Alko is highly regarded as being a very good lock but can be a pain to line up.
There's a load of others to choose from. Basically any with the Sold Secure rating is pretty good.
If it has the backplate fitting you could use an Al Ko lozenge type. Can be a fiddle to fit.
Our Bailey Phoenix didn't somwe got a Millenco Wraith which is good. Easy to fit. You replace one wheel bolt with a different one which the clamp fits on.
------------- DS-There's more to life than football!!!
Milenco now do a version of the Alko lozenge type.
------------- XVI yes?
As well is two words!
How does a sage know everything about everything? or does he? or does he just think he does?
Remember, if you buy something you bought it, not brought it.
One of the 'approved' (Sold Secure, Thatcham etc.) locks seems to be a no brainer, some of the cheaper non-approved locks can virtually be removed with your bare hands or only rudimentary tools at best, in a few seconds!
Locks that only clamp onto the wheel rim edge may still have the highest rating because the metal is cut resistant and lock barrel pick or drill resistant, but are easily overcome by simple replacing the wheel with untampered lock still in place! - and many caravans come supplied with an unsecured underslung spare wheel ready for the job!!!!! Locks that cover at least some of the wheel bolts at least prevent easy swapping of the wheel to overcome security.
The Alko lock that attaches through the wheel to the receptor on the chassis, is rated as one of the very best, but can be a bit of a PITA! It is also very specific (or at least the 'lozenge' that fits the wheel is) to a van brand/model, and NOT a universal lock (you can buy replacement lozenges to fit other wheels if you change van). I've got one, and only because I've got motor movers which make micro-movement of the van easy, do I use it. As I'm usually solo, if I were shunting the van hitched to the car, or even moving by hand, but without assistance it would be a real struggle. You have to rotate the aperture in the wheel to 1-2 degrees of rotational accuracy for it all to line up! That makes using ramps for levelling near impossible, as getting correct lift AND rotation accuracy near mutually exclusive! How similar and/or difficult the Milenco version is I couldn't say, as never seen one, but by it's very nature can't be so different.
Be cautious of the 3 legged types that hook around the tyre, I had one bundled with my van when I bought it, but the narrow gap between tyre and inner wheel arch on my van makes fitting VERY difficult! I replaced it with a Stronghold lock that locks onto a modified wheel bolt.
The very best of the locks are NOT theft preventers! Their purpose, and the best you can aim for, is to cause inconvenience and delay to thieves, with maybe the bonus of attempting to cut them off being attention grabbing to you/neighbours/site security! The best of them can be cut off in little over 10 mins! Multiple locks - on both wheels, and a quality hitch lock, often make casual thieves move on to easier less risky targets. Determined thieves WILL succeed unfortunately, unless disturbed in the act!
Your insurer may have requirements as to which type/brand lock you need to fit. Fitting a lock approved by your insurer can often bring worthwhile reductions in premium.
Depending on whether you have steel or alloy wheels, may make some decisions for you, many locks are specific to wheel type. You can't fit the Alko lock if you have steel wheels! Locks are often available to match tyre/wheel size, so need to pick the one that fits your van.
You can also get locks that secure the door too, supplementing the normal door catch lock. Theft is not always of the van, but can be from the van if you leave valuables in it, such as TV etc. They do require drilling holes through the van body to fit though.
I had the Alko lozenge type and if I put the handbrake on 1 click, I could grasp the wheel and rotate it easily to line the lock up. No need for a mover.
I have an elderly Bulldog clamp which we used on previous vans. It wouldn't fit on my last 2 vans or new one as there is insufficient space around the wheel arch moulding.
The Milenco is very easy to fit you just need the stud it goes on around the 2 or 3 o' clock region.
Last 2 vans had the Al Ko which is very good but very difficult to fit if you had to put the van on levelling ramps on the nearside!
Our insurer ( CMC) was happy with the clamp. They require a clamp and hitchlock to be on.
------------- DS-There's more to life than football!!!
Quote: Originally posted by navver on 23/7/2025
I had the Alko lozenge type and if I put the handbrake on 1 click, I could grasp the wheel and rotate it easily to line the lock up. No need for a mover.
May work for some, but not all sadly.
Firstly my handbrake, like many doesn't have a rachet, so I can't partly apply it unless actual hand on lever, it 'toggles' fully on or off.
Secondly, I can't get my hands on the wheel in an effective way to rotate it, insufficient gap between tyre and wheel arch! There's just me, so I'd need to be running back and forth between shoving the nose of the van around, and checking for alignment at the wheel. With the accuracy demands of the Alko alignment, that's likely a LOT of toing and froing!
Probably thirdly too. My van weighs around 1.3 tonnes, so it's a pig to push/pull/swing by yourself on anything but perfectly smooth and level surfaces - which no pitch I've ever been on is, especially not the uneven chunky loose stone of the storage yard! I doubt I could move it by rotating a wheel either for that matter!
I've seen your method described before, but alas doesn't work for all in all circumstances. My motor movers make fitting the Alko lock as easy as is possible, but it's still relatively fiddly, and an eyeballed wheel alignment can still be far enough out to make fitting awkward, so a MM tweak needed. I guess the wheel spoke design and lozenge fit have a bearing on that, mine has ZERO 'slop', getting close to the fit of parts in a Swiss watch!
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Topic: Axle Wheel lock
via mobile 22/7/2025 at 6:45pm
