Jacking up the caravan

 if you don't feel confident in jacking your caravan & have AA/Mayday/etc, them them do it. I put the jack under an axle when I lift mine, but I use a big trolly jack at home. Attaching it to the car when jack is good, but not always possible.

I fitted a similar thing to our van called a Kojack I have only used it on the drive when I  have removed the wheels one at time to have new tyres fitted and making sure the corner steadies are raised on the opposite side 

I have used the same item in the past and apart from a jack, which kept leaking, the brackets were good and provided a safe place for the head of the bottle jack. I would recommend trying to find a piece of steel or aluminium plate about 5mm thick and about 200mm square to place under the bottle jack when the jacking surface is soft or uneven. I have had a jack slip before when it started to sink into the ground. No damage, but not recommended.

the trouble with bottle jacks is that they have a tendency to want to lean as the car/caravan is lifted ..... lift a car/caravan with a trolly jack and the wheels allow the trolly jack to move under, a bottle jack is unable to do the same. If you lift it far enough, the jack wants to slip or fall over.

I have a 3 ton Draper air bag jack, which inflates by holding a pipe over the exhaust (much easier than it sounds!). I have used to lift a caravan on soft ground to replace a wheel and also on our motorhome. It is an excellent emergency piece of kit.

Yes I can say that they work. The only time (and I sincerely hope the last time) I had to raise my caravan was when we had a seasonal in the lakes which were at the high top end of TH. There had a been one of those terrific storms (mid 2000s and people were taking refuge in the toilet block and games room rather than sleep in their outfits) we luckily weren't there but the whole caravan, steadies down and wheel clamp, had been pushed about two feet. I couldn't free the wheel clamp even unlocked as the parts of it had been pushed together. I would have to lift the caravan to free them.

I very gingerly took the (useless) jack but before I could start the very helpful chap across the road brought his air jack out, and as you say the pipe just pushed into the exhaust, started the engine revved the engine a bit and within minutes the caravan was up and the wheel champ just fell free.

Being at the shallow end of the gene pool (probably paddling pool) regarding doing anything mechanical it would be a call to Mayday/Green flag for me as ED says  

I used to have something similar years ago

Andy

first you  say about should the AA be involved, the AA will only come out if the vehicle that needs help is resisted with the DVLA, your caravan is not, so if you want to use a breakdown service ditch the AA and join one who will cover your caravan like Mayday.

or you can use a Kiojack and do it yourself, I have had no problems, I always jack mine up and put it on axel stands when we are at home

Not sure this is true, this is what the AA say

"

Caravan breakdown cover
We’ll come to your rescue whether it’s a problem with the vehicle you’re driving or the one you’re towing.

Our standard breakdown cover includes caravans, trailers, motorhomes and campervans
With 24/7 roadside assistance, we’ll try to fix your vehicle on the spot
We cover caravans or motorhomes up to 3.5 tonnes (3,500kg) and 8ft 3in (2.55m) wide
Unlimited callouts each year, as long as it's not a recurring problem with your vehicle

"

They are saying this

"The AA is no longer offering insurance for touring caravans.
If you're an existing customer don't worry – you're still covered.
AA Touring Caravan Insurance is provided by Towergate Insurance, and you can update or renew your insurance as a Towergate customer"
 

DON'T think the AA will come out for your caravan, they WONT

their website states that the broken down vehicle & that includes changing a wheel

MUST be registered with the D.V.L.A.  your caravan is NOT

they confuse people saying they will recover your caravan, if your car breaks down and needs to be taken to a garage or your home they will hitch up your caravan and take it to where your car is taken

you will need Mayday from the caravan club which is covered by green flag, or ariva provided by the rac, but for that you will have to also be a member of the other club

those are the only 2 who will provide cover for your caravan

their are two jacks for a caravan, alko scissor jack with brackets bolted on your chassis, or the Kojack bottle jack with brackets bolted on your chassis,

or if you want to use a trolly jack, but ONLY jack on the axel beam