Over The Top?

[davidnewname]

Does anyone else think that having to fit 2 Alko wheelocks to a twin axle (as well as the Hitchlock and ball) is a bit over the top.

Has anyone had a caravan stolen from a site with an alko fitted,they seem totally secure to me.

I don't fancy the hassle of jacking so I line up the back wheel, fit the lock then use the mover to either turn the front wheel slighty or drag the van forward slightly, depending on pitch conditions, then fit the second lock, but I feel that it puts a lot of strain on the housings in the chassis. Should I be buying a bottle jack and jacking?

Thoughts from more experienced caravanners than me most welcome!

 

[Rodone]

The person responsible for the design of this lock should be sacked. admittedly once it is fitted it is a great deterrent, but the hassle of fitting it puts alot of people off using it. hope the samr person hashad nothing to do with their new mover otherwise you'll need to go on a course to learn how to use it

 

[WiltshirePete]

I can imagine that it would be tricky on a twin axle, but on a single with a mover it is a doddle, 10 seconds at most, and as people have said it is a great deterrent.

Having said that I have just come back from Germany, Denmark and Holland where nobody appears to use wheel locks or clamps at all, and even hitchlocks seem uncommon. a more honest population perhaps?

 

[Lutz]

I can confirm that, Pete. My brand new 26' caravan has been standing out in the road behind out back garden for over without a hitchlock, wheel clamp or anything else since Easter while I've been fitting accessories and I would hazard a guess that it will still be there this time next year if we were to stay at home. There's another caravan up the road which has been standing there even longer without ans security devices. I have absolutely no fear that it could get stolen. Not that the popluation is any more honest over here but there is no market for stolen caravans (unlike stolen cars which are broken up for spares and sold in Eastern Europe).

 

[KeithJ]

The same applies to locking wheel nuts. In some countries they are uncommon extras.

Keith

 

[lohr500]

Every time I fit the Alko wheel locks to our twin axle, I think the same thing. But I claimed the insurance discount for using them and no doubt any claim would be rejected if it was established that both locks were not in use.

It's just a shame they couldn't have come up with a design that doesn't depend on such critical wheel alignment.

I have abandoned the Alko screw jack in favour of a small trolley jack that travels under the rear fixed bed.

 

[Philspadders]

Not that the popluation is any more honest over here but there is no market for stolen caravans

which is a strange comment as most of the UK stolen vans end upon the continent.

 

[KeithJ]

Not that I dis-believe you, Phil, but who buys stolen UK caravans on the continent? - I wouldn't have thought there was a market

Keith

 

[Heethers]

Lutz hope you are correct, now that the wider body caravans can be used here in Britain won't take our pond life long to see their are easy pickings in Germany, if they see your reply.

Hope it never happens in Germany Lutz, here in the UK it can be very traumatic for the persons that have had one nicked.

NigelH

 

[Steve L]

I don't think it is OTT to fit additional locks or clamps to your pride and joy.

Once you have fitted the insurance approved minimum security, normally a wheel clamp & Hitch lock. Why not use easyer to fit clamps such as the Bulldog QD wheel clamp, it looks strong and meaty so if the would be thief saw three of them on your T/A plus steady locks as well, he'll simply buzz off to easier pickings.

Atb Steve L.

 

[Dustydog]

Hi David

I too use the Alko wheel locks on my TA mainly because it is an Insurance requirement.

I find fitting easy using the cheat method with the mover as you describe.

My mover is fitted on the front axle. Lower the jockey wheel as far as possible ensuring lowest weight on rear axle. Line up and fit rear lock. Then drag caravan either way to line up front.

These imo can be fitted more quickly than the Bulldog wheel clamp I had previously.

NB: Alko Say use the jack. My method and David's is NOT approved.

Cheers

Dustydog

 

[Lutz]

Not that the popluation is any more honest over here but there is no market for stolen caravans

which is a strange comment as most of the UK stolen vans end upon the continent.

Those stolen end up probably end up on the Continent in the hands of crooked UK ex-pats. A UK caravan stands out like a sore thumb so no foreigner in their right mind would get a hold of a UK caravan.

 

[Lutz]

Lutz hope you are correct, now that the wider body caravans can be used here in Britain won't take our pond life long to see their are easy pickings in Germany, if they see your reply.

Hope it never happens in Germany Lutz, here in the UK it can be very traumatic for the persons that have had one nicked.

NigelH

My caravan's only 2.3m wide, so should I be worried now?

 

[Lutz]

Not that I dis-believe you, Phil, but who buys stolen UK caravans on the continent? - I wouldn't have thought there was a market

Keith

Too right, Keith. There isn't.

 

[davidnewname]

I had a Horse Trailer nicked with a good hitchlock and the best (at the Time) Bulldog wheelclamp fitted, the big "Sold Secure" meaty triangular one. They left the wheel with the clamp still attached! I'm supposing they fitted the spare.

Police said that they pulled the clamp forward enough to slip a specially made long wheel spanner down to undo the nuts. They said it was a common way and the easy way to stop it was to hammer in the end of the 3 legs that go over the wheel so that it is tight enough to stop the clamp being pulled forward and getting access to the nuts. It makes it a lot more awkward to fit though. Has anyone heard of a caravan been nicked with an Alko fitted?

 

[andyp1]

A twin axle at our storage site was stolen with Alko locks fitted.

Bits left behing showed a Oxy-acetylene gas torch had been used to cut off one lock through the aperture in the alloy , The police said they probably just deflated the other tyre to reduce drag!!

Andy

 

[hublock]

Hello david,

Karen made a posting on 5th June 201 under(Insurance/Security/Storage)stating their Abbey Vogue 600(Twin Axle)had been stolen. The Alko Secure wheel locks were removed, so NO they are not "totally secure".

 

[hublock]

Hello david,

Date was 2010.

If you want to fit just the one Alko Secure why not ask your insurance company if they will revise your policy.

I believe others have fitted a wheel clamp on the second wheel to make it easier, but you may lose some of your discount.

Make sure your insurance company knows about any changes you make.

 

[Robert_374581508]

I have a Swift Charisma 620 twin axle (Haymarket Publishing used it to test) and use ALKO wheel locks and Hitchlock all the time, both in storage, on CL's and club sites.

I must admit I was a little shocked about the way you fitted your locks. Even though I have a mover working on the front wheels, I use a ALKO 2 tonne side lift jack to raise one side up. So far, after nearly three years have not found a problem with finding solid ground for the jack (I use a thick board under it). It also helps with levelling chocks.

Yes, they might take a little longer to fit, but recently two vans were stolen from the storage compound that I use, I think the time and trouble taken is well worth it.

 

[Surfer]

If you have a problem or disability bending down low then you cannot fit the Alko locks so in that case they are useless.

 

[Carl-GreyhoundsrUs]

David,

I also have a twin which takes the 2 Alko locks. I used to do exactly as you do, and did not fancy jacking the caravan up all the time, but I eventually bought a trolley jack in its own case, and have found that jacking up the van, on the reinforced bit of chassis between the axles, to line up the wheels and fit the locks now takes all of 5 minutes, and the added bonus of course is that you can level the van at the same time. Its easier than you might think.

Carl.