Caravan jack

armourer
armourer Forum Participant Posts: 218
edited February 2020 in Parts & Accessories #1

what type of jack do you use for the caravan when you have a puncture ?

where do you jack up the caravan is it the axle or the chassis

Comments

  • MikeyA
    MikeyA Forum Participant Posts: 1,072
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    edited January 2020 #2

    A few points to consider before spending any money - 

    1) How often do caravan tyres get punctures?

    2) If you did get an offside puncture whilst towing on a motorway or dual carriageway would you attempt to change it?

    3) Are you a member of a breakdown service?

    I actually do carry a small bottle jack for changing a caravan tyre but could only ever see me using in on a site or at our storage. Every other situation I would almost certainly ring the breakdown service.

    My life is too important to take any risk.

     

  • MJ730
    MJ730 Forum Participant Posts: 184
    edited January 2020 #3

    I've got a small trolley jack and have been told to jack on the axle. My service engineer told me under no circumstances jack on the chassis as it will buckle it. The only exception is if you have the Alko or Kojak which have brackets fitted to the chassis.

    Mike

  • redface
    redface Forum Participant Posts: 1,701
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    edited January 2020 #4

    Bearing in mind that a car is usually heavier than the caravan I use the car's scissor jack

    Jack up on the chassis which, if ALCO, would likely have suitable jacking points built in, as it does in my case. Your handbook should advise on this if you have it.

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,142 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2020 #5

    You might find this thread useful, Armourer.

    https://www.caravanclub.co.uk/club-together/discussions/information-technical-tips-advice/caravans/caravan-jack/

     

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
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    edited January 2020 #6

    I never had to change a wheel on mine but when jacking it up I used a bottle jack and a block of wood against the clamping plate of the motor mover assembly. The wood block reduces the risk of anything sliding about.

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited January 2020 #7

    We have the Alko jacking points and Jack has worked ok when trying it but has not so far been used in "anger!"surprised

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited January 2020 #8

    My car's jack is one of those 'half scissor' type & won't fit my caravan wink

  • Tigi
    Tigi Forum Participant Posts: 1,038
    500 Comments
    edited January 2020 #9

    I have had an ALKO scissor jack for over twenty years never had to use it, I also use a tyrepal which is excellent. My idea of "Jack" is a bloke driving a breakdown truck who comes out to fix it for me!

  • Phishing
    Phishing Forum Participant Posts: 597
    500 Comments
    edited January 2020 #10

    I carry a light weight low entry 2 tonne trolley jack.

    Have jacked up on the Alko open ended jack, scary and worrying that this is supplied. When I removed the jacking brackets one had started to fold, again worrying.

    Tried the carajak, marked improvement on the ALKO but not as stable as I would like.

  • Wanderer19TB
    Wanderer19TB Forum Participant Posts: 36
    edited February 2020 #11

    I use the Kojak jack , especially for jacking up the van in winter to spin the wheels. Much better than the Alko jack, where the chassis components bent. 

  • Rayrowe35
    Rayrowe35 Forum Participant Posts: 112
    edited February 2020 #12

    When jacking a car one wheel out of four is normally lifted, for a caravan half the weight is lifted. Check the jack capacity before use and ensure the jack will not slip. Remember a trolley jack needs to move on it’s wheels or the caravan must move.

    Regards,

    Ray.

  • markflip
    markflip Forum Participant Posts: 177
    edited February 2020 #13

    One issue to be aware of with a caravan with a flat tyre is the small clearance available to place the jack under the axle mount/jacking point.  whatever jack you chose, make sure it is 'low' enough - most cheap trolley jacks and bottle jacks wont go under the axle if the tyre is flat. They are also quite heavy t carry permamently.  I bought 

    https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Car-Caravan-Emergency-Ratchet-Scissor-Jack/122183733315?epid=1423626339&hash=item1c72b7d043:g:sb0AAOSwWZVdnf3U

    it has a flat rubber top plate and can be operated by my power drill with the landing legs attachment (or the manual handle) as well as the 'ratchet spanner' handle it came with.

    It does lift the caravan on the drive quite stably although (touch wood) I haven't had a flat tyre to test it 'in the field'.

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