Alko Drop Jacks
Submitted: Tuesday, Aug 25, 2009 at 10:05
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garytee
I am down-sizing my Jayco Swan to a Dove due to family not wishing to come with us anymore.
I have ordered it with Alko drop jacks but probably should have asked members for their opinions first.
If anyone has opinions on the drop-jacks, could you please post your
views?
Thank you.
Reply By: Member - Fred B (NT) - Tuesday, Aug 25, 2009 at 10:45
Tuesday, Aug 25, 2009 at 10:45
re any like "drop bears"..... (: lol...
all the best with the home on
wheels..
AnswerID:
380406
Follow Up By: Member - Fred B (NT) - Tuesday, Aug 25, 2009 at 10:46
Tuesday, Aug 25, 2009 at 10:46
sorry... fingers are not working this morning
should read: are they anything like "drop bears" lol...
FollowupID:
647738
Reply By: Member - Wim (Qld) - Tuesday, Aug 25, 2009 at 12:47
Tuesday, Aug 25, 2009 at 12:47
garytee
Alko jacks are on a camper we had for some time. Many dusty roads, mud and
water.
No problems to report.
regards
AnswerID:
380414
Reply By: landed eagle - Tuesday, Aug 25, 2009 at 13:03
Tuesday, Aug 25, 2009 at 13:03
I've just gone from a '94 Eagle with wind down legs to an Expanda outback with drop down jacks. The new ones are far easier to set up........not that I do it,that's my 12yr olds job.
AnswerID:
380418
Follow Up By: garytee - Tuesday, Aug 25, 2009 at 13:56
Tuesday, Aug 25, 2009 at 13:56
How do they attach to the van? Do they protrude? Does the van still come with the traditional wind-downs or just the Alko's?
Thank you for your responses.
FollowupID:
647760
Follow Up By: landed eagle - Tuesday, Aug 25, 2009 at 14:34
Tuesday, Aug 25, 2009 at 14:34
Just has the Alkos. When folded up they sit right up under the floor of the van beside the chassis rails. No frame-work protrudes below them when folded.Pull out a double barrelled pin and the whole assembly swings down and locks,then wind the leg down like a telescope. Nice big foot on the end too.
Having had the others,if I was ordering another new van I'd specify the drop downs. Considering my van is only 6 months old it'll be a while before I think about it again.
cheers.
FollowupID:
647765
Reply By: piddlefimp - Tuesday, Aug 25, 2009 at 16:09
Tuesday, Aug 25, 2009 at 16:09
I've had the drop down jacks on both my new vans (Viscount 04) (Lotus Sprint 07) the only problem I've had is when parked on an uneven site the leg will not come down far enough to be of any use, at times like these I use my Super Cheap trolly jack to act as a leg.
I've never had the wind down jacks but I can see on uneven sites the wind down type might have the advantage.
piddlefimp
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Pacer59 - Tuesday, Aug 25, 2009 at 17:54
Tuesday, Aug 25, 2009 at 17:54
Agree with above. I have a new van (1 year old) with the drop down jacks and they are a pain if the ground slopes from front to back (or vice versa) and the 2 jacks at the lower end won't lock down. They need to drop down about 30 degrees before the locking pin will engage, otherwise that end cannot be stabilised. My old van with the wind down jacks was much easier to stabilise on any site.
Only way I got around this was to dig a hole at the bottom end of the jack to allow it to drop down far enough for the locking pin to engage. OK if soft ground but a pain in some of the rocky sites around WA. Only other way is a couple of wind up caravan jack stands.
Pacer
FollowupID:
647798
Reply By: Ted G - Tuesday, Aug 25, 2009 at 17:53
Tuesday, Aug 25, 2009 at 17:53
Hi Garry
I have had Alko jacks for a number of years on a couple of caravans would not go back to wind down again.
Only problem this trip was that one of the pins that hold the bevel gear onto the upright shaft bleep tered and the leg dropped out lucky when we were stopped, a real pain to replace, used a small bolt and nut instead of the pin.
When I get the van home I will get some spare cerll pins.
If on uneven ground use the plastic bases that you use on the wind down jacks or the trusty 4x2 packing that should always be carried in the van.
Regards
Ted
AnswerID:
380462
Follow Up By: Member - Johny boy (NSW) - Tuesday, Aug 25, 2009 at 20:34
Tuesday, Aug 25, 2009 at 20:34
I agree with you ted, I have never had a problem as they can be dropped on an angle if straight up and down is not an option and then wind the rest till it meets the ground,going back to those flimsy wind downs will be a BIG step backwards as far as I'm concerned .
FollowupID:
647820
Reply By: Rodge - Tuesday, Aug 25, 2009 at 21:58
Tuesday, Aug 25, 2009 at 21:58
We have Alko jacks on our Outback Dove. Found that they need to be set at an angle (like the wind down jacks ) to effectively stabilise the camper. The vertical position allowed too much movement for us. The angle set up is not a problem unless on sloping ground when you can run out of extension - then we use blocks or go vertical. The angle set up does require more winding because the front alkos need to be wound up far enough to swing back towards the rear - the front chassis cross member stops them being swung up to the forward locking position. At the rear, in the lock position they extend back out behind the bumper unless wound a fair way in. I've never had the standard wind down supports, so can't comment on differences. Enjoy the Dove.Cheers.
AnswerID:
380491