Alko Wheel lock
For those people, who struggle aligning their ALKO wheel clamp. 6 or 7 inches of 70mm drain pipe fits snuggly over the reciever unit. Makes it much easier to centralise between the spokes.
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Our last caravan had receptors for Alko wheel locks. After reading how easily thieves can overcome those locks, I bought a proper wheel clamp and hitch lock. I was pleased I did so, as so many people struggle to align those Alko wheel locks on arrival on site.
K
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It appears there was a typo in my first posting . Sorry! The dimension of the drain pipe should be 40mm NOT 70.
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Some people can "struggle" with the simplest things. I have never had a problem with it and others I know who have one manage perfectly well.
It seems to get criticised mainly by people who don't have one. I think although they are quite expensive, they are extremely well made.
Are you able to give details of any AL-KO wheel locks being defeated?
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I have one.
It is the simplest thing to fit?
Well then why do I have to line up a 1500kg caravan to within 1 mm to fit it?
Why 1 in 6 times do I have jack a 1500kg caravan into the air so I can fit it. (Due to it not fitting over the wheel valve).
Why does virtually every owner carry a trolley jack or airbag to lift the van in order to use it?
Why after levelling the van is it not possible to fit unless you jack the van?
Why if you have a twin axle do you have to jack the van to use it?
Why does the insert have to be exactly the same profile as the wheel?
A: Because this ensures ALKO sell new ones as the wheel designs change.
Why did ALKO stop any other lock maker using the receiver by using their patent to keep a far better, universal, reusable system off the market?
A: I think we know the answer to that one.
It is overpriced, difficult to use on flat, very difficult to use on an incline, requires users to carry additional equipment to use it, and is designed to be used on one wheel type thus rendering perpetual sales as wheel designs change.
Any thing else?
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I do carry a trolly jack, but not to fit the Alko wheel lock. I have a twin axle so do agree re fitting both locks, but on site I line up one wheel, fit the lock & if by chance I can get my Bulldog Max on the other I fit it. If I can't ... I don't worry about it.
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Interesting idea Malcolm. I found the Alko wheel lock easy to fit on my last caravan even when leveling side to side (using simple timber sections rather than plastic wedge). With the present one and wheel pattern I find it harder to judge visually.
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yes you do have to kneel down and visually check quite carefully to get mine aligned. Easy to do with the mover but I found that if there is any slight gradient or hollow (like in our storage made by the tyre) the van will move out of this alignment when the mover is taken off even with the handbrake on. I did think of fitting the lock then releasing the mover but this would put strain in the lock? I now use a very big wheel chock to keep the wheel in place which works well.
Also the storage owner said he would flatten the place out (it's made of stones) the next time we were out.
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Like you CS I have to kneel down and check very carefully. So particularly for anyone having difficulty in this regard this simple device seems the answer.
We also use a chock to prevent movement when taking off the power mover, thinking it unwise to have strain on the lock.
I can't relate to most of Phishings post. Yes you have to align it, but that is not difficult with a mover. Occasionally the inflator is in the way, but just move it to the next hole. If movement is impossible, as in our storage, a shuffle is required. A pain as it is normally raining when this happens, but it is only occasionally.
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Yes lol, there is a mathematical law that says if something is difficult to do in the first place then nature will make it more difficult by it being dark or raining or both.
I thought that Alko could have designed in a little more 'wriggle' room in terms of alignment? It's just the last thing you ant to do after along journey.
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Alko have sold a great many of these so some people (like myself) find them very useful and relatively easy to use. Surely the reason why the tolerances are so tight and the lock tailor made for each wheel is to prevent any "play" in the fitting which would make forced removal easier. As the recever and the wheel are on the same mounting the former should always align with the aperture in the latter. Why do some members insist on parading their inability to perform simple tasks abd always blame their tools.
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They certainly come as a "Marmite" item with polarised "ilikers" and haters.
I am in the former, along with my insurer. It is a lovely light in a relative sense, item for the level of security it offers; far more practical than a "Denver boot" type, at least for the single axle users.
By far its biggest failing is "me", forgetting to check the wheel position and fit it till a little too far into setting up.
Second is that wretched tyre valve stem, there are 5 gaps only one with the stem, but nearly every time guess which gap stops in the wrong place?
Would I go back to all the iron work we carried years back, no way.
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I like my alko wheel lock. It saves me money on my insurance and I find it isn’t too heavy to manhandle on and off.
As a sole caravaner, I find that most times the final positioning is done with the motor mover. I can reverse, but not having a spotter to see me back can be a bit risky if not dangerous. And getting in and out to check is just downright silly. Also you can find that the best views may be looking away from the road and so more often than not I park nose in.
I find it very easy to judge (from a few metres) the receptor with the centre of a wheel spoke without getting down on my knees to see.
I fit my lock then level the caravan (it only takes a few minutes) but that is because I invested in a on board levelling system, not for fitting the wheel lock but saving me the hassle of messing about with levelling and the associated bending. Its just one of the bonuses!0 -
To the supporters of this wretched device.
Assume you have just bought your new car. On getting it home you find that it is a requirement to park it within 1mm of a wheel rotation every time you stop to meet your insurance company definition of securing it. You have to push it backward or forward to an exact position before it was considered secure. You also find that one in 6 times that the security feature does not work unless you move the vehicle. You go to the dealer and say that this is not acceptable, he offers to sell you a jack to jack the vehicle each time you park up or an airbag to achieve the same.
You would not accept this for a car so why do you accept it with a caravan?
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Up till now I have never had a car insurance requirement for a wheel lock each time I park one up.
With the caravan I have, so in one case a wheel lock is required the other it is not, where is the link?
If you don't like the Al-Ko solution, why buy one?
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The fitting of my wheel lock is only a insurance requirement because I choose to claim a discount for using one. If I didn’t want the saving then I wouldn't need to use it.
But, it came free with my caravan, has a theft deterrent effect and has a certified level of protection. Yes I know any device isn’t foolproof, but it gives me peace of mind that I’ve made an effort and for the trouble of using it I gain the added bonus of reduction on my insurance premiums1 -
Would n't called it a wretched device,but what I would say is that my lozenge only fits 5 of the spokes in the alloy wheel,only to find the tyre inflation valve is in one of these.
I have to line up using a motor mover and kneeling mat,not a great hardship, but I must remember before disconecting the MM.
I also have another purpleline Sarancen lock on the other wheel which is much easier to fit.
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Overall the Alko is good being relatively light and compact making it easy to stow. I just wish AlKo would allow a little more tolerance which need not compromise its security as the plate could still overlap the outside of the wheel spokes.
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Mine, for a 5 spoke wheel. has far more clearance than the 1mm claimed earlier in this thread, I suspect it depends on the number of gaps, the larger number inevitably the smaller the lozenge and with that tighter tolerances. Ours has the stated "overlaps".
I have no difficulty eyeing the receiver up and judging it being near enough centred, something I know my wife struggles with judging so clearly that ability comes into the ease of use.
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The point I was making is that it is a poor concept.
I engineer vehicle parts and if I took similar concept to any vehicle manufacturer as a new improved security device they would have me escorted from site.
I genuinely believe that ALKO do not want to improve it as they benefit from high margin on a very simple part that can not be transferred to a new vehicle thus perpetuating the sales. Fair enough if it was any good.
This could be made into a universal part with just the same level of security very easily but then it would not generate the sales for new vans as once you have it you would not need another one. This indeed was done see: http://caravanchannel.proboards.com/thread/3362/bulldog-max-bites-dust
A sad end to a decent bit of innovation.
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Hi I had a alko wheel lock no 20 which did not fit my alloy wheel so I removed c clip .from the back .with drew the locking bolts do fitted it to the receiver on caravan .it stuck out just enough to stop wheel turning . .and was a lot easier to fit on site or when leaving in a car park also big red plastic marker to remind me to remove it .or might have smashed the wheel on moving off just wish I could use it on m/home
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"To the supporters of this wretched device.
Assume you have just bought your new car. On getting it home you find that it is a requirement to park it within 1mm of a wheel rotation every time you stop to meet your insurance company definition of securing it."
With cause today to move the van I thought I would check the validity of this inferred criticism.
The actual parking range precision for my Al-ko is 27 mm.
The actual lozenge clearance is 13 mm, but it is located at under half the radius of the rolling radius.
Probably, the contributors Ak-Ko is a tighter fit than mine but at just one twenty seventh it is hard to take seriously.
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There's nothing like 27mm tolerance when fitting my Alko locks ..... never measured it but nearer 1mm than 27mm
I have bought myself a second hand Bulldog Max that has a better chance of fitting the 2nd axle of my 'van ..... though the law of sod says that often, not even that will fit.
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We are talking the "wheel rotation" tolerance for parking, not the lozenge flank tolerance, which is about half the amount the wheel moves.
As stated, I have measured mine, quite precisely, and it was 27 mm. A figure not readily misread for only a 1mm travel.
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dont know what all the fuss is about. If you bought the product got it home tried it, and it wasnt fit for purpose, take the thing back and get your money back, simple. Personally i use a Milenco wheel clamp which fits every time no hassle, and an Alko hitch lock, may not be the most secure but I have read on this forum where thieves are using blow lamps to burn off wheel clamps etc so a token gesture in my book is about as good as it gets, and it keep the insurance company happy.
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I use Mailcolm's idea with the 40mm drain pipe - fits first time within minutes, although only a single axle to secure
Maybe you should patent your idea ?
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