Do you carry a jack?

[Wellington]

In pedant-argumentative mode, does that not mean that as soon as one has changed ones puncture, one is them travelling illegally with unroadworthy spare, unless one leaves the thing at the side of the road (In which case one is certainly guilty of littering!)

Silly, I know, and one thing in a car when you will be home later and can take it out an put in the garage until you drop it off at the, um, garage. But in the MH, when you might be away for weeks and unable to replace it, and have to store it somewhere....

I know, I know. It’s even less likely than being stopped and weighed. But there you have it! I am in no danger, as the Carthago doesn't have a spare, nor a place for one. I would like one, actually, but as it is up for sale, I don’t know which to buy yet.

To weigh in on the original question, I have a jack at each corner (And they will be going on the new MH) but would probably not have thought of it otherwise. I‘ve spent years being buffeted by a selection of adverse events, and no matter how well prepared I am, there is always something unexpected. I have a personal theory that no emergency you are prepared for will ever occur. I now stump up for the AA and travel insurance and expect them to come and sort it out. At least I can take a nap, power devices and have a freezer full of food to fall back on, even if I do have to wait three days (And yes, I always do travel with full and empty tanks as appropriate. See adverse event history!)

 

[Baggydave]

Yep always carry a spare & low entry trolly jack. Both under a bed.
Our rear axel is really low on the road & can only be lifted on the air suspension plates. We also have a 5t bottle jack.
both used a few times.
i also carry a puncture repair kit the same as they use in many parts of the world. (Spain/Portugal & Balkan countries) So I repair my own too. As long as it’s in the tread of course.

we have breakdown cover but past experience has shown that they usually don’t have the low entry jack to change our wheels especially if it’s totally flat & it’s a rear. Besides I can do it myself in 20mins & be on the way.
later when parked for the night I fix the puncture, inflate & stow back under the bed.

van weighs 4.5t ready to go.

i wouldn’t recommend this to everyone but it works for me.

 

[Landy Andy]

In pedant-argumentative mode, does that not mean that as soon as one has changed ones puncture, one is them travelling illegally with unroadworthy spare, unless one leaves the thing at the side of the road (In which case one is certainly guilty of littering!)

The spare tyre has nothing to do with an MOT. They don’t care if you have one or not. If you do, it can be any spare, in any condition, and any size. That’s why modern cars with no spare pass, cars with space savers pass, and people with knackered or bald tyres pass the MOT. BUT once the spare is fitted then it becomes part of the MOT conditions and should be road legal. Oddly enough a space saver wouldn’t pass an MOT if fitted at test as they are the wrong size, but the are still supplied and used.

 

[Captain Yoghurtpot]

I have an air bag jack folds down to next to nothing , inflated off the exhaust and lifts 5 tonnes , then shove an axle stand in for security . No sweat!

I had one of those years ago and it was brill.
Where did you get yours from please.,?
I sold mine when we stopped carravanning 10 years ago.
Thanks

 

[busby]

In pedant-argumentative mode, does that not mean that as soon as one has changed ones puncture, one is them travelling illegally with unroadworthy spare, unless one leaves the thing at the side of the road (In which case one is certainly guilty of littering!)

Silly, I know, and one thing in a car when you will be home later and can take it out an put in the garage until you drop it off at the, um, garage. But in the MH, when you might be away for weeks and unable to replace it, and have to store it somewhere....

I know, I know. It’s even less likely than being stopped and weighed. But there you have it! I am in no danger, as the Carthago doesn't have a spare, nor a place for one. I would like one, actually, but as it is up for sale, I don’t know which to buy yet.

To weigh in on the original question, I have a jack at each corner (And they will be going on the new MH) but would probably not have thought of it otherwise. I‘ve spent years being buffeted by a selection of adverse events, and no matter how well prepared I am, there is always something unexpected. I have a personal theory that no emergency you are prepared for will ever occur. I now stump up for the AA and travel insurance and expect them to come and sort it out. At least I can take a nap, power devices and have a freezer full of food to fall back on, even if I do have to wait three days (And yes, I always do travel with full and empty tanks as appropriate. See adverse event history!)

In the past when tugging and having a puncture i changed it and then called into a tyre dealer/repairer and had it repaired or a new tyre fitted.BUSBY.

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[busby]

Yep always carry a spare & low entry trolly jack. Both under a bed.
Our rear axel is really low on the road & can only be lifted on the air suspension plates. We also have a 5t bottle jack.
both used a few times.
i also carry a puncture repair kit the same as they use in many parts of the world. (Spain/Portugal & Balkan countries) So I repair my own too. As long as it’s in the tread of course.

we have breakdown cover but past experience has shown that they usually don’t have the low entry jack to change our wheels especially if it’s totally flat & it’s a rear. Besides I can do it myself in 20mins & be on the way.
later when parked for the night I fix the puncture, inflate & stow back under the bed.

van weighs 4.5t ready to go.

i wouldn’t recommend this to everyone but it works for me.

If its totally flat just drive it half way up one of your levelling ramps and then your jack will fit under and you wont have so far to jack it up. BUSBY.

 

[vib6er]

 

[vib6er]

The plugga 2, all the above plus this and everything is covered!!

 

[Larrynwin]

X

 

[IRHP]

Even if you don’t carry a spare it’s a good idea to carry a jack. You could remove a flat tyre/wheel and get a lift to a repair centre and get it fixed. I wouldn’t have any vehicle without a spare. Ive had a tyre damaged beyond repair and not able to be fixed with a can of gunk also once you’ve used that on your tyre it’s done.

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[The Coops]

I had one of those years ago and it was brill.
Where did you get yours from please.,?
I sold mine when we stopped carravanning 10 years ago.
Thanks

Picked it up brand new unused off flea bay! ( £30)!

 

[Captain Yoghurtpot]

Picked it up brand new unused off flea bay! ( £30)!

Do you know it's make please?
Was it a seller site (shop) or an individual seller private non-traded?
Thanks
Iain

 

[The Coops]

Easylift New Concept PO Box 41 Winchester SO23 8XR Tel 01962 65996 No idea if still in business, I picked mine up on e bay brand new unused, hopefully it will stay that way!

 

[XxAnthxX]

https://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/710-...0001&campid=5338547443&icep_item=233614072835

 

[philmc79]

I carry four jacks.
One in each corner................plus a app to operate them.

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[Baggydave]

If its totally flat just drive it half way up one of your levelling ramps and then your jack will fit under and you wont have so far to jack it up. BUSBY.

Good idea however our van is a tag axel so it’s a bit more complicated if it’s (& it usually is) A tyre on the rear axel.
I can’t get our levellers between the wheels.

 

[Baggydave]

View attachment 398098

Yep I have something similar given to me by an Aussie friend. Apparently they use them all the time. He even did it without taking his wheel off!
he just jacked it up, pulled the nail out, pushed the rasp in a few times & then the plug. Put some more air in & sorted. Brilliant!

 

[busby]

Even if you don’t carry a spare it’s a good idea to carry a jack. You could remove a flat tyre/wheel and get a lift to a repair centre and get it fixed. I wouldn’t have any vehicle without a spare. Ive had a tyre damaged beyond repair and not able to be fixed with a can of gunk also once you’ve used that on your tyre it’s done.

Good idea however our van is a tag axel so it’s a bit more complicated if it’s (& it usually is) A tyre on the rear axel.
I can’t get our levellers between the wheels.

Depending which axle the flat is on put the ramp to the rear of the trailing axle and reverse up or if it's on the lead axle put it in front and drive up it. BUSBY.

 

[dipsie]

Minxy Girl,
I got that wrong, 180kgs should have read, our combined weight. Good job the wife thinks all this forum stuff is rubbish.

BernieT

 

[XxAnthxX]

I got that wrong, 180kgs should have read, our combined weight. Good job the wife thinks all this forum stuff is rubbish.

BernieT

I had been puzzling how I would fit through my van door at 28 stone....

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[Reallyretired]

I carry a spare and a jack (3 ton bottle jack)
I have had to call breakdown in Europe once in France gashed sidewall and in Spain when I had a wheel go down a concealed cesspit. Neither breakdown vehicle had a jack so used mine. I also found a tyre workshop in France that couldn't get my MH in their workshop because of a low roof, and they didnt have a jack either.

Essential to carry a jack, though I'd ditch the supplied Fiat one and get a decent one. Spare wheel also a very good idea. My jack was supplied with the motorhome (Mercedes A Class Rapido)

 

[McLouis]

I have only used the Fiat jack because like a previous post couldn't get rear high enough to get the Easy Tops in place, with two axle stands in place. The is no way I would ever change a wheel on the road, I'm afraid the risk assessment just does not stack up, even with warning trials in place. So fiat jack in the bin, but I do carry a spare tyre as generally the part that takes the time to obtain. In case I get accused of being a woose, which I maybe am but I am happy to climb and cave to a good level with my kids oh and do fire eating and walking because I can mitigate the risks.

 

[Blaydon]

Hi there, We have a 4.25tn A class. It did not come with a spare. I bought a tyre (no wheel) so if we get a problem we can call out the van and have them fit our tyre to our wheel. I would not get hooked up with changing a wheel on the side of the road unless I had a proper jack, and they are heavy.
The reason we carry the tyre is to be sure there is one available.
In the past I have carried a high lift bottle jack from a Land Rover - good for 3 tons.

 

[Coolcats]

I've had a coachbuilt MH for the past 5years and during that time the jack and tools have remained firmly in their storage compartment under the passenger seat. Think I opened the hatch twice once when I took delivery and again before I sold it.

I got my new A-Class on Wednesday and the jack and tools come nicely wrapped up in a bag rattling loose on the garage floor. I'm thinking of leaving them in the shed at home especially as the van doesn't have a spare wheel only an inflation kit and in all probabilty if I got a flat I'd call the experts out. As far as I can see there is no legal requirement to carry a jack.

I'm interested to know, Does any other A-Class owners bother to carry the jack?

Ours is a PVC and the answer is No. Why take out breakdown insurance and have a Jack?

 

[Minxy]

The problem with relying solely on 'wheel' recovery by a third party is that it isn't always a quick solution and then of course s*ds law says it will be a the most inopportune moment, or we'll be in the middle of no-where!

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[Coolcats]

The problem with relying solely on 'wheel' recovery by a third party is that it isn't always a quick solution and then of course s*ds law says it will be a the most inopportune moment, or we'll be in the middle of no-where!

that’s also assuming the MoHo actually has a spare, many cars and vans these days are not supplied with a spare ours was not and my new transporter has not got one either just a pump and liquid. It may be inconvenient but can live with that.

 

[busby]

Ours is a PVC and the answer is No. Why take out breakdown insurance and have a Jack?

I have only used the Fiat jack because like a previous post couldn't get rear high enough to get the Easy Tops in place, with two axle stands in place. The is no way I would ever change a wheel on the road, I'm afraid the risk assessment just does not stack up, even with warning trials in place. So fiat jack in the bin, but I do carry a spare tyre as generally the part that takes the time to obtain. In case I get accused of being a woose, which I maybe am but I am happy to climb and cave to a good level with my kids oh and do fire eating and walking because I can mitigate the risks.

I would not change one at the side of a busy road but can usually find somewhere to pull in..Takes me longer to get the spare off that to change the wheel.Having spare wheel carrier modified this week for that reason
.Changing the wheel is easy,it's getting up of the floor afterwards that's my problem.. . BUSBY.

 

[Minxy]

that’s also assuming the MoHo actually has a spare, many cars and vans these days are not supplied with a spare ours was not and my new transporter has not got one either just a pump and liquid. It may be inconvenient but can live with that.

Of course it is, I wouldn't go anywhere without one, having had tyres 'savaged' in Italy by some of their roads, there's no way I'd risk not having one.

 

[Coolcats]

Of course it is, I wouldn't go anywhere without one, having had tyres 'savaged' in Italy by some of their roads, there's no way I'd risk not having one.

But if you do not have a spare tyre what’s the point

 

[ceejayt]

Been motor homing 17 years, four different motorhomes - none of them came with a spare, they all came with a jack.

Never had a puncture (now I have tempted fate)

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