What do people do re caravan jacks? Have just got a Bailey Olympus and not sure what is normal practice and not sure if I need any special type of jack. I have read that if you have Alko jacking points you need a Alko jack. I know I have a Alko chassis but not sure about anything else. I will be having a look later!
Wife's answer would to call the rac if she had a flat so not much help there. Personally I like to be more self sufficient especially if only a flat tyre. I also know the importance or torquing wheels correctly.
we bought a small (3 ton lifting capacity ) from Towsure and touch wood we've not had cause to use it .... you watch now i've said that the next time we use the van we'll get a flat .
atb Bill
------------- Bill n Kay
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Ok...just googled the Alko chassis manual and know now the 'use an Alko jack...' is just sales blurb. Can use a standard 2 tonne jack.
One other question though...once you have jacked a caravan up is it ok to support the weight of the caravan on the corner steadies? I know you must not use the corner steadies to jack up. Also when we picked up the caravan the hand over guy used one front corner steady to support the caravan while he adjusted jockey wheel. I guess this is ok.
Quote: Originally posted by geoff+emmy on 25/2/2012
the alko jack that you get with alko locks is rubbish (imo) much better to get a trolley jack
The new caravan we have on order comes with the Al-ko side-lift jack and brackets. It looks similar to the one that is standard equipment in our car, and that works OK.
Is this the same jack you describe above, or are there other types by Al-ko? For our outgoing van, I have a Carajack (hydraulic bottle type) and brackets bolted onto the chassis. This van did not come with a jack, so should I retain the carajack for use with our new van?
unless you have correct alko jack fittings and jack the only safe place to jack up is behind the wheels on the L shaped bracket or on the axle itself.this does mean lying on the ground and getting under to do this.so if you can afford have the alko jacking points fitted.going away from this can twist your chassis at great expense to correct.once jacked up lower the legs down before you start.place spare wheel under the chassis until required.make sure hand brake is on and opposite wheel is chocked.when i had new tyres fitted i had to stop him from lifting the van under the chassis with his large jack.because his jack was too large i had to lend him my trolley jack.
Post last edited on 25/02/2012 11:38:38
------------- the only silly question is the one you do not ask.
Quote: Originally posted by The 2 Tops on 25/2/2012
Quote: Originally posted by geoff+emmy on 25/2/2012
the alko jack that you get with alko locks is rubbish (imo) much better to get a trolley jack
The new caravan we have on order comes with the Al-ko side-lift jack and brackets. It looks similar to the one that is standard equipment in our car, and that works OK.
Is this the same jack you describe above, or are there other types by Al-ko? For our outgoing van, I have a Carajack (hydraulic bottle type) and brackets bolted onto the chassis. This van did not come with a jack, so should I retain the carajack for use with our new van?
Bertie.
Yes its a side jack but they are useless in a field they dig in Our caravan fell off this jack and you need to be charles atlas to wind the handle last year ended up using car scissor jack this year got trolley jack
Whatever jack is used, it will dig into soft ground. A piece of plywood, 1500mm square and 10mm to 12mm thick is a useful bit of equipment. Guess I'll keep the Carajack.
They are corner steadies not jacks and not designed for lifting the van off the ground,you could twist the chassis or bodywork and cause damage you may not see,for a while anyway.
Another very important point to remember when choosing a jack - it must be low enough to get under the jacking point when the tyre is flat! The chassis (and jacking point) will be inches lower.......
Gram
------------- What's the difference between a chicken?
This would be good enough for me I think. I'm pretty quick at wheel changing, & if the book says it's OK, then I'm happy with that.
would not like to try it at best you could finish up with the floor pushed out of place as they are only fixed to two sheets of 5 mm ply and a foam filler. at worst it could go through the floor.i did see one van on a site where the leg had gone through.could have been soft though.
------------- the only silly question is the one you do not ask.
I carry a trolley jack in my car. Its not just about breaking down. Sometimes its about rotating the wheel if the van is left for too long, or just taking the wheels off for winter .
As for being able to get under with a jack when you have a flat, if you have a problem tow your van up a levelling ramp to raise it enough to get the jack under.
As for using the corner steadies to raise the van !!!!
Phil
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Topic: Caravan jacks
