Which jack - Abbey Vogue

[Johnh2]

Just bought a brand new Abbey Vogue 495. Which jack do people recommend? Trolley, scissor, Alko's own? Also, does it depend upon where the recommended jacking points are?

I've seen a 2 Ton small trolley jack from Halfords; which costs £28 and comes in a plastic case. Any suggestions welcome.

John

 

[Dustydog]

John

Ald, Lidl, all do 2 tonne trolley jacks for

 

[Johnh2]

Has aynone used hydraulic "Bottle jack"? There's one in Halfords for

 

[Martyn_374318167]

One point i should like to raise on the point of caravan jacks having come back into caravaning after a 20 year break is WHY are we having to buy a jack in the first place they should be supplied as standard running kit I cannot believe that the manufacturers are still in the days of cranking handles over issues such as jacks and batteries

 

[trucker]

Draper 61432 3 Tonne Inflatable Air Jack

We have one of the above jacks. Light weight and yes it works. It lifted my Freelander to change the wheels.

we also have the vogue 495, is yours a vogue 2 ??

Kevin

 

[ThePlotter]

My answer is still the same

 

[Johnh2]

Kevin (Trucker)

yes its a Vogue 2. We bought it brand new in in June. Only had one weekend outing so far, due to the crap weather. I managed to bend one of the steady machanisms and had to have it replaced. I NOW know that they are steadies, not jacks. We were on an uneven, sloping pitch and I was trying to jack the whole van up using the legs - doh!. Should have read the hand book first. Expensive lesson.

We love the layout and the light coloured wood. Having said that, there are a few minor points where I feel the attention to detail on the finishing could have been better; mostly to areas above eye level. What the eye doesn't see - - -!

How do you like yours? Any problems with it?

John

 

[David.O]

Has aynone used hydraulic "Bottle jack"? There's one in Halfords for

 

[Mike_5041144]

Kevin (Trucker)

yes its a Vogue 2. We bought it brand new in in June. Only had one weekend outing so far, due to the crap weather. I managed to bend one of the steady machanisms and had to have it replaced. I NOW know that they are steadies, not jacks. We were on an uneven, sloping pitch and I was trying to jack the whole van up using the legs - doh!. Should have read the hand book first. Expensive lesson.

We love the layout and the light coloured wood. Having said that, there are a few minor points where I feel the attention to detail on the finishing could have been better; mostly to areas above eye level. What the eye doesn't see - - -!

How do you like yours? Any problems with it?

John

Hi John

I have a cheap trolley jack and carry a few pieces of wood to protect the van chassis. Has your new van got the spare wheel slung underneath the side? If yes - I suggest you try and remove it and carry it inside the car or van. Our spare wheel was an absolute b-----d to remove and that was indoors at our storage facility - without a puncture. Advantage of trolley jack is that it can move inwards as the van side rises.

However I agree with Martyn - jacking facilities should be standard on all new vans plus delivery charges LOST.

 

[Mike_5041144]

Hi John

I carry a Trolley Jack [LIdl's] plus some assorted pieces of wood to protect the van chassis. A jack with wheels can move as the van is raised.

I too would like to see manufacturers supply a proper jack and jacking points with their vans. I also hate seeing delivery charges - car manufacturers have long since ceased showing this as an extra.

 

[Johnh2]

Thanks to all for your advice.

I've gone for the Purple line Kojack in the end. I know it's an expensive option, but it would be awkward to try and get a scissor or bottle jack under the re-enforced plate on the chassis, as I have a powrtouch mover fitted in front of the wheels. I thought that if it was raining, I'd be on my belly trying to get the jack under the plate from behind the wheel; and as my local caravan centre guy said, it would be made all the more difficult as the tyre would be flat and the van closer to the ground. So I opted for the kojack. I really like the look of it. It comes with two plates which bolt into the pre drilled holes in the chassis that are for Alko's own jack. The kojack then slots under the plate. The plate would be in plain view and easy to access, no crawling around. Plus, it's hydraulic, so a couple of pumps and up she goes.

Having a puncture would be stressful enough, without getting filthy in the rain trying to get a jack in place. I'm a lazy sod and all in favour ofan easy option.

cheers

John

 

[trucker]

Hi John, ours is a 2007 model bought in Oct 2006. We love the layout and the van, had a few problems but only 1 serious being a crack in the front panel by the grab handel. all the others have been bits, like the oven front having to be changed twice as the paint under the laquer started to crack quite a common problem with the silver oven ( the last front we had is a new process of paint and laquer stoves developed so it souldnt happen anymore) all in all a great van.

This is the second Abbey weve had and would buy another when the time comes to change.

the dealer is also great (Highbridge caravans) nothing seams too much trouble, and the bodyshop guys did a fantastic job on the front panel.

Kevin

 

[Johnh2]

Shoot Kevin, you seem to be pretty laid back about about something as serious as a cracked front panel!!. I would have gone ballistic. A fault like that would almost certainly put me off buying another van from that manufacturer. Did they say what the cause was? Is it a design flaw? I'll have to have a good check around mine again.

We love the low curved work surface on the right as you go in. It seems to make the van look very roomy. And as for the bed!!! it is sooooo comfortable. It's more comfortable than my

 

[WatsonJohnG]

I had the Lidl trolley jack and after a mod to the top it fitted the Alko jack points and I was really pleased with it

Sadly the day before we were due to go to France on site in Exeter the jack failed so I had to get a replacement in a hurry for the journey

I bought the Kojack and that immediately leaked all the fluid and had to be replaced within minutes of purchase

The replacement Kojack seems really easy to use and also it fits the side jack point on the new Nissan X Trail

It also fits in the designated storage place in the car boot after removing some padding

The car to jack fitting is identical to the car original and much wider and sturdier but needs a a small piece of wood between it and the ground to get the rquired height etc

That means only one jack need to be carried and its in a convenient place in the car boot