So what is considered the best jack for general use (wheel changing etc) to carry when trying to keep the weight down. We currently have the van supplied scissor jack but was toying with the idea of a compact trolley jack or maybe even air bags. Looking for long term touring so need to try and keep the weight to a minimum though need to keep function very real! Any ideas / experience? The van is rated at 3.8 currently and we may try to increase that a little if possible later on!
Best jack for 2003 Fiat with Alco chassis ?
- Thread starter ianp
- Start date
Boringfrog
Free Member
- Jul 13, 2008
- 3,787
- 4,701
- Funster No
- 3,275
- MH
- Low profile
- Exp
- Since 2007
I have the standard scissor jack in the van plus a cheapish bottle jack and one axle stand.
SteveJ
LIFE MEMBER
I keep a small 4T high lift bottle jack in the MH, one of these: There are loads of them out there but having used SGS products in the past I know they supply good quality items.
Thankfully the supplied scissor jack works on all four wheels on a van conversion and is also man enough to do the job, however, when I had the Burstner I soon found out that the only jack that worked on the rear wheels was a trolly one which was the only one that went low enough. A bottle jack would not fit after a puncture although air bags would.
Thanks for the replies so far guys....the van is a Burstner coach built ! keep 'em coming please!
Subscribers do not see these advertisements
Chipster
LIFE MEMBER
E&P ?. IWGMC.
?????
- Feb 2, 2015
- 2,322
- 7,341
- Funster No
- 34,975
- MH
- Nowt!
- Exp
- Learning to appreciate what time we have left
Hydraulic fitted on the truck....Bloody marvellous but a fortune to fit!
I have always only used a trolley jack 'all round' on my Alko chassis.
Would never 'trust' the original supplied scissor jack.
Would never 'trust' the original supplied scissor jack.
Subscribers do not see these advertisements
Mine is just a Ducato PVC. I used the stock scissor jack a couple of times and it felt really sketchy with a loaded van. I'm now carrying a long-throw 6t bottle jack that's got a screw-top so you're not wasting any of it's reach. You need as much reach as you can get as the suspension droops quite a long way. Depending on which part of the chassis I want to jack-up, I'm finding the required height can vary quite a bit, or the ground isn't that firm, so I also carry a wooden platform that's just a stack of plywood screwed together that I can sit the bottle jack on if I need it.
Bottle jacks aren't as light as a scissor, but the are lighter than a trolley and a lot smaller. Just make sure it has enough reach!
Bottle jacks aren't as light as a scissor, but the are lighter than a trolley and a lot smaller. Just make sure it has enough reach!
TheBig1
Deceased RIP
- Nov 27, 2011
- 17,851
- 44,374
- Funster No
- 19,048
- MH
- A class
- Exp
- many many years! since I was a kid
IWGMC = It's what gave me crabs
TheBig1
Deceased RIP
- Nov 27, 2011
- 17,851
- 44,374
- Funster No
- 19,048
- MH
- A class
- Exp
- many many years! since I was a kid
a german based breakdown company like RAC or AA
Subscribers do not see these advertisements
Whatever jack that you end up with don’t forget to try it after you have let the air out of a tyre to see if it will really work at the side of the road.
I used ADAC in Germany for a broken valve on a wheel and he had an airbag type of jack which unfortunately had a leak so he borrowed my trolly jack.
It's the best breakdown company in Europe
Ahhh the penny has dropped!
Insurance with breakdown cover only heavy on the wallet!
Subscribers do not see these advertisements
For recovery and tyre changes I rely on call outs. I don't pay for AA or RAC anymore as in 11 years never needed them.
Had one puncture where I couldn't drive, it cost me around £10 more to get someone to come out and replace the tyre for me.
New van broke down and wouldn't start due to knackered start motor. Local garage towed it for me.
With the money I have saved over the last 11 years I am still quids in. I now look at it like I do electronic extended warranty/insurance, I never bother.
The only time I would buy recovery cover is if I was travelling abroad... But I would buy that specifically for the event.
Had one puncture where I couldn't drive, it cost me around £10 more to get someone to come out and replace the tyre for me.
New van broke down and wouldn't start due to knackered start motor. Local garage towed it for me.
With the money I have saved over the last 11 years I am still quids in. I now look at it like I do electronic extended warranty/insurance, I never bother.
The only time I would buy recovery cover is if I was travelling abroad... But I would buy that specifically for the event.
me too i only buy it for abroad but i have partner plus which covers all our cars anywhere in europe and any vehicles we happen to be in and a cetain amount of health cover and all for 114 euros
Join us or log in to post a reply.
To join in you must be a member of MotorhomeFun
Join MotorhomeFun
Join us, it quick and easy!
Log in
Already a member? Log in here.