Alko wheel lock

davetommo
davetommo Forum Participant Posts: 1,430
edited November 2019 in Parts & Accessories #1

Has anyone any ideas how to line up the wheel to enable the Alko wheel lock to be fitted safely when the caravan cannot be moved.

 

 

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  • davetommo
    davetommo Forum Participant Posts: 1,430
    edited November 2019 #2

    Forgot to mention the caravan cannot be hitched to the car as the front of it is tight up to a hedge.

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited November 2019 #3

    Trolly jack under a lifting point (axle), spin wheel. align wheel lock point ....

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited November 2019 #4

    We have the Alko jacking points and Alko side lift jack quite easy to use and stable ,very easy, which we find if on a site without security barriers just make sure you chock the offside wheel,before releasing hand brake

  • davetommo
    davetommo Forum Participant Posts: 1,430
    edited November 2019 #5

    Does the caravan not move when jacked up and not attached to the car

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited November 2019 #6

    In a perfect world you would have the car attached to the caravan for stability .... unfortunately, as in your case, it's not always possible to connect the two. I jack my twin axle to fit the wheel locks, and ... so far .. it's not moved. You just have to be careful and jack the caravan the minimum required to spin the wheel.

  • Oneputt
    Oneputt Club Member Posts: 9,144 ✭✭✭
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    edited November 2019 #7

    Most of the time I use a heavy duty chain and lock.  £38 from a hardware store.  Handy as can fit to either wheel

     

     

     

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,427 ✭✭✭
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    edited November 2019 #8

    would it be a good idea to use wheel chocks on the opposite side? 

    Serious question MM, I've never jacked up a caravan and hope never to have to.

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited November 2019 #9

    If you have chocks then use them ... every little helps. 👍 Bear in mind though that the caravan could still pivot around that chocked wheel hence the advise to connect car & caravan if possible.

  • Unknown
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    edited November 2019 #10
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  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,427 ✭✭✭
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    edited November 2019 #11

    thanks, I know this may sound strange to you but it's my biggest nightmare if I had to change a caravan wheel while towingembarassed

    And offside would be even worse...

  • Oneputt
    Oneputt Club Member Posts: 9,144 ✭✭✭
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    edited November 2019 #12

    Isn’t that what mayday or Red Pennant is for?

  • Unknown
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    edited November 2019 #13
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  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited November 2019 #14

    Just tackle it like you would on your car ....a bit at a time .... is the ground firm enough to jack on? will anything move/fall when you jack? Slacken bolts/nuts before you lift If you don't feel confident let your recovery help.

    Changing an offside wheel on the motorway isn't pleasant when you have vehicles a few feet from you .... only ever done it a couple of times in 40 yrs

  • Unknown
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    edited November 2019 #15
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  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,427 ✭✭✭
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    edited November 2019 #16

    yes true but it's a nightmare remember... no phone signal, OH won't (when reasonably asked) go walking to find one, raining, no torches and failing battery, escaped prisoners, zombies...

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,427 ✭✭✭
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    edited November 2019 #17

    thanks, fingers crossed it won't happen.

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited November 2019 #18

    Thankfully we have so far only had one bad experience on a motorway with caravan wheels ,when a nearside wheel came off northbound on the M1 on our maiden trip with a new caravan just picked up from the dealer on route to Clumber parksurprised

  • davetommo
    davetommo Forum Participant Posts: 1,430
    edited November 2019 #19

    Just phone breakdown service corners

  • davetommo
    davetommo Forum Participant Posts: 1,430
    edited November 2019 #20

    As you only have to lift the wheel a few inches off the ground, does the other wheel on that side not stay on the ground. I only have a single axle 

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited November 2019 #21

    The rear wheel will have lifted off the floor by the time the front wheel has lifted high enough to be removed. When lifting the rear wheel enough for removal the front might still be touching the ground but it won't be taking any weight.

  • davetommo
    davetommo Forum Participant Posts: 1,430
    edited November 2019 #22

    What about when you only lift it enough to turn it just to line it up for the Alko wheel lock to fit. Sorry if I appear awkward as just curious.

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited November 2019 #23

    Just that ... you lift the caravan just enough that you can turn the wheel to align the receiver with the centre of the space in the wheel as you would if the caravan was being moved to align for the lock.

    But, I have the choice of 3 trolly jacks to use. The cheapest/smallest though was bought to carry with us just incase we ever got a puncture. The 'half' scissor jack that came with the caravan was next to useless and that was only to try it. It's now somewhere in my garage.

  • Unknown
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    edited November 2019 #24
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  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited November 2019 #25

    I like bottle jacks but they tend to be too tall to fit anywhere under the caravan ... especially one with a flat tyre 🤔 Also, as I'm sure you're aware of your working days, they tend to want to lean inwards as the caravan/vehicle goes up

  • Unknown
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    edited November 2019 #26
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  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited November 2019 #27

    The trolly jack I carry is a small, cheap jack from Machine Mart and easily fits the rear foot well of my car. 

  • Cornersteady
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    edited November 2019 #28

    I remember seeing someone on a site, and this must have been around 2000/01, an air jack on their caravan. It was a bag with a hose that went over their car's exhaust and as it inflated the bag lifted the caravan quite easily. Never seen one since. Are they still around?

  • davetommo
    davetommo Forum Participant Posts: 1,430
    edited November 2019 #29

    Do you have the one that only cost £33.59

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited November 2019 #30

    I do ... though I must've had it longer than I thought, or it's gone up in price some what .... I'm sure it was only around £25 when I bought mine. It comes in a carry case & stows nicely in a rear foot well. Not the best jack in the world, but for the money it'll do the job & far better than the scissor jacks

  • Unknown
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    edited November 2019 #31
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