ALKO Jacking Kit...
Having attempted to use my trolley jack on the drive with limited success (mainly due to the location of the axel thanks to the motor mover and lack of space to pump the jack), I opted to purchase the mildly expensive ALKO jacking kit.
Having lay down on the drive this afternoon, imagine the facial expression and low volume curse words when the brackets didn't line up fully with the predrilled hole on the chassis.
My Sprite Major 6TD seems to have plenty going on next to the predrilled holes. The main housing for the wheel arch directly effects the fit of the bracket and the mud flap is in the way. Having removed the mud flap, I admitted defeat as the bracket simply won't lay flat due to the outer area of the wheel arch. This in turn means the holes do not directly line up and are out by half a hole size.
Has anyone else experienced this annoyance? Perhaps a better trolley jack with long pump arm is the answer, however I had hoped the actual kit would work!
Thanks in advance
Comments
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It's never an easy task when you have a mover fitted. Trolley jacks are OK at home, but are heavy to take with you, hence the idea of an ALKO. I have tried most way's over the years but know I use the pump up jack that came with our Mitsubishi Shogun, it is a heavy duty one and fit's under the thick metal plate were the axle is bolted to the chassis, and we have it with us at all times. I would get your money back on the ALKO.
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Mine (the jack and the brackets) lay in the garage, taken from new to allow the motor-movers to be fitted (they didn't tell me that when I asked for the mover to be fitted!)
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If it's a slight consolation, the Alko jack is a complete piece of rubish and not worth fitting. It is basically a toy jack that is simply not up to the job.
I manage to squeeze the trolley jack onto the axle (but it is rather tight) and does a far superior job.
It would be nice if there was a trolly jack fitting that would fit into the Alko side brackets - best of both worlds.
Assuming of course that your Alko side brackets are capable of being fitted to an Alko chassis! Alko poor design at its best!
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If it's a slight consolation, the Alko jack is a complete piece of rubish and not worth fitting. It is basically a toy jack that is simply not up to the job.
I manage to squeeze the trolley jack onto the axle (but it is rather tight) and does a far superior job.
It would be nice if there was a trolly jack fitting that would fit into the Alko side brackets - best of both worlds.
Assuming of course that your Alko side brackets are capable of being fitted to an Alko chassis! Alko poor design at its best!
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Well I found it very easy to use and it worked perfectly for what it is intended. However, it is a bit unfair to blame Alko for the design. They only produce the chassis, it is the manufactures who put stuff on it and sometimes obscure the mounting points. Surely they are the ones who need criticism, the mounting points where after all a known quantity and would have been clearly visible on their CAD tools.
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I don't see why you should call it rubbish. I've used ours in tricky circumstances and whilst I must concede that it requires careful use, it worked perfectly well. It's very similar to a lot of car jacks.
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I agree it does look flimsy, but in use does the job it is intended to do and certainly does not feel unsafe. It is after all only really intended to be used in emergency situations. Personally I would only ever use it on a site or quiet roadside area. If I get a flat on a motorway or busy A road I will take advantage of my Mayday cover.
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