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I just recently bought a brand new Bailey Pegasus Bologna, and while i am impressed with it so far in general, I do have a bit of a gripe about the Alko wheel locks it was supplied with.

I know that many of you will know what's coming (probably be smirking already), but I was actually quite impressed that they are supplied as standard. As this is a twin axle caravan, they even give you two of them which is nice. What I am not impressed with is the fact that they don't supply a jack with the caravan, so it is impossible to fit them both as supplied. I can fit the first by moving the van but the second wheel needs jacking up in order to fit the lock.

I don't have a problem with the fact that you need to jack the caravan up, but I think it's pretty daft that they supply locks that can't be used. I can't even get a cheapo bottle jack because the chassis isn't strong enough unless I buy additional brackets, and Alko want to charge £90 a set for the twin axle brackets.

Thankfully I haven't bothered with motor movers, I am gradually getting the hang of reversing. I can't understand why Alko would make their chassis without a built in jacking point. What happens if you have a puncture? You can't even use your jack supplied with your car without risking damaging the chassis.

I contacted bailey who forwarded my question on to Alko, and there response is that they recommend that you move the caravan forwards or backwards to line up the front wheel for the first lock and then jack it up to fit the second one on the back wheel.

I am not too bothered about the fact that I have to jack the thing up in order to fit them, but I am a bit annoyed that I have to buy extra equipment in order to use them. I think I will get a kojack rather than buy anything more from Alko.

"The worst thing is if you are on a slope and the hitch compresses and puts the brakes on"

Never thought of that. Do the wheels not turn backwards when the hitch is compressed (as they would if you are reversing)?

I can just imagine arriving on site, reverse caravan on to pitch (with the acompanying swearing), put on wheel locks (more swearing), put up awning (divorce procedings initiated).

Quote: Originally posted by hugorune1965 on 22/6/2012

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"The worst thing is if you are on a slope and the hitch compresses and puts the brakes on"

Never thought of that. Do the wheels not turn backwards when the hitch is compressed (as they would if you are reversing)?

I can just imagine arriving on site, reverse caravan on to pitch (with the acompanying swearing), put on wheel locks (more swearing), put up awning (divorce procedings initiated).

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Our Pegasus 1 came with the al-ko jack and the lock as standard.

 I removed the jack brackets and replaced them with our ko-jack ones.

 The Al -KO is a wind up jack. I prefer the hydraulic version.Ido not trust basic screw jacks! 

 We also have a hydraulic bottle jack in our car boot ( standard on first generation Sorento) plus a 10 tonne bottle jack (from our old Land Rover-cheap to buy in Machine Mart)

Thinking about selling the Al-ko stuff on e-bay or keep it in case we change the van!

Quote: Originally posted by 664DaveS on 22/6/2012

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Our Pegasus 1 came with the al-ko jack and the lock as standard.

 I removed the jack brackets and replaced them with our ko-jack ones.

 The Al -KO is a wind up jack. I prefer the hydraulic version.Ido not trust basic screw jacks! 

 We also have a hydraulic bottle jack in our car boot ( standard on first generation Sorento) plus a 10 tonne bottle jack (from our old Land Rover-cheap to buy in Machine Mart)

Thinking about selling the Al-ko stuff on e-bay or keep it in case we change the van!

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