Message Forums

It baffles me why people with impressive qualifications and presumeably a comfortable salary get employed by the caravan industry. For instance why do they fit the spare wheel cradle so as the wheel has to come out right behind the nearside wheel? Wouldn`t it make more sense to have the cradle lying fore and aft and the spare could then be slid out the back. This way it wouldn`t matter which side was jacked up, getting the wheel out would be simple. Another gripe is about the floor on my Bailey Pageant Majestic. It is intalled so that it doesn`t actually sit on the caravan floor. In my case someone with presumeably stilletto heels split the floor. I tried to repair this using expanding foam but used too much and now I have a bevelled floor!!!!!!!!

.

The spare wheel can't really go at the back, because of pendulum effect. The best place for it would be in a floor locker inside the caravan.  Some maker used to do this, but I can't remember who it was.

You can check the tyre pressure easily and get it when you want it, without lying in puddles.

Jim

If you are a member of the Camping & Caravanning Club then why don't you write to their Forum section as I think that the cradle is a valid point actually and it might just get published. Regarding the shower tray, then that's just down to an individual being a bit ignorant as to what appropriate footwear is required which can be avoided with just a bit of plain common sense.

I think it maybe Compass Caravans that designed the spare wheel to go under the floor as I can remember looking inside a Rallye 460 model a couple of years ago. Also, I think it makes sense what was said about the spare at the rear creating the pendulum effect as I consider that this is exactly what would happen so under the floor is the ideal place I think.

Quote: Originally posted by Jocko on 11/4/2011

---

It baffles me why people with impressive qualifications and presumeably a comfortable salary get employed by the caravan industry. For instance why do they fit the spare wheel cradle so as the wheel has to come out right behind the nearside wheel? Wouldn`t it make more sense to have the cradle lying fore and aft and the spare could then be slid out the back. This way it wouldn`t matter which side was jacked up, getting the wheel out would be simple. Another gripe is about the floor on my Bailey Pageant Majestic. It is intalled so that it doesn`t actually sit on the caravan floor. In my case someone with presumeably stilletto heels split the floor. I tried to repair this using expanding foam but used too much and now I have a bevelled floor!!!!!!!!

.

 

---

Finding this a problem when pulling out the spare in ideal conditions just to check it, I emailed Coachman about the design, and said that I was trying to produce my own design to pull out from the rear. I think they referred the matter on to Al-ko, but I heard no more.  I have not yet come up with a method of doing the modification without drilling the chassis.

Not only is the current design bad, as you say, but you are faced with being in a traffic lane if you need to do a wheel change when in the EU.  I overcame this by making my carrier reversible, but it doesn't solve everything.  Either way, get up against a kerb or verge and you won't get that wheel out from under the van.

Bertie.

Whilst the AlKo carrier is not the ideal solution it does one important thing and that is remove weight from the front of the caravan thus reducing noseweight. It would be better for the wheel to exit at the rear but that would require at least one extra chassis member to hold it in place. I have voted with my feet and now store the spare wheel under the fixed bed and I can get to it either from under the bed or via a locker on the outside. I have removed the carrier to save weight.

David

Quote: Originally posted by The 2 Tops on 11/4/2011

---

...  I have not yet come up with a method of doing the modification without drilling the chassis.

---

This is not really the subject of this thread but it is related.

Has anyone with a twin axle had a puncture in one wheel.  If so, is it possible to run the other wheel up your levelling ramp to make access to the Al-Ko carrier easier?

Fortunately I haven't had the need to try it but have it in mind just in case. 

Any thoughts would be appreciated

DaveS1