Removing spare wheel from Alko chassis - any tips?

[Sam Vimes]

I'm just about to remove the spare wheel from my Elddis Xplore 304 for the first time, just to see whats involved. Its the one that's mounted under the chassis on a wire frame which needs to be dropped down.

I've thought of a few ways to do it but does anyone have any tips that might make my life easier?

 

[otherclive]

I'm just about to remove the spare wheel from my Elddis Xplore 304 for the first time, just to see whats involved. Its the one that's mounted under the chassis on a wire frame which needs to be dropped down.

I've thought of a few ways to do it but does anyone have any tips that might make my life easier?

Put the wheel up on a ramp to give more working space. If you can squirt some penetrating oil down the sliders. You may have to re grease when returning the wheel back under the van.

 

[Jcloughie]

I just remove the safety pin, then the nut. Then pull out the frame with two hands, pull it out as far as possible and allow it to drop to the ground.

Awkward, but not difficult. (Very difficult if you have a flat tyre on that side.).

John

 

[IanB1485]

Elddis sometime use BPW chassis and the wheel carrier is a lot simpler than the Alko monstrosity and just swings down The OP mentioned a wire frame and this sounds like a BPW carrier, In either case if you can drop the front of the caravan down as far as it will go it will give you more space to work and clearance to drag the wheel out , also get some of those childrens playmats from screwfix , they are quite large and very pleasant to lie on whilst wrestling the wheel back onto the carriers and lifting it into position . Oh and don't do this with caravan parked near a kerb.

 

[borderbilly]

Best tip is to get someone else to do it for you

 

[Steve1962]

Elddis sometime use BPW chassis and the wheel carrier is a lot simpler than the Alko monstrosity and just swings down The OP mentioned a wire frame and this sounds like a BPW carrier, In either case if you can drop the front of the caravan down as far as it will go it will give you more space to work and clearance to drag the wheel out , also get some of those childrens playmats from screwfix , they are quite large and very pleasant to lie on whilst wrestling the wheel back onto the carriers and lifting it into position . Oh and don't do this with caravan parked near a kerb.

I have some of those ...... good suggestion to use them for this purpose.

 

[Woodentop]

With either type of carrier I suggest wellying the runners with Waxoyl before putting them back. The solvent will evaporate and leave a covering of soft wax behind which stops rusting. You will never again have any issues removing the spare wheel and/or its carrier.

 

[Sam Vimes]

Thanks for the replies.

I'm sure I read somewhere that its best to jack up the caravan with it still attached to the car. I've looked through the caravan manual and it makes not mention of this. Any comments?

I've got plenty of stuff to lay on while doing it.

Thanks all

 

[Hutch]

I have only had one puncture on my vans in 18 years. Fingers crossed.
The AlKo carrier is a pain to get the wheel out from , putting the jockey wheel as low as possible helps. I did notice that the AlKo carrier frame rubs on tyre side wall. After removing it several times to check the pressure. I got fed up and put the spare under our island bed, and removed the carrier.
I have the KoJack hydraulic scissor jack to lift the van as well as the Normal wind up one. When using those I leave the van attached to the car.

 

[RogerL]

Thanks for the replies.

I'm sure I read somewhere that its best to jack up the caravan with it still attached to the car. I've looked through the caravan manual and it makes not mention of this. Any comments?

I've got plenty of stuff to lay on while doing it.

Thanks all

Yes, the caravan has a tendency to move once the weight has been taken off one side and may fall off thejack - got the t-shirt! With the caravan hitched to the car, it can't twist round.

 

[toad a caravan]

Stops the caravan from rolling back if it's on an incline,try and make sure all the tools required are on hand readily available to save time once it's lifted and safely secured off the ground by stands on the axle to chassis plate(if it's an Alko there are four large bolts that clamp the axle to chassis) ...Good luck

 

[Sam Vimes]

Got the spare wheel out. Forced the retaining strap off and let gravity do the rest. Boy is it rusty.

I need to use it for a while as Alloy Wheel tyre is damaged. Rain stopped play so swapping over tomorow.

Thanks again

 

[Beachball]

Best tip is to get someone else to do it for you

+1 I would agree with get someone else to do it because looking at my caravan it underneath in the Alko carrier.

 

[IanB1485]

Like Hutch I didn't like the Alko carrier its a real pain , so I removed it and keep the spare either in the van ( in an IKEA Dimpa bag strapped to the floor or in the car) and underneath the caravan when on site.I also have fitted the Kojack system (bottle jack ) and the retaining plates which lock the jack onto the chassis to help stop it twisting.

 

[Sam Vimes]

Finished the job this morning.

To remove the wheel from the caravan and fit the spare took about 15mins or so. Jacking up with the trolley jack was a little awkward as it has to go under the caravan, lengthwise, and not sticking out the side. So, pumping it up took time because I could only do short strokes at a distance. Fortunately you don't have to jack it up as high as a car wheel.

We've decided to carry the spare wheel - when its back as a spare - in the caravan when towing and in the awning, under the caravan or in the back of the car when on site. There's no room inside the caravan to have it permanently in there.

I was going to remove the actual carrier but you can't just unhook it, so when the next trip is over in a couple of weeks and the annual service has been done and I tuck it up for the winter, I'll go underneath and unbolt it.

Got as much rust off the spare wheel as possible and was then going to spray it black but couldn't find the black spray paint. I had some Black Sandtex - no idea why because we've never used it - so I painted that on. Its better than rust

 

[otherclive]

Finished the job this morning.

To remove the wheel from the caravan and fit the spare took about 15mins or so. Jacking up with the trolley jack was a little awkward as it has to go under the caravan, lengthwise, and not sticking out the side. So, pumping it up took time because I could only do short strokes at a distance. Fortunately you don't have to jack it up as high as a car wheel.

We've decided to carry the spare wheel - when its back as a spare - in the caravan when towing and in the awning, under the caravan or in the back of the car when on site. There's no room inside the caravan to have it permanently in there.

I was going to remove the actual carrier but you can't just unhook it, so when the next trip is over in a couple of weeks and the annual service has been done and I tuck it up for the winter, I'll go underneath and unbolt it.

Got as much rust off the spare wheel as possible and was then going to spray it black but couldn't find the black spray paint. I had some Black Sandtex - no idea why because we've never used it - so I painted that on. Its better than rust

Does Sandtex still have 15 year guarantee. If so it will outlast the caravan.