure personal safety. This shows details of the 2 ton scissor jack and brackets bolted to chassis. The holes are pre-punched in chassis. The 1.5 ton side lift jack uses the same brackets.

You can use an axle stand under the axle or chassis (as a precaution) whilst the caravan is supported by the jack and you change a wheel.

 

[Fouldsy]

Thanks for all your feedback, I have ordered the Alko jack to go with the van.

Mike

 

[WatsonJohnG]

Now its time to enroll at the local gymn !!!!

 

[Tankie]

You should have gone to Aldi's and bought a 2ton trolly jack for

 

[Guest]

Just a side comment. If your caravan has alloy wheels it is a good idea to ensure these can be actually removed when required. Alloys have a tendency to 'weld' themselves to steel brake drums and can often require brute force to get them off. My own car alloys are irremoveable so i am having to get the dealer to 'force' them off.

 

[NorfolkMike]

What is wrong with an 8 quid bottle jack and a piece of 5mm plate metal to disapate the load straight onto the Alco reinforced chassis if you only want it for a tyre change.

I suspect that the jobsworth brigade is at work.

ttfn

Norfolk Mike

 

[WatsonJohnG]

That's a good point Scotslad but did your car have bolts with nuts or screw in studs as the caravan does?

Copper slip grease between the wheel and brake drum helps to stop sticking

 

[Guest]

Bottle jacks have a very small footprint so can easily topple especially on rough surfaces such as gravel road verges. Better to get something that can spread the load.

 

[emmerson2]

Exhaust gas bag every time for me. It spreads the load on the van and the ground over a bigger area, and therefore can be used on soft ground. I never travel without one.

 

[colin(bridgend)]

A comment was made on this topic whereby spending

 

[Damian]

Colin, for the same reason they do not supply , as standard fitment, hitchlocks, wheelclamps and batteries.

They know we need them, but see extra profit as they are sold individually, and at quite differing prices, depending where you buy.

So, the simple answer, is GREED.

 

[WatsonJohnG]

On the Senator Bailey do supply an Alko jack, spare wheel.spare wheel carrier,wheel brace.folding leg winder,wheel clamp, security door lock ,washing up bowl,pedal bin, microwave,water tank ,waste water container and shower mat all for less money than the equivalent van in other ranges.

I wonder why we bought one

Still no battery though

 

[Steve L]

Well as my van is getting close to 25 years old I don't have the luxury of a dealer supplied jack.

At home for serviceing I use a trolly jack and axle stands.

For puncture changes I use a hydraulic bottle jack that cost me

 

[WatsonJohnG]

On the Senator Bailey do supply an Alko jack, spare wheel.spare wheel carrier,wheel brace.folding leg winder,wheel clamp, security door lock ,washing up bowl,pedal bin, microwave,water tank ,waste water container and shower mat all for less money than the equivalent van in other ranges.

I wonder why we bought one

Still no battery though

Alko towball as well!!

 

[Joyce_5063910]

As some of you know we have already demonstrated our product and taken this problem to the European Parliament in December last year and the Commission we met with acknowledged that there is a loop hope in the regulations governing lifting devices for caravans and light trailers. We believe that there should be fixed locations points on the side of your caravan to secure a jack in position and suitable tested and passed caravan jacks to use on these points.

ALL jacks on the market at the moment are only tesetd for weight bearing and not the job they will perform.

The AL-KO jack although called an `authorised` jack is only authorised by AL-KO it has not been tested and passsed by external rules and regulations as there are none at the moment.

It is posible that if any of these jacks including the AL-KO jack failed and caused injury or damage to the van the insurance company might refer you back to the manufacturer of the jack.

We would like to see people being able to lift their caravans and trailers from the side and never have to go under to place or use a lifting device and that it should be firmly fixed to the vehicle being lifted. Thus ensuring complete health and safety. The manufacturers should have a duty of care to the customer to provide these lifting points at the side of the caravans to prevent any injury.

It is ok to say you should place your lifting device as close to the axle as you can but this is not always possible, depending on the height available, the position of the caravan, the surface you are on and the capability of the person doing the operation.