Do you have to have a special caravan jack to change a wheel or can you use a standard sissor jack? We have a small caravan 460kg. We havent had a problem as yet but I like to be prepared just in case.
Is there any websites with the procedure that I can print off to keep?
hi there,been thinking the same. there is 2 on e-bay they are called kojack caravan jack and levelling aid item no is160634028887 and the other 1 is 120761490132.hope this helps u regards geoff.
The Kojack caravan jack is very heavy and bulky, a cheap bottle jack would be adequate for a 460Kg van,you just need to make sure it will lift high enough or carry some fairly substantial wood blocks to raise it.
I had a blow out once and found that the bottle jack i carried was to big in height to get under the axle,i had to pull the van up onto a log that was handy.Make sure whatever jack you use you can get it under the axle if you get puncture etc.
Use one designed for a caravan rather than your car jack. As Jeff commented getting under can be a challenge. I was speaking to a chap who had had this problem and I passed a tip on which he said was stunningly obvious now I mentioned it, but he did not think of it at the time!!! Drag your van up a levelling ramp to raise the flat wheel side of the van so you can pop your jack under it. Personally I use a trolley jack, which is permantly in the car
Phil
------------- If you're not on a fell your wasting your feet and for 2014 it's.......Feb Castleton Mar North Yors Moors; Apr Sutton on Sea; May Thirsk; Jun Clapham/Riverside (Lakes); July Wharfedale; August Crakehall; Sept Knaresborough; Oct Wirral Park/Clitheroe
The Kojak slots into proper mounts on the van chassis, so it is good. Yes its heavy, we put ours in the boot of the car. Al Ko do a jack too, it goes on mounts bolted to the chassis but is a wind up type!
------------- DS-There's more to life than football!!!
Hi, I use a Landrover Discovery bottle jack as these are two stage so the height at its lowest is very short. And well with in the limit of the jack to pick up an axle upto 1.5 tonne, so very stable and safe.
Happy travelling
The Kojack is a good system, but beware - the system requires brackets (provided) to be bolted onto the chassis. According to the makers, all Alko chassis have pre-drilled holes in suitable places - not so; my '95 van does not, so I gave up. there have been a few discussions about the Kojack on here; this is one..
Gram
------------- What's the difference between a chicken?
we carry a scissor jack in the car which will also do the van but to be honest it takes a long time compared to using a trolley jack. When we had a blow out we used "Jack" from green flag as I needed the pick up lorry in the road just to slow the traffic down enough to make changing the wheel safe. As for how to do it. Just the same as changing a car wheel. I put the legs down too in case the jack failed but do not lift using the legs. Fingers crossed you won't need it but we needed ours on our very first trip!