Hi Everyone, We need to buy some kind of jack in case of a flat tyre. Our chassis on the caravan is 3 and a half ton. we have heard of a jockey wheel that is on a plate and some kind of jack. can anyone recommend a good one. thanks.
done dreaming said
08:07 PM Dec 4, 2014
Its a Trailamate. We have one and they are great
Les
JohnR said
08:59 PM Dec 4, 2014
We also have been using a trailamate since 2010. With our previous van Jayco 21' sterling (2.5t) worked a charm and no issues. However we have had issues with our updated Sterling outback being 3ton and much higher. The outer shaft will bend when unhooking the tug from the van if not in alignment or moves with uneven ground. We have replaced 2 shafts at a cost of $55 each time with the original unit cost $400-.
I would not recommend using the trailamate as a jack. I have been advised by members on this forum to carry a 5t bottle jack.
Jayco provide a whizz bang jack with there Outback models I think due to the height.
Information only and still love my trailamate utilized as jockey wheel only.
Not only a jack with which you don't have to try to crawl under your van in the event of a flat it also is an excellent jocky wheel.
Cheers Neil
hako said
09:21 PM Dec 4, 2014
Trail-a-mate only has WLL 1,000kg / ATM 2,900kg whereas the rocket's van is over 3 1/2 tonnes. (I don't really understand what WLL means but ATM I understand)
done dreaming said
09:26 PM Dec 4, 2014
My van is also over 3 tonnes but i have never had a problem
Les
PeterD said
10:32 PM Dec 4, 2014
hako wrote:
(I don't really understand what WLL means but ATM I understand)
Thanks Peter, so does that mean the Trail-a-mate can only only lift 1000kg safely? - if so then would it lift one side of a 3.5 tonne caravan?
Regards
PeterD said
10:43 PM Dec 4, 2014
hako wrote:
Trail-a-mate only has WLL 1,000kg / ATM 2,900kg whereas the rocket's van is over 3 1/2 tonnes.
What he actually said is "Our chassis on the caravan is 3 and a half ton." That was probably taken from the chassis manufacturers plate. The figure we really want is the ATM from the compliance plate. When you figure out the size van the Trail-A-Mate will handle you have to subtract the ball weight from the loaded weight. You then have to remember the lifting points are well behind the wheels. You can thus lift a bit more than half the weight on the wheels as you have the lever effect of that extra length from the coupling. No doubt Norm would have been reckoning that the van will have a 10% ball weight when he was working out the maximum ATM for the van. If you have one of the new vans with less than 10% ball weight you will have to factor the extra weight the ball is not carrying when you lift the van.
hako said
11:21 PM Dec 4, 2014
PeterD wrote:
SNIP
What he actually said is "Our chassis on the caravan is 3 and a half ton." That was probably taken from the chassis manufacturers plate. The figure we really want is the ATM from the compliance plate. When you figure out the size van the Trail-A-Mate will handle you have to subtract the ball weight from the loaded weight. You then have to remember the lifting points are well behind the wheels. You can thus lift a bit more than half the weight on the wheels as you have the lever effect of that extra length from the coupling. No doubt Norm would have been reckoning that the van will have a 10% ball weight when he was working out the maximum ATM for the van. If you have one of the new vans with less than 10% ball weight you will have to factor the extra weight the ball is not carrying when you lift the van.
Again thanks Peter, I apologise for questioning this but I had a good mate in Townsville who was killed when his scissor jack collapsed whilst working under his car. The scissor jack was the one supplied with the vehicle from the factory and the coroner said the jack in question was "fit for service". If a Trail-a-mate only has a WLL of 1000kg and you are lifting a corner of a van weighing 3500kg especially on a slope then I'd say you'd be sailing close to the wind. You may not be working under the van but if they drop they can drop sideways.
That's just my opinion however and I know others have only had good experiences with them.
Regards
Mike196 said
09:45 AM Dec 5, 2014
There is a 2 Tonne rated Tail-A-Mate jack available for heavier Vans. (Painted blue)
Regards,
Mike.
the rocket said
10:55 AM Dec 5, 2014
hako wrote:
PeterD wrote:
SNIP
What he actually said is "Our chassis on the caravan is 3 and a half ton." That was probably taken from the chassis manufacturers plate. The figure we really want is the ATM from the compliance plate. When you figure out the size van the Trail-A-Mate will handle you have to subtract the ball weight from the loaded weight. You then have to remember the lifting points are well behind the wheels. You can thus lift a bit more than half the weight on the wheels as you have the lever effect of that extra length from the coupling. No doubt Norm would have been reckoning that the van will have a 10% ball weight when he was working out the maximum ATM for the van. If you have one of the new vans with less than 10% ball weight you will have to factor the extra weight the ball is not carrying when you lift the van.
Again thanks Peter, I apologise for questioning this but I had a good mate in Townsville who was killed when his scissor jack collapsed whilst working under his car. The scissor jack was the one supplied with the vehicle from the factory and the coroner said the jack in question was "fit for service". If a Trail-a-mate only has a WLL of 1000kg and you are lifting a corner of a van weighing 3500kg especially on a slope then I'd say you'd be sailing close to the wind. You may not be working under the van but if they drop they can drop sideways.
That's just my opinion however and I know others have only had good experiences with them.
Regards
Hi Hako, so sorry to hear of your friend. thankyou for your input. strop has asked "can we get a hydrolic version of a bottle jack big enough to take our van". thanks rocket n strop
Ontos45 said
04:26 PM Dec 5, 2014
On my single axle Millard, 1800kg, I had an RSJ that fitted the tongue on my High Lift jack welded across the frame rear of the axle. Worked a treat.
TAJ said
04:46 PM Dec 5, 2014
with a trailmate you are only jacking the side of
the van near the wheels you are not lifting the
WHOLE CARAVAN OFF THE GROUND
TAJ
D and D said
12:19 AM Dec 6, 2014
I asked the guy who services our van about trailer mate systems and he reckoned that he got a lot of money from repairing vans that had slipped off their trailer mate when using it to jack up one side of the van to change a flat - the jack then spears the side of the van. Bottle jacks are the way to go and you can get them from Autopro or Supercheap Auto or similar at reasonable prices (I have 2 X 5 tonne bottle jacks).
Regards
Dave
patrolst said
09:56 AM Dec 6, 2014
Hi Hako, so sorry to hear of your friend. thankyou for your input. strop has asked "can we get a hydrolic version of a bottle jack big enough to take our van". thanks rocket n strop
Yes you can obtain a 5ton hydraulic bottle jack I have carried one for years in the van and also carry a Trailmate jack, last van had an ATM of 2100kgs and this van has an ATM of 3000kgs we also have the screw type bottle jack in the Patrol.
PeterD said
07:33 PM Dec 6, 2014
Mike196 wrote:
There is a 2 Tonne rated Tail-A-Mate jack available for heavier Vans. (Painted blue)
thanks everyone, told Strop what you all said and he said "thanks, I'm onto it". cheers. rocket n strop
Delta18 said
11:07 PM Dec 7, 2014
Anyone that has a van slip off a Trail A mate jack while doing a wheel change probably shouldn't be allowed out of their house alone.
On level ground, wheels chocked, towbar fitted to the car towball it would be all but impossible to make a van slip off the jack if it was only lifted high enough to change a wheel.
A 5 tonne bottle jack is difficult to impossible to get under a van's axle when one tyre is flat. On wet, muddy ground it is not a pleasant experience to attempt it.
With the T A M all work is done standing beside the van, not laying under it.
Cheers (happy owner).
hako said
11:27 PM Dec 7, 2014
The answer is simple - a 2000kg trolley jack. Both SuperCheap and Repco have them on special for $99. A trolley jack will sit low and lift high and you put it under the axle so you are not lifting the body. You can then leave the tug jack at home to reduce weight as a trolley jack will work with the car as well.
Good Luck.
Radar said
07:42 AM Dec 8, 2014
Hi All
Hako no I believe a floor jack is not the way to go, I was touring down south earlier this year when a friend caught up with us for a few days, every time he unhitched he would get out his small I think 2 tonne rated floor jack and we are both retired truck drivers he would struggle to get it out of the front boot of the van taking bark off as he did screaming and cursing then placing it under the A frame to unhitch. After the first time and knowing he was going to do same the second time I found something to do else where. Not a pretty sight moving a floor jack on boggy wet grass.
His reason for using the floor jack was because the whole unit sat low and he had at times had trouble getting the jockey wheel on the A frame.
I don't think I would like to lay under a van with floor jack trying to get it just right on the axle to raise it, mined you placing any jack under a vehicle is bad enough.
A little while back I did assist a guy change a tyre with one of those trail mate jacks and I thought at the time not a bad bit of gear and then forgot all about it, one day I will get a flat tyre and then I will remember how much easier it was to jack that van up.
Those people with a 2 axle van and have the misfortunes of a flat tyre, the trick would be to have a flat lump of wood to place in front of the tyre and then pull the van up onto it raising it a small amount making it easier to get under the axle with what every jack you have. One thing about getting a flat tyre it never happens next to a frig full of cold drinks under the shade of a tree and always at the wrong time in the heat of the day or when it blowing a gale straight of the snow.
I think one of these trail mates would be good not needing to get down and under the van for a start, being able to use it for the jockey wheel replacement with the pump action would be once again lighter for the lady to use and as we all know what we take needs to have multi use and the trail mate has this.
Thank you. Ralph.
Totalrv said
05:41 PM Jan 23, 2015
E&P Hydraulics Australia
www.hydrauliclevelers.com.au
Hi Everyone, We need to buy some kind of jack in case of a flat tyre. Our chassis on the caravan is 3 and a half ton. we have heard of a jockey wheel that is on a plate and some kind of jack. can anyone recommend a good one. thanks.
Its a Trailamate. We have one and they are great
Les
We also have been using a trailamate since 2010. With our previous van Jayco 21' sterling (2.5t) worked a charm and no issues. However we have had issues with our updated Sterling outback being 3ton and much higher. The outer shaft will bend when unhooking the tug from the van if not in alignment or moves with uneven ground. We have replaced 2 shafts at a cost of $55 each time with the original unit cost $400-.
I would not recommend using the trailamate as a jack. I have been advised by members on this forum to carry a 5t bottle jack.
Jayco provide a whizz bang jack with there Outback models I think due to the height.
Information only and still love my trailamate utilized as jockey wheel only.
JohnR
As Les said, the Trail A Mate is the best, IMHO. http://www.trail-a-mate.com.au/trail-a-mate
Not only a jack with which you don't have to try to crawl under your van in the event of a flat it also is an excellent jocky wheel.
Cheers Neil
My van is also over 3 tonnes but i have never had a problem
Les
Working load limit
Regards
What he actually said is "Our chassis on the caravan is 3 and a half ton." That was probably taken from the chassis manufacturers plate. The figure we really want is the ATM from the compliance plate. When you figure out the size van the Trail-A-Mate will handle you have to subtract the ball weight from the loaded weight. You then have to remember the lifting points are well behind the wheels. You can thus lift a bit more than half the weight on the wheels as you have the lever effect of that extra length from the coupling. No doubt Norm would have been reckoning that the van will have a 10% ball weight when he was working out the maximum ATM for the van. If you have one of the new vans with less than 10% ball weight you will have to factor the extra weight the ball is not carrying when you lift the van.
Again thanks Peter, I apologise for questioning this but I had a good mate in Townsville who was killed when his scissor jack collapsed whilst working under his car. The scissor jack was the one supplied with the vehicle from the factory and the coroner said the jack in question was "fit for service". If a Trail-a-mate only has a WLL of 1000kg and you are lifting a corner of a van weighing 3500kg especially on a slope then I'd say you'd be sailing close to the wind. You may not be working under the van but if they drop they can drop sideways.
That's just my opinion however and I know others have only had good experiences with them.
Regards
There is a 2 Tonne rated Tail-A-Mate jack available for heavier Vans. (Painted blue)
Regards,
Mike.
Hi Hako, so sorry to hear of your friend. thankyou for your input. strop has asked "can we get a hydrolic version of a bottle jack big enough to take our van". thanks rocket n strop
On my single axle Millard, 1800kg, I had an RSJ that fitted the tongue on my High Lift jack welded across the frame rear of the axle. Worked a treat.
with a trailmate you are only jacking the side of
the van near the wheels you are not lifting the
WHOLE CARAVAN OFF THE GROUND
TAJ
Regards
Dave
Yes you can obtain a 5ton hydraulic bottle jack I have carried one for years in the van and also carry a Trailmate jack, last van had an ATM of 2100kgs and this van has an ATM of 3000kgs we also have the screw type bottle jack in the Patrol.
Not quite 2 t. It has a WLL 1,500kg / ATM 3,500kg.I was not aware of it. http://www.trail-a-mate.com.au/trail-a-mate-mkii
thanks everyone, told Strop what you all said and he said "thanks, I'm onto it". cheers. rocket n strop
Anyone that has a van slip off a Trail A mate jack while doing a wheel change probably shouldn't be allowed out of their house alone.
On level ground, wheels chocked, towbar fitted to the car towball it would be all but impossible to make a van slip off the jack if it was only lifted high enough to change a wheel.
A 5 tonne bottle jack is difficult to impossible to get under a van's axle when one tyre is flat. On wet, muddy ground it is not a pleasant experience to attempt it.
With the T A M all work is done standing beside the van, not laying under it.
Cheers (happy owner).
Good Luck.
Hi All
Hako no I believe a floor jack is not the way to go, I was touring down south earlier this year when a friend caught up with us for a few days, every time he unhitched he would get out his small I think 2 tonne rated floor jack and we are both retired truck drivers he would struggle to get it out of the front boot of the van taking bark off as he did screaming and cursing then placing it under the A frame to unhitch. After the first time and knowing he was going to do same the second time I found something to do else where. Not a pretty sight moving a floor jack on boggy wet grass.
His reason for using the floor jack was because the whole unit sat low and he had at times had trouble getting the jockey wheel on the A frame.
I don't think I would like to lay under a van with floor jack trying to get it just right on the axle to raise it, mined you placing any jack under a vehicle is bad enough.
A little while back I did assist a guy change a tyre with one of those trail mate jacks and I thought at the time not a bad bit of gear and then forgot all about it, one day I will get a flat tyre and then I will remember how much easier it was to jack that van up.
Those people with a 2 axle van and have the misfortunes of a flat tyre, the trick would be to have a flat lump of wood to place in front of the tyre and then pull the van up onto it raising it a small amount making it easier to get under the axle with what every jack you have. One thing about getting a flat tyre it never happens next to a frig full of cold drinks under the shade of a tree and always at the wrong time in the heat of the day or when it blowing a gale straight of the snow.
I think one of these trail mates would be good not needing to get down and under the van for a start, being able to use it for the jockey wheel replacement with the pump action would be once again lighter for the lady to use and as we all know what we take needs to have multi use and the trail mate has this.
Thank you. Ralph.