Jacking up a caravan?

[gerrymoore]

We bought as small (14 foot) 2 berth caravan. Only used it once and found it 'heavy' to pull so I want to give the brakes and bearings a good check over. All the you tube vids (bar one in Australia!!) say the van has to be attached to the cars tow bar before jacking up one wheel as the van wants to 'roll' around the jockey wheel. The Australian guy suggests putting an axle stand under the front (where the tow bar fits) then pulling up the jockey wheel and chocking the opposite wheel to the one you are jacking up.

It's very awkward to get the van on the car on the drive to work on, so my idea is to make a steel X frame with a centre pole fitted with a towball to hold the front of the van steady, jack the other wheel and work on the other ....is this feasible and/or safe ?

I've attached a very bad drawing ........ anyone had an experience ??

 

[Robotstar5]

What about winding down the stabilisers on the side opposite the side you want to work on?

 

[CompoSimmonite]

I never had a problem jacking up my old caravan. Just make sure the opposite wheel is chocked securely and only go high enough for the wheel you are removing leaves the ground. Putting corner jacks down AFTER you have jacked up - not before as you might then bend them

 

[bert]

I have a twin axle so need to jack it up to fit both the wheel locks but it has a fitted jacking point on the chassis.

I've just jacked up where the axle mounts to the chassis on a single before.

A 14ft caravan must weigh next to nothing so just put the stabilisers down, chock the wheel and jack it up.

 

[skotl]

I had to remove my neighbours caravan wheels for him so he could take them to have the tyres replaced.

Must admit I never even thought about any complexities - put the stabilisers down and then wound them up slightly as I removed each wheel. All seemed very easy but maybe I was lucky

 

[gerrymoore]

Thanks guys ... I'll have a go as suggested (carefully) !!! Watch this space for updates .... when the rain stops

 

[fixedfixer]

I usually have the boat on its trailer with four axle stands. One under each side of axle and one under hitch the remaining one under rear of trailer. Seems quite stable and keeps wheels off ground when not in use. Wheel changes on route, always kept it hitched to car.

 

[armalites]

Given the tow coupling rotates I cannot see how having it connected to a vehicle makes it that much more stable than having the jockey wheel down. If they were that prone to tipping over then even a pothole would cause an issue.

Obviously if you decide to try and get the wheel 3 foot off the floor things may be an issue.

 

[Chippie]

I normally Jack my van up at the end of the season and remove the wheels to prevent the tyres degrading over winter. Jacking the van up each side at a time, remove wheel, place concrete block under chassis, repeat for other side, corner steadies are lowered just to take the weight…Worked for me..ymmv..

 

[slim_boy_fat]

All seemed very easy but maybe I was lucky

Nah, skill and judgement.

 

[gerrymoore]

Thanks again lads ..I must say I was just going to jack it up and - then -made the mistake of looking at you tube vids with dire warnings not to!!! I only want the wheel high enough to remove so I can check brakes and bearings ... as said, if the other wheel is securely chocked either side then I can't see how the van would, or could, move?? I have 3 trolley jacks and axle stands so should be safe enough

 

[CKJDJK]

Have a look at Kojack particularly the adaptor that fits the pre drilled holes in the chassis behind the axle. I made a copy and use an old scissor jack witha bolt and washer "pin" on top. The pin fits a hole in the bottom of the barcket and prevents the jack slipping. I use it when doing the brakes but also as a leveling jack accross the axle when on sites. Saves the use of blocks, ramps etc. I used it on the M6 to change a wheel after a blow out, took less than ten minutes. Quicker than a tow truck.

 

[bert]

The Kojack is what I have on my van, makes it easy to jack up.