FIAT JACK BOX REMOVAL!!!

[Alshymer]

As I feel that the equipment in the Ducato jacking box is of poor quality and takes up a great deal of payload I am wondering if others have removed this item and replaced it with better lighter equipment.
In any event I would be more likely to call out the breakdown service if I had a problem but really wouldn’t want to be without some form of jack for a wheel removal in dire circumstances.
I look forward to any comments.
Thanks.

 

[trevskoda]

A small bottle jack and folding axle stand is best, always jack on a suspension arm and not the body as its the wheel you lift, also i carry a long socket ex bar plus a speed t bar.
apart from the bottle jack the other bits can be speed clipped in a out of the way safe place, also handy for whacking intruders LOL.

 

[Alshymer]

Thanks for that. I guess you need some wooden blocks too to get the required height from the jack?

 

[trevskoda]

Thanks for that. I guess you need some wooden blocks too to get the required height from the jack?

All can easy fit in a plastic tub in a small space.

 

[Alshymer]

Thanks

 

[merl]

Ironically our van had the under seat jack box but no spare wheel because the spare wheel space had been taken up by the under slung diesel heater. I've since found space for a spare but I still took out the jack kit and sold it on eBay, the only piece I replaced was the towing eye. Don't really see the point in having a dog and barking your self so I'll let breakdown sort out wheel changing.
Fitted my inverter, solar charge controller, battery to battery charger and shunt under the seat instead.

 

[Alshymer]

The only time I used the towing eye it bent.
Rubbish equipment for a commercial chassis.
Are all towing eyes the same thread?

 

[HurricaneSmith]

No, I'm afraid that towing eyes are not all the same thread, even being designed by manufacturer for specific models, and so may not be interchangeable.

 

[trevskoda]

Ironically our van had the under seat jack box but no spare wheel because the spare wheel space had been taken up by the under slung diesel heater. I've since found space for a spare but I still took out the jack kit and sold it on eBay, the only piece I replaced was the towing eye. Don't really see the point in having a dog and barking your self so I'll let breakdown sort out wheel changing.
Fitted my inverter, solar charge controller, battery to battery charger and shunt under the seat instead.

Could spoil a day to they arrive, a few mins changes a wheel, i also have 2 tins of tyre foam onboard which is handy, cost £2 for large tin in pound shops.

 

[trevskoda]

No, I'm afraid that towing eyes are not all the same thread, even being designed by manufacturer for specific models, and so may not be interchangeable.

U shaped fixed t eye on my van, now im going to carry a rigid extendable tow bar, may also be able to help other if required.

 

[merl]

Could spoil a day to they arrive, a few mins changes a wheel,

Yeh, had considered that Trev BUT decided that there's no hurry as long as we're not on a motorway and if we WE ARE on a motorway I wouldn't want to be changing a wheel at the side of the road anyway. Call me a pussy but I'd prefer to stay alive
You mechanics seem to want to take everything with you to fix anything, I guess that comes with the job.

 

[Nabsim]

Could spoil a day to they arrive, a few mins changes a wheel, i also have 2 tins of tyre foam onboard which is handy, cost £2 for large tin in pound shops.

When I had rear wheel blowout neither me nor son in law would have been able to remove the wheel. Breakdown guy had a very long bar but still needed a long scaffold tube before he could undo the bolts. Breakdown guy was approx size of me and son n law together.

I carry a jack still (and a spare wheel/tyre) but wouldn't attempt to change a wheel myself

 

[colinm]

I'm guessing you are talking about the standard x250/290 jack kit, it's designed to be the lightest/cheapest to do the job, about the only way you'd get something lighter and sturdier would be to get it custom made from titanium.
P.s. I've removed and replaced a front wheel on our van today.

 

[wildebus]

Personally I wouldn't want to rely on the jack in the kit except in an emergency, but that is what if is for after all. The kind of kit you WOULD want to use will be both heavier and bulkier (probably by far) so is no saving in that respect to swap out the standard kit.
The underseat box itself is bulkier than it really needs to be, so, FWIW, as well as what is in there as standard, I also keep my towrope and a tyre plug kit and probably something else as well. At least doing that I have saved space elsewhere as well as keeping all that kit in one logical place.

 

[n brown]

since it once took a 14' tube with 2 of us jumping up and down to crack the wheel nuts on my lorry , i learnt to slacken and re-tighten wheel nuts on any van i bought . bit of a pain but worth it !
also i would rather change my own wheel than suffer the endless wait for a breakdown truck
also , if you have room, then a cheap tent is nice erected on the safe side of crash barriers and handy for a discreet wee [under £20 ]

 

[yeoblade]

Needs a few blocks to get off the ground. Rear wheels off to do the brakes last month.

 

[st3v3]

Needs a few blocks to get off the ground. Rear wheels off to do the brakes last month.View attachment 144789

That's why you get under the suspension arm. If you can't get under it because the tyre is flat, drive it up your levelling ramp.

 

[trevskoda]

When I had rear wheel blowout neither me nor son in law would have been able to remove the wheel. Breakdown guy had a very long bar but still needed a long scaffold tube before he could undo the bolts. Breakdown guy was approx size of me and son n law together.

I carry a jack still (and a spare wheel/tyre) but wouldn't attempt to change a wheel myself

Wheel nuts over tightened, i carry a 3ft 3/4 drive ex bar one t peace with 6 inch extension and correct socked which is a black type for a airgun so strong.