Wrong Fitting.

[pensioner]

Hope I'm in the right section mods.

I recently bought from a very large online retailer, a jacking system; Bright Orange bottle jack and 2 Orange brackets, for my caravan. It said in the product info that it was suitable for all Alko chassis, which mine is.
I have a 2014 Lunar Cosmos 352 which is the Ariva 352 with extras.
When I tried to fit the brackets, Bright Orange ones, to the chassis they wouldn't fit as the holes in the chassis didn't line up with the holes in the Brackets, and there's only one set of holes in the chassis aft of the axle, apart from those for the spare wheel carrier.

Question one, has anyone else had this problem and had to return the goods.

Question two, should I be entitled to refund of postage as well as the cost of the jacking system as the retailer policy is to refund postage only if it was their error. Well I accept that it wasn't BUT, the product isn't fit for purpose so they shouldn't be selling it.

 

[otherclive]

Hope I'm in the right section mods.

I recently bought from a very large online retailer, a jacking system; Bright Orange bottle jack and 2 Orange brackets, for my caravan. It said in the product info that it was suitable for all Alko chassis, which mine is.
I have a 2014 Lunar Cosmos 352 which is the Ariva 352 with extras.
When I tried to fit the brackets, Bright Orange ones, to the chassis they wouldn't fit as the holes in the chassis didn't line up with the holes in the Brackets, and there's only one set of holes in the chassis aft of the axle, apart from those for the spare wheel carrier.

Question one, has anyone else had this problem and had to return the goods.

Question two, should I be entitled to refund of postage as well as the cost of the jacking system as the retailer policy is to refund postage only if it was their error. Well I accept that it wasn't BUT, the product isn't fit for purpose so they shouldn't be selling it.

Sorry to hear of your fitting problem. Normally it is quite straightforward to fit such brackets if they are designed for an Alko chassis’ holes. However if your van doesn’t have the holes I think you are quite within your rights to return the items and seek a refund. Online trading laws give you that right providing timeframes are met and the items aren’t damaged. If they kit clearly stated as suitable for Alko chassis that implies any Alko chassis and as yours is a 2014 caravan most would expect it to be compatible. In which case you should be eligible for a refund of return postage. However are you sure that the holes on your chassis are also compatible with Alko jack brackets? Could they be for shock absorbers?

 

[Hutch]

Pensioner, If I am correct you have bought a Kojack , jack, The orange Fittings have a bubble levelling on them.
Check your Chassis and see if it already has two grey, jacking points fitted. My 2013 Alko chassis had them fitted and they were suitable for the Kojack as opposed to the earlier Alko which would bend, I think Dusty Dog has some photos.

Just nipped into the garage, to get a photo.

 

[Hutch]

https://youtu.be/BuvwhPbIE8s

 

[pensioner]

EH52ARH, right name wrong jack, the one I bought was a bottle jack, and yes the brackets have spirit levels fitted and spares supplied too.
Yes there are two plates below the axle which I assume are jacking plates, but I thought fitting the new ones would make life easier and quicker if the need arose.

 

[Hutch]

The jack I pictured is the larger one, for upto I think 2000kg the smaller bottle bottle jack without the Scissor effect is for upto 1000 kg, Willing to be corrected. .
My original jacking point are just behind the axle, and the brackets look a bit better than my old Kojack ones that I showed in the pictures.

Are these yours.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/p/Purpleline-KJ4000S-Kojack-Single-Axle-Caravan-Jack/6033704193?iid=351290341974&chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=710-134428-41853-0&mkcid=2&itemid=351290341974&targetid=522579887423&device=t&mktype=pla&googleloc=1006933&poi=&campaignid=6744139875&mkgroupid=78343141606&rlsatarget=pla-522579887423&abcId=1139126&merchantid=7130904&gclid=Cj0KCQjwrrXtBRCKARIsAMbU6bGXbZ6zpFLOPdaoi62MlcM2dlVAhwwFctkgW5-D-Kt4RTLKi3WrVY4aAotOEALw_wcB

 

[JTQ]

]https://youtu.be/BuvwhPbIE8s

https://youtu.be/BuvwhPbIE8s[/quote
Talk about making a job a struggle, why did he not do it when he could use his tow car to haul the wheel up onto a couple of blocks to greatly increase the access room. Some just seem to me to like making life particularly difficult, even having themselves videoed and put on YouTube.

 

[pensioner]

EH52ARH. Yes that's the one.

 

[Hutch]

EH52ARH. Yes that's the one.

I have just realised in the Video the bloke is fitting the old style of ALKO jack point which can fold up when the caravan is being jacked up with a heavier van. The type you have bought should fit in the place where the bloke was fitting them though.
Hutch.

 

[pensioner]

Hutch,,
I know it may be difficult to believe, but mine has no round bolt holes there. Just rear of the axle there's a rectangular hole 5 inches by 4.5 inches which the red brake cable passes through. Then the holes for the spare wheel carrier, then 2 small holes which I was going to use for the bracket, but are too close together vertically.

 

[otherclive]

The Alko brackets now come in two different shapes and weight categories. The L- shaped are suitable for caravans up to 1600 kg IE 800 kg per wheel. The ones with fabricated and welded side gusset plates are for vans up to 2000 kg. IE 1000 kg per wheel. With a light caravan the OP should be quite okay with the L shaped ones if the bottle jack is compatible, but might prefer the Kojak brackets that go with the jack.

 

[Hutch]

https://images.app.goo.gl/ZU5dCEGznnQUtLzH6

 

[pensioner]

Eureka the mystery of the missing bolt holes is solved.

Wrapped around the lower half of my axle is a jacking plate, ( Previously mentioned ) and this is BOLTED ON using the 2 missing bolt holes,with two more forward of the axle.

Confusion one; was the instruction to use the two holes in the chassis behind the wheel carrier, I'm assuming that behind meant hidden behind but actually forward of the carrier but behind the axle.

Confusion two; what are the two holes rearward of the wheel carrier for that don't even match up with the supplied brackets.

Even with all that cleared up I would still have returned the jacking system as the handle supplied is soo short, you'd struggle to grip the end as the wheel and spare wheel carrier, would be in the way.

My thanks to all who offered advice and help with this.

 

[Hutch]

Eureka the mystery of the missing bolt holes is solved.

Wrapped around the lower half of my axle is a jacking plate, ( Previously mentioned ) and this is BOLTED ON using the 2 missing bolt holes,with two more forward of the axle.

Confusion one; was the instruction to use the two holes in the chassis behind the wheel carrier, I'm assuming that behind meant hidden behind but actually forward of the carrier but behind the axle.

Confusion two; what are the two holes rearward of the wheel carrier for that don't even match up with the supplied brackets.

Even with all that cleared up I would still have returned the jacking system as the handle supplied is soo short, you'd struggle to grip the end as the wheel and spare wheel carrier, would be in the way.

My thanks to all who offered advice and help with this.

Thanks for the reply, My Kojack 2000 kg when the tyre is deflated, ( tried it with the wheel removed ) the handle has very little movement at first. BUT i carry a chassis support as I never trust Hydraulic jacks, back to my basic aircraft engineering training.