|
26/1/2014 at 8:12pm
Location: Norfolk
Outfit: None Entered
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 03/5/2006 Platinum Member 
Forum Posts: 1153
| Site Reviews Total: | 17 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 0 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 0 |
|
At the mo our spare wheel lives on the caravan floor over the axle apart from when we are on site and put it in the car boot. I've been looking into alternatives as we are going to be taking bikes in the caravan but can only find the alko wheel carrier which seems to have a lot of problems associated with it. Any other suggestions.? I've read some people have it in the front locker but won't hadn't make the nose weight too heavy, or do you counter balance it with weight behind the axle?
-------------
From tents to trailer tents to a tin tent to an air tent to trailer tent and back to tin tent!
|
26/1/2014 at 8:28pm
Location: Lichfield
Outfit: Coachman Amara 450
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 15/5/2008 Diamond Member 
Forum Posts: 9588
| Site Reviews Total: | 23 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 3 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 1 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 4 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 11 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 3 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 24 |
|
As far as I'm aware, people only have problems with the Alko spare wheel carrier when they independently have a motor mover fitted on the rear side of the caravan tyres instead of the front which this then restricts access to the wheel carrier. A spare wheel and tyre is somewhat heavy and storing it in the front locker does most definitely cause noseweight issues even when the older caravans were designed to carry the spare in the locker. Any reputable caravan service company should be able to determine whether your caravan can be fitted with an Alko spare wheel carrier or not.
|
| Discounted Insurance Quotes for UKCampsite.co.uk visitors! Up to 12.5% off! |
|
|
|
26/1/2014 at 8:42pm
Location: Midlands
Outfit: Mondeo Avondale Gram
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 11/5/2008 Diamond Member
Forum Posts: 6893
| Site Reviews Total: | 2 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 0 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 0 |
|
Do you know what your current noseweight is? Whats the cars max limit?
I changed my 4.5kg gas bottle to a 7kg one and added the spare to the front locker to bring my caravans noseweight closer to the 75kg limit on my car.
Unladen the noseweight is quite low. So no issues. It helped bring the noseweight to a touch over 70kg which makes it more stable to tow.
|
26/1/2014 at 10:35pm
Location: West Mids
Outfit: Swift Ace Statesman & X-Trail 2.0
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 22/9/2008 Diamond Member
Forum Posts: 2617
| Site Reviews Total: | 11 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 0 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 0 |
|
Just to add to Tango's reply, folk also suffer issues with the Al-ko bracket if they fail to consider basic maintenance of the carrier.
The system is telescopic and can seize, but occasional application of coppersil or similar will ensure proper, trouble free use.
Thankfully I've not had to make use of my spare personally, but a friend got severely caught out at New Year when he ruptured two tyres on his twin axle; he used my spare and I had absolutely no problem in removing it from the carrier.
-------------
Paul
Every day's a school day!
|
26/1/2014 at 10:47pm
Location: Norfolk
Outfit: None Entered
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 03/5/2006 Platinum Member
Forum Posts: 1153
| Site Reviews Total: | 17 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 0 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 0 |
|
Nose weight of car is 100kg, our previous car was 75kg and even with little other than basic equipment we were having problems getting our nose weight less than 80. We changed car so we could make use of the full payload and still be under 85% ratio. we still have approx 90kg left, having just had a motor mover fitted. So could get a wheel carrier fitted (good to hear some positive things about it), put bikes inside and be able to pack our clothes and towels etc in.
-------------
From tents to trailer tents to a tin tent to an air tent to trailer tent and back to tin tent!
|
27/1/2014 at 7:45pm
Location: Kent Coast
Outfit: Adria Action + Xtrail
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 08/6/2003 Diamond Member
Forum Posts: 1702
| Site Reviews Total: | 17 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 0 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 0 |
|
If you are stowing the spare in the car boot whilst on site, why not do the same when towing? In our Bailey owning days my spare lived in the shed at home till we went away, then was put in the back of the car. The Alko carrier was fine and certainly no issues in conjunction with a Powertouch mover, but, in the event of a puncture, could visualise probs getting it off the carrier so low to the ground with a deflated tyre. Easy option, carry it in the boot. As luck would have it, never had to use it and the spare on the current van, Adria, is stowed under a front bench seat but accessible from an exterior locker door. Much better idea............Mick
|
27/1/2014 at 8:47pm
Location: Blackburn Lancashire
Outfit: Coachman Laser 650 and Discovery
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 06/2/2009 Diamond Member
Forum Posts: 2137
| Site Reviews Total: | 0 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 0 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 0 |
|
Still need to watch your rear axle loading though. Weight in the boot can soon bring problems if you aren't careful.
Jim
|
28/1/2014 at 2:39pm
Location: Kent Coast
Outfit: Adria Action + Xtrail
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 08/6/2003 Diamond Member
Forum Posts: 1702
| Site Reviews Total: | 17 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 0 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 0 |
|
Quote: Originally posted by Greendemon315 on 27/1/2014
Still need to watch your rear axle loading though. Weight in the boot can soon bring problems if you aren't careful.
Jim
Very true Jim, am sure the op said they have a 100kgs allowance as I do myself (Xtrail). I think many remove weight from the front of the van and chuck it in the boot, which rather defeats the object. As there are only two of us I'm inclined to use the rear seat and seat wells to endeavour to spread between front and rear suspension. Too much in the boot with a van hanging on the hook can make for poor traction with a front wd and the steering somewhat feathery...........Mick
|
29/1/2014 at 1:02am
Location: Lichfield
Outfit: Coachman Amara 450
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 15/5/2008 Diamond Member
Forum Posts: 9588
| Site Reviews Total: | 23 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 3 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 1 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 4 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 11 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 3 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 24 |
|
Quoted by 'mickeyb': The Alko carrier was fine and certainly no issues in conjunction with a Powertouch mover, but, in the event of a puncture, could visualise probs getting it off the carrier so low to the ground with a deflated tyre. Easy option, carry it in the boot.
_______________________________________________
Depending on which side you have a puncture but if it's the door side then the simple solution is to pull that side of the caravan up on to one of your levelling ramps then access to the spare wheel carrier doesn't become a problem.
|
30/1/2014 at 2:42pm
Location: Kent Coast
Outfit: Adria Action + Xtrail
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 08/6/2003 Diamond Member
Forum Posts: 1702
| Site Reviews Total: | 17 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 0 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 0 |
|
Running up a ramp or a trolley jack under the chassis member is the obvious solution but really don't consider it should be required. Avondale had an interior underfloor locker for the spare which I always considered a good idea, tho access could be buried with other tackle stowed for transit. Maybe a rear locker would be a good innovation, with access via the rear panel where the reg plate is mounted. then again there is always the danger of becoming tail heavy, maybe not such a good idea ! Depends on the outfit and the amount of rubbish you cart around with you.............Mick
|
30/1/2014 at 2:59pm
Location: Norfolk
Outfit: None Entered
View Profile
Reply
Quote
|
Joined: 03/5/2006 Platinum Member
Forum Posts: 1153
| Site Reviews Total: | 17 |
|
| Site Reviews 2025: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2024: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2023: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2022: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2021: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2020: | 0 |
| Site Reviews 2019: | 0 |
|
| Site Nights 2025: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2024: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2023: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2022: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2021: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2020: | 0 |
| Site Nights 2019: | 0 |
|
I think putting it in the boot is prob the solution for us (so simple why didn't we think of it?!) the wheel and light stuff eg coats should be fine in the boot and then load our gear which would have been in the boot into the caravan, which is after all where we want it to be. Just trying to get used to it all as first trip had to keep caravan as light as possible then second trip we'd had a different car with ample weight allowance. As it's in storage we tend to put clothes and food in the boot but I can easily pop down earlier in the day to load them in.
-------------
From tents to trailer tents to a tin tent to an air tent to trailer tent and back to tin tent!
|
|
Topic: Spare wheel
