I have a twin axle caravan fitted with Al-ko Secure locks. I've mastered the art of fitting these by jacking up the caravan - it's not ideal by any means because you have to jack it up with the handbrake off.
BUT.... it gets worse.... how on earth do you fit two Al-ko Secure locks to a twin axle caravan and level the caravan at the same time (when ramps are needed to raise the side which has the Al-ko locks fitted). In the end, I had to jack it up high and place ramps under the wheels to raise them.
Surely there must be an eaier way? My insurance company (Caravan club) insists that two Al-ko Secure locks are fitted, so using only one is not an option!
My van is only a single axle, but I use a selection of planks or blocks of wood rather than ramps, that way the van isnt trying to run down the slope all the time. I have bits of old kitchen work surface at the moment, cut to a suitable size, and painted the underside with wood preserver to make it waterproof, all this was already in my garage. You can then put 1, 2 or 3 bits under the wheel whilst its on the jack.
CC only insist if you are claiming the discount for using the locks, ours is single axle and we gave up on that, can't be doing with jacking up the van when we arrive anywhere. We did keep the discount for having a tracker fitted ans increased our x/s slightly ended up paying the same premium give or take a fiver.
We didn't take the discount for fitting two locks. There is no way I am jacking the van up except for a flat tyre. That's not what holidays are about. If I can get one of the wheel locks on, then fine, but the minimum the insurance company will accept is just a hitchlock. That's what it gets. Any more is a bonus.
Jim
With my twin axle, I keep my jack to hand, jack up the side thats too low and put blocks under both wheels. Also put on my Alco wheel locks at same time. People seem to think jacking a van up is a faff, but with jack and blocks to hand it takes minutes and no messing. Also for blocks my son (who was 9 at the time) whilst walking round a DIY shop with me, said "Dad, why don't you buy one of them planks and cut it to use for the caravan," pointing at decking boards. Cost around £8, cut into 8 pieces that fit perfectly in the space I have to store them in van, can use for levelling or under steadies, whether 1 at a time or 2 or more stacked. Also I tend to use 1 under the jack when lifting van, and I kneel on one too. Should patent it as "A Plank".
After a few times it will be second nature, and it leaves me feeling more relaxed about security.
I have the same problem. I use the two clamps at home as it is easy to jack the caravan with a trolley jack but I do not use them on site. I do not believe it would be safe to jack on a slope so I do not take the CC discout for this.
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Topic: Levelling a twin axle with Al-ko Secure
