Club 80-90 Forums

Hi everyone,

Just wondered where the best place is to place a bottle jack for changing a wheel when on holiday? (so no trolley jack available)

All the normal jacking points are intact and have an original jack but do not trust them after one collapsed on my old van, damaging my bodywork and wallet...

Any advise appreciated!

Cheers,

Tom

I would not use a bottle jack. The body can move sideways or even forward/backwards depending on the flatness of the ground. As you lift the van, a bottle jack is almost certainly going to fall over. I always use a trolley jack which has wheels so can move as the van moves. Others may have better advice.

We've been using a bottle jack quite happily, with no wobbliness or other instability. IME, it's actually less likely than with a scissor-type jack, because the lift is much more vertical. A trolley would be lovely, sure, but it takes up far too much space in the van when you're travelling.

Whatever, make sure you're jacking on something solid - a thick bit of wood can be very useful.

Anyway, I use it underneath the suspension arm itself, either end. Dive under there, you'll find some good solid flat points.

Hello,

We've done all this before....

3 tonne bottle jack minimum...

Make sure it has enough lift....

Make a plywood base for stability, with a smaller block for the head of the jack, all fits in the underseat compartment,... put the 2 parts of the jacking handle together, and then cut down so it just fits the compartment crosswise...

The handle and block can be used to make getting the spare wheel holder more easy to open and close...

Cordialement,

sarran1955 wrote:3 tonne bottle jack minimum...

Why do you say that, John?

We're looking at, what, 2.5t absolute max (2450kg GVW on our vin plate) for the complete van. You ain't going to balance the whole thing - or even half that weight - on a single jack. Even if you get two wheels airborne. So the jack's taking a maximum of a ton and a bit.

Ralf85 wrote:I would not use a bottle jack. The body can move sideways or even forward/backwards depending on the flatness of the ground. As you lift the van, a bottle jack is almost certainly going to fall over. I always use a trolley jack which has wheels so can move as the van moves. Others may have better advice.

Keep safe and get a trolley jack

Hello,

We are talking about a replacement for the VW jack... tyre change or roadside repair..

Less than 3 tonnes .... the jack is physically too small....

Sure... use a trolley jack.... mine is a double piston garage job.... just right for the glovebox....

Cordialement,

sarran1955 wrote:Less than 3 tonnes .... the jack is physically too small....

<whispers> Our 2t one lifts it just fine...

Hello,

Hey buddy how are you and Ellie doing.....

Hope to see you again here....sooner rather than later....

Then we can compare the lengths of our extended jacks....OOer

Bags you go first

Cordialement,

AdrianC wrote:

sarran1955 wrote:Less than 3 tonnes .... the jack is physically too small....

<whispers> Our 2t one lifts it just fine...

I don't think it's a lift issue..

I use one under the trailing arm to lift the wheel just enough when fitting snow chains
Easy peasy

Andy

Sometime ago this thread came about.......viewtopic.php?f=37&t=100144&hilit=Bottle+jack
Might be worth a read, although its not exactly what was asked.........

Seams like a good idea using a bottle jack in the place of the OEM van one. Will add it to the shopping list! Always thought it made sense to use a bottle jack ever since i changed the wheel on a friends Disco many years ago and that came with a bottle jack as standard.

Im a 2 ton man myself fits under the seat fine lifts the van fine maybe not quite enough lift height but i rectify that by putting a block of wood under it. Got about 10 small block of wood different sizes to level the van when camping.