Twin Axle with Alko and AWD Mover

[FrintonMike]

I have twin axle Lunar insured with the caravan club and pay £341 per annum.
I use a Milenco wheel lock and hitch lock. I do not usually use the alarm as if the dogs are left in the van they set it off and when in storage I take out the battery.
Quoting from the caravan club policy it states

It is a requirement of this certificate of insurance that whenever the caravan is left unhitched from a towing vehicle for a period exceeding 8 hours, it is immoblised or protected against theft or unlawful removal by use of one of the following, hitchlock, a wheel clamp, heavy duty chain or immobiliser or alarm system.

This confirms what I was told when taking out the policy than only one security measure is needed.
It looks as if the security requirments of the Caravan Club are less stringent that that of the CC&C

 

[bopeep]

When I bought my twin axle Inos caravan it does not have an also chassis, I phoned the insurance and asked them what I needed and bought what they recommended minutes to fit and easy plus insurance is happy, I bought two full stop locks.

 

[chrisn7]

Chris

see this link http://www.practicalcaravan.com/forum/technical/46356-al-ko-jacking-stiffener-plates-catastrophy?start=20
A trolley jack onto the Alko jack bracket is a very bad dangerous idea.

I think this is an exaggeration - I have been using a trolley jack on cars for 45 years and caravans for 30 years. Its like any other tool - safe as long as you understand how to use it and the safety aspects of doing so. You could argue that you should only use the jack supplied with your car, but I would trust a trolley jack far more, as its inherently more stable.

 

[MichaelE]

I used a trolley jack on my jacking points and it bent the bracket out and had to get it replaced. The trolley jack was on a plank of wood but didnt/roll move when jacking up as the arm is is on a pivot so pulled the van towards me putting the strain on the bracked.I use a bottle jack now.
I don't have the wheel clamps on my policy as it was both or it wasn't covered , i always put the 2 on in storage but only 1 when outside my house. I never put them on when on site as was specified in the policy hence i had it removed.

 

[Dustydog]

Chris

see this link http://www.practicalcaravan.com/forum/technical/46356-al-ko-jacking-stiffener-plates-catastrophy?start=20
A trolley jack onto the Alko jack bracket is a very bad dangerous idea.

I think this is an exaggeration - I have been using a trolley jack on cars for 45 years and caravans for 30 years. Its like any other tool - safe as long as you understand how to use it and the safety aspects of doing so. You could argue that you should only use the jack supplied with your car, but I would trust a trolley jack far more, as its inherently more stable.

I guess we are about the sane age. I did use a trolley jack , like you, on the Al-ko bracket and look what happened.
An exaggeration? No. You try bending one of those brackets!!
There is a reason for the failure. Have you noted a trolley jack is on wheels and moves as the jack lifts in an arc. As the jack moves it pulls against the bracket and well, the rest is as per the picture.
I hope you don't experience the same. It was very sudden and without warning and could have been life threatening.

 

[chrisn7]

Chris

see this link http://www.practicalcaravan.com/forum/technical/46356-al-ko-jacking-stiffener-plates-catastrophy?start=20
A trolley jack onto the Alko jack bracket is a very bad dangerous idea.

I think this is an exaggeration - I have been using a trolley jack on cars for 45 years and caravans for 30 years. Its like any other tool - safe as long as you understand how to use it and the safety aspects of doing so. You could argue that you should only use the jack supplied with your car, but I would trust a trolley jack far more, as its inherently more stable.

I guess we are about the sane age. I did use a trolley jack , like you, on the Al-ko bracket and look what happened.
An exaggeration? No. You try bending one of those brackets!!
There is a reason for the failure. Have you noted a trolley jack is on wheels and moves as the jack lifts in an arc. As the jack moves it pulls against the bracket and well, the rest is as per the picture.
I hope you don't experience the same. It was very sudden and without warning and could have been life threatening.

Thank you, I do appreciate the heads up on this issue! Yes I am fully aware of the arc movement of these jacks. My storage is hard standing and the wheels on the jack allow it to move. Still, I shall have to remove the jacking bracket soon to fit the motor mover so an alternative lifting point/method will be required

 

[WoodlandsCamper]

Still, I shall have to remove the jacking bracket soon to fit the motor mover so an alternative lifting point/method will be required

If you have to remove the jacking bracket and you can't get to the axle tube at the point where it's fixed to the chassis then you may have to use the 'air bag' type under the wheels themselves. These are OK when leveling on site, but what about needing to change a wheel at the roadside?

 

[ThePolisher]

Well, I collected the new caravan on Saturday and discussed it with the workshop manager and one of the technician.
Whilst they agree the jacking plate is the best place to lift, it is not possible on a caravan with AWD movers.

They have advised, and they do the same in the workshop, to lift the caravan by using a trolley jack between the axles, so that the jack head is placed under the double section, the box section that is bolted to the chassis that carries the axles.

I have done this 3 times now, once on site where I stayed overnight last night, once when I got home with it parked up......... and once at the motorway services as I was putting on the spares as I had a puncture on the way home.

As with any tool, you have to know how to use it, and has been stated you need to allow the jack to roll on its wheels to keep the load lifted perpendicular.

The air bag idea is nice, but I am not convinced yet.............. but for now, we have a solution that works and is safe.

 

[chrisbee1]

Talk about bad luck. I've towed tens of thousands of miles without needing to jack my 'van up, you needed to before you even got your pride and joy home for the first time. hmy:

 

[PaulT]

I wrote to Al_ko about where to jack the caravan up if the jacking point was removed and the reply was that the trolley jack should be placed under the axle tube where it is bolted to the chassis. This is a bit impractical at times so I place a length of wood on top of the trolley jack to run between the 2 axle bolting points (on a T/A caravan). The trolley jack is between the 2 wheels and the caravan is lifted using the piece of wood to spread the load.

It beats me why Al-Ko (who must be aware of this problem) don't strengthen the area between the two axles so a trolley jack can be used.

 

[chrisn7]

For The Polisher - sorry its off-topic, but...
I couldn't help notice from your profile the 1972 Stag Estate. Where the heck did you get that from? I believe I once saw one where I worked in Leeds, years ago, but that was the only time apart from that prototype owned by Tony Hart. I seem to recall a guy called Ian Lines who did some stuff like this. Still have my 72 Sapphire blue that I bought in '76 though its been laid up a long time

 

[ThePolisher]

Someone who know who Ian Lines actually is?!?!? Wow!!

Ok, so if you know him, then you must know his original car that was in Motor Magazine in 1973, which carried his plate DEL33? I now own this car, I've just finished a 6 year full restoration on it. Was on the front cover of Practical Classics in September last year, and I'm waiting to hear if I am in the final 10 for the magazines Restorer of the year where I get to display at the NEC in March.

I'm also the Chairman of the Triumph 2000/2500/2.5 Register!

I kept a running blog of the rebuild if you fancy having a look. www.vml3m.blogspot.com The story starts in December 2009. I can't seen to post pictures on here, otherwise I would!

 

[Martin24]

A beautiful dream car! Always dreamed of having a '72 Stag!!

 

[ThePolisher]

Stag Estate......... one of only 26 ever built.

Imagine a 2.5PI Estate, flared arches, Tuned V8 engine, Manual box, LSD, custom recaro interior, electric sunroof and shed loads of attitude!!

I wish I could post a piccy on here, but the only option I can find it to link it to a web host, which I don't use.

 

[WoodlandsCamper]

but the only option I can find it to link it to a web host, which I don't use.

Create an account and only use it for this forum.

 

[ThePolisher]

[/url] 20mb image hosting[/img]

Did this work?

 

[Martin24]

The pics on the blog were very good and all informative too.

 

[seth1]

That is unbelievable,that car is absolutley stunning and a credit to you.I bought that months PC magazine just to read about that.I understood Ian Lines for not doing things quite right?

 

[ThePolisher]

Thank you.

He was a bit of a bodger. Wonderful ideas, but his execution..................

Flared rear arches by gas axe cutting, pulling, then filling the gap. Electrical connections done with two female connectors bridged by a piece cut out of a baccy tin.............

Everything has now been put right, almost! Still hunting down gremlins.

I also plan to tow our new caravan with it too. 200bhp, no problems!

 

[chrisn7]

I shall enjoy reading that blog after a quick glimpse. The Hart car is a fast back of course. I only knew of Ian Lines through the Stag connection, not personally. I did have a 2500S estate for a while, which was in reality a bit of a dog, traded when the big ends went, so I didn't feel bad about keeping its alloy wheels and smaller steering wheel, which are still to this day on my Stag! I was a fan of Triumphs as for a young man they were easy to work on and had that extra ambience over other cars of the time

 

[seth1]

I wonder what i could get to go behind the 500 with all its mighty 16hp.LOL

 

[trucker]

What do other twin axle users do for insurance then? CCC policy went up to almost £600 without locks, £300 with. Tried a different company, they wouldn't cover without tracker?

Caravan club don't insist on 2 locks, but you loose 10% discount. So my 22k insurance twin axle van cost £336, join the CC and get a good insurance for a reasonable cost.
We use 1x Alko lock and a nemesis

Kev

 

[ThePolisher]

I could pay more on the insurance and not have the locks, but CCC insurance is down to £278 with Twin Alko Wheel locks, hitchlock, ATC, Alarm and Tyron Bands.

 

[JohnJ_5040720]

We had our previous caravan stolen a year ago this week. Insured with the Caravan Club, the claim was settled within 4 weeks and we picked up a new Twin Axle van shortly afterwards.
One stipulation is that we must have two wheel locks fitted, as well as a hitch lock. Agreed, it's sometimes a bit awkward, but seem to have managed OK.
I don't know what the odds are of parking up and having both wheels perfectly in line so both Alko Locks fit straight on, but this happened on our second outing! Never happened since and I guess unlikely to again!
We live in hopes!

 

[ThePolisher]

So, we've just had our first trip out in the new van. Lovely, just lovely.

Using the jack to lift the van to put the twin locks on is not really a problem......... however, it makes the caravan not level side to side as the side you jack up, the suspension doesn't fully compress again. To do this, you need to roll it forward a couple of feet............. but of course, the locks are now in!!!

Grrrrrr!!!!

Insurance renewal is due in 4 weeks, I think I may remove the lock discount....... still use one on site and both when at home.