Spare wheel carriers

[John_5040782]

Has anyone got any comments to make about spare wheel carriers that fit below the van? The ALKO one looks good but is expensive! The Towsure one is much cheaper but looks as though it is more difficult to access the wheel. Any views? Any secondhand ones for sale?

John - Bridgend

 

[RobRoy]

Hi John,

I had an ALKO carrier (bought quite reasonably on eBay) but thank goodness I never had to get the spare wheel out - it would have meant rolling around on the ground and struggling with it. Maybe the size of the van has something to do with ease of use. My van at that time was a 12 footer. Present van has locker in front and access is much better. We used to carry the spare on the floor above the axle when travelling and stick it under the aravan on site.

Rob S.

 

[rob_jax]

John,

With the exception of the smallest Eriba Touring caravans (Puck), all Eribas now have an under slung AL-KO wheel carrier as standard.

So far I've only got the wheel out to check tyre pressures, but it's straight forward. And this reminds me, I need to clean and lubricate the carrier and lock, and check the tyre before heading off next week.

Robert

 

[Allyson]

Hi John

Picked our Al-ko wheel carrier up second hand in the Freeadds, it out tomorrow but you can view the paper now on their website.

My husband fitted it for our two week holiday in August and put the caravan wheel in its place. He then put on car spare wheel in the the front locker, because we have an LPG conversion in our spare wheel carrier in the car. This gave us more room in our boot for lighter thinks. If you do this remember to take the wheel out of your locker when you arrive at your destination.

We had a blow out on the M4 Saturday when we where taking the van in for part exchange.

The AA man told my husband to pull the car in tight to the barrier so he could change the wheel on the side of the road. Hubby then had to take the wheel out from the carrier. I thought he may have had a problem because the caravan was at an angle and in tight to the barrier, but no problem.

 

[clivea]

Hi,

I have an Alko ona Bialey and for the life of me cannot understand why van dseigners do not use the front locker or spenda bit ona recessed floor well. It needs regular greasing and can be difficult to get a wheel back in. Most times I carry the wheel on the car and certainly when abroad it is safer given the driving on the other side.

 

[BigAl1]

I changed a blown tyre on the side of the M40 at 10.15 last night. The van had an Alko spare wheel carrier and the whole task took only 15 minutes, although the spare was removed easier after the van had been jacked up.

 

[John_5040782]

Thanks for all your comments. The reason for posting the message was that with the wheel in the front locker the hitch load was well over the recommended weight. I now have to make the decision as to the solution based on your replies!!

John