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

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)

hako wrote:

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(I don't really understand what WLL means but ATM I understand)

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Working load limit

 

 

hako wrote:

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Trail-a-mate only has WLL 1,000kg / ATM 2,900kg whereas the rocket's van is over 3 1/2 tonnes.

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 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.

There is a 2 Tonne rated Tail-A-Mate jack available for heavier Vans. (Painted blue)

Regards,

Mike.

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.

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

Mike196 wrote:

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There is a 2 Tonne rated Tail-A-Mate jack available for heavier Vans. (Painted blue)

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 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

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).

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.