Levelling a van with an Alko Wheel lock

traore
traore Forum Participant Posts: 8
edited July 2020 in Caravans #1

Trying to level the van whilst aligning the lock with the receiver can be problematic. A simple solution that I use successfully is. Obtain 3 metre length of 145 mm wide decking. Cut into 8. Place on piece in front of wheel and using motor mover move van forward. Check level. Stack 2 pieces behind wheel and reverse van onto. Check level. Stack 3 pieces in front of van and move van forward. Repeat process until van level and wheel lock aligned. If you want to keep weight down use 32mm spade drill and drill lots of holes in the pieces. 

Comments

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited July 2020 #2

    I find my method simpler. Position van and align wheel lock reciever position.Put your timber block alongside wheel to raise to mark the position. Move van forward, put block in place and reverse onto block. I use a number of 18'' long blocks. I carry thee 6 x 3 pieces of pressure treated fence posts and about five 4 x 1.5 pressure treated fence rails. Our motor mover on the last 3 vans have been capable of climbing the 3'' step. If I want 4.5'' lift I run onto a 3'' block placed in front of the initial block and place  a 1.5'' block on top of the final block. Works for me. Greatest lift I have required was 7.5'' at Sandringham CMC

  • flatcoat
    flatcoat Forum Participant Posts: 1,571
    1000 Comments
    edited July 2020 #3

    I use a far simpler method, i avoid using the Alko wheel lock and insure with a company that doesn't need them. 

  • lornalou1
    lornalou1 Forum Participant Posts: 2,169
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    edited July 2020 #4

    I just use the Nemisis wheel lock, fits wherever the wheel position is. 

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited July 2020 #5

    I find the alko wheel lock easy to use and choose not to use a hitch lock  laughing

  • traore
    traore Forum Participant Posts: 8
    edited July 2020 #6

    Once you have done it a couple of times you can look at the bubble on the level and know how many planks needed thus doing it in one go. You can put lines on the level representing planks. 

  • eurortraveller
    eurortraveller Club Member Posts: 6,829 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2020 #7

    I think that if I felt I really needed wheel locks I might get something simpler. 

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,142 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2020 #8

    Yep, never worth the hassle. We gave up the discount on our insurance and stopped doing battle with the abomination. It was well worth a few quid extra on the insurance not to have to fit them.

  • Vulcan
    Vulcan Forum Participant Posts: 670
    edited July 2020 #9

    Must be up there as one of the worst designed caravan accessories ever.

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited July 2020 #10
    The user and all related content has been Deleted User
  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited July 2020 #11

    I've said it before and .........

    We are all different. I did away with the hitch clamp on my policy and retained the Alko wheel lock as I find it so easy to use laughing

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,142 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2020 #12

    It was a T/A cvan with the early incarnation of the Alko wheel lock.

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited July 2020 #13

    Not ideal then to use two Alko wheel locks but some single axle users don't like them. I wouldn't fancy faffing without a motormover. With one I find them easy.

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,303 ✭✭✭
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    edited July 2020 #14

    We also didn't have any real problem with it (single axle) and the discount on our CAMC insurance was worth having. They didn't give any for a hitch lock, so I assume the Alko wheel lock was seen as more of a deterant.

    The only real issue occurred when putting it away in storage. Positioning was critical and occasionally the receiver would end up in the hole with the tyre valve. Usually when it was raining.😂

  • hitchglitch
    hitchglitch Forum Participant Posts: 3,007
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    edited July 2020 #15

    I always thought that the insurance requirement related to vans in storage and that for brief absences for a few hours there was no requirement to fit a security device. The risk of theft from a site must be extremely low anyway. I never bothered with the wheel lock when touring.

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