Dodgy caravan jack warning
Using the wrong caravan jack or not jacking properly can end in tears, warns Caravan Council of AustraliaThe Caravan Council of Australia is warning caravanners that using the wrong type of jack to change a caravan tyre, or incorrectly using a caravan jack, can often lead to accidents and injuries.
“There have been too many nasty accidents caused when jacks are used to change wheels and tyres on caravans and camper-trailers,” the CCA’s Colin Young warned.
“There have been reports of some jacks having their lifting mechanism unexpectedly fail, causing the jack to instantly collapse.”
According to the CCA, two major causes of jacking accidents are using a jack unsuitable for the caravan, or not having the top of the jack positive-located when in position, to prevent it sliding in a horizontal direction.
“It's essential that a caravan jack is appropriately Approved, and has a sufficient Load Rating, along with a sufficient Travel (lifting range),” Young said.
The CCA has issued some guidelines for using a caravan jack, which include the following tips:
Make sure the jack is Approved to the Australian Standard, and has a sufficient load rating and length of travel.
Ensure it’s top positively located - by a mating locating recess - to prevent any horizontal slippage when in use.
Ensure the jack is operational for when the caravan is both empty, and fully-loaded.
Make sure it’s positioned on a firm base.
When positioned on a firm base, the jack must be low enough to engage a locating recess, when any tyre on the van is fully-deflated.
It must also have sufficient travel, to enable a fully-inflated tyre to replace that tyre.
Allowances should also be made for suspension “droop” when the caravan is raised, as well as the probability that one or more of the tyres on any one side of the caravan will be loaded greater than on the other side. Typically, this may be around 10 per cent.
“Never rely on a jack. Tragic accidents have occurred when a jack has failed, or has slipped,” Young said.
“It's most important to practise changing a wheel/tyre before heading off on a trip, so that you know exactly what to do if you have the misfortune to have a punctured tyre on your travels.”
For more tips on using a caravan jack, or other caravan safety issues, visit the CCA website.
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