Jacking point and spare wheel removal

[HomerS1]

Hi, we have an Abbey 495 (4 months old) with a Reich motor mover fitted (immediately in front of wheels under the chassis). In the literature that came with the van there was little explanation of Jack and jacking points and nothing at all on spare wheel removal. Do I need a special Jack or will my car jack do? Does the Reich affect jack pionts? All help gratefully received.

Thanks,

Chris

 

[allen1]

Hi Chris,

I use a trolley jack 1.5 tonne which is lightwieght in its own carry case,I use the point where the axle is attached to the chassis directly behind the wheel,there is a plate on the chassis.Car type jacks are to lightweight and not very stable and Im doubtfull it would actually lift a van.Alko make a jack that fits to a fixed point on the chassis which is probably the safest bet.Apart from practising with the trolley jack once on my each van ive had ,I have never had to use it.

I have however used it on other peoples vans whos jacks arent up to the job.

 

[WatsonJohnG]

Kojack do a hydraulic scissor jack that uses the Alko chassis pre drilled holes to mount brackets in a similar way to the Alko jack.

My friend has the Kojack on a Bailey Pageant/Alko and he can not operate it for levelling on the van door side with the standard spare wheel carrier in place!!

Has any other Kojack owner found this problem

 

[Joyce_5063910]

You can also use a Trail-A-Mate which fits into backets at the side of your caravan, rendering not having to go under the caravan to site it and this can also double up as a jockey wheel and leveller.

 

[DeliDave]

traila mate looks impressive but wheel looks small and

 

[Joyce_5063910]

Look at caravanning4u for offer and remember that it is a jockey wheel and leveller and also larger wheels can be purchased. It will also never let you down and lifts in one lift from low to high height.

 

[Martin_E]

"Watson(JohnG)

23 Jul 2007 04:57 PM Kojack do a hydraulic scissor jack that uses the Alko chassis pre drilled holes to mount brackets in a similar way to the Alko jack.

My friend has the Kojack on a Bailey Pageant/Alko and he can not operate it for levelling on the van door side with the standard spare wheel carrier in place!!

Has any other Kojack owner found this problem"

I use a Kojack on my 2004 Senator Arizona and I have had no problems with the standard spare wheel carrier.

Martin "E"

 

[WatsonJohnG]

Thanks Martin

On the Pageant Bordeaux 2005 it was not possible to pump the handle as it fouled on the spare wheel carrier.

We looked at this together last week.

 

[ThePlotter]

There are a couple of potential problems with a trolley jack first they can be much heavier than the alko sidelift jack and also if you have a puncture your probably will not be able to get a trolley jack under the axle plate.No jack should really be used for levelling in my case i use a wind up leveler made by Dixon Bate that I have had for 30 years.

 

[allen1]

Hi Plotter

The trolleyjack I have is very narrow at the front and have used it several times on other peoples vans including a bailey senator with a m/mover,the owner had a half scissor type jack but could not get enough leveridge on the winding handle to lift the van,I got mine from Halfords years ago in its little carry case.

 

[ThePlotter]

yes I know what you mean I used to carry one myself but found with the one I had it was difficult to get under the axle plate,so invested (invest is the right word given the cost)in the Alko sidelift,which I have used to lift the van to turn the wheels and I was impressed with the ease of lift but locating it onto the brackets was not easy as you have to this with one habd hold the jack with the other and wind with the other.Now if you are keeping up thats three hands as I say not easy!

 

[VonRyan]

Hi John and Martin.

I have recently purchased a 2007 Bailey Pageant Burgendy and I am very intrested in buying the Kojack as it looks a very substantial piece of kit. Does any body have this specific model of van and fitted and used a Kojack. This would be very useful info before I purchase.

thanks Rob

 

[ThePlotter]

Rob if you go to Equipment& acc page 13 Date 18th May their is a post there with a varirty of contributions that may help.

 

[WatsonJohnG]

I find the trolley jacks as sold by Lidl(

 

[ThePlotter]

Did i not see your modification in a certain caravan magazine?

 

[WatsonJohnG]

Did i not see your modification in a certain caravan magazine?

Not mine but similar

Mine fits into the Alko brackets and by chance also the Kojack ones

 

[VonRyan]

Thanks Plotter,

I will have a look. I have a trolly jack which will take 2 tonne but I think its too big and bulky and would prefere somting more compact

Rob

 

[rambler1]

I have used a trolley jack on numerous occasions.Should you have any problems getting it under due to the deflation just use your van leveller to gain the necessary height,it works

 

[allen1]

Ive found if there is a problem getting any jack under the jacking point,the easy way round it is to pull the van onto a block of wood or one of those yellow leveling ramps to give yourself a few more inches

 

[Joyce_5063910]

The reason you need to start pulling your caravan onto blocks before you can use most jacks is there is only one on the market that lifts from the side of the caravan and it does not matter what the level of the ground is under the caravan.

 

[Ewan_5130997]

I use a small bottle jack. Much lighter than a comparable trolley jack, but still capeable of lifting 1.5 tonnes.