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Hi Folks,

Just noticed that I need to replace the nearside wheel with my spare one.  Would a simple trolley jack suffice for a caravan?

Currently the van is on my driveway which has a slight slope.  Is it ok to jack the van up without hitching it too the car?  I read in another thread that sometime the van can twist if it's not hitched up to the car.

And finally (!), is it possible to use a trolley jack on the chassis?  Or do I need to apply the jack onto the axle?  I'm struggling to work out how i'd get the trolley jack under the van to apply the jack onto the axle.

Thanks in advance of any comments!  I don't want to damage the van by doing something I'm not supposed to.

Gareth

If its an AlKo chassis they recommend lifting using the axle not chassis members. Attaching it to the car will give you an extra safety margin if the van does decide to move.

David

Thanks for the feedback folks - appreciated.

However I've read that some of the jacks (like the Alko jack and the Kojack) attach to the chassis.  If this is the case then why couldn't I use the trolley jack to jack up the chassis?  I have access to a trolley jack but the prospect of crawling under the van to jack up the axle is not appealing!

Gareth

the two jacks you mentioned have a very strong bracket each side of the chassis member.like L  shaped opposed to each other.these are bolted through with two bolts.i suppose if you had the brackets fitted then you could use this top lift.

similar to this

view large image

Michael,

Thanks for the info and the pictures.  I'm certainly more of a picture person so your input has helped!

However I wonder if there is a way that I can apply the trolley jack to the chassis?

I would of thought the approved chassis jacking plate, when bolted in place, gives extra strength to the chassis. The chassis isn't intended to take point loading and it could cause it to crush/bend/distort.

What I have done is obtain a couple of pieces of 1/4" stainless steel  plate, and bolted it to the chassis. Then if I need to jack the 'van up to change a wheel, I place the jack under this steel plate. It looks like the orange kojack bracket in the piccy above but mine was free of charge from a local engineering company.

Chaz

Quote: Originally posted by Surfer01 on 17/3/2009

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Michael thanks for the pictures, but in the event you are dealing with a twin axle caravan, is there a practical place to fit the plates where they can be accessed relatively easily?

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Sorry if this is a bit of a 'hijack', but we have the Kojack and can thoroughly recommend it.

However, how is it used to level the van? Surely by jacking the van up using the supplied brackets the axle is free to move on the suspension, so when you 'drop' the van back down onto levelling ramps it will still be lopsided? Or am I being completely thick?? Or is it just a matter of trial & error?

Apologies again for this being slightly 'off thread'.

regards