Another Jockey Wheel Question

[Val & Frank]

Hi All,

Quick question, when the van is standing on the corner steadies should I take all the weight off the jockey wheel, or should the wheel be carrying some of the load ???

Val & Frank

 

[BrianStAlbans]

Here's my guess Frank ;O)

If the van was level the jockey wheel will only be carrying the nose weight so with corner steadies down that would be reduced to almost nothing and the steadies should handle the weight, but if the front of the van was lifted on a sloping pitch the weight on the wheel would be much higher and maybe too much for the steadies alone so best to use both.

I sit waiting for the figures that will probabley prove me wrong ;O)

Brian (",)

 

[Lutz]

If you lower the rear steadies with the jockey wheel down, it's a bit difficult to gauge whether the load on the front and rear steadies is about the same and you could run the risk of overloading the rear steadies. That's why I lower the front ones first to just touch the ground, raise the jockey wheel and then do the ones at the back. That way I can feel that the effort to turn the handle for the steadies is about the same and consequently also the load they are carrying.

Of course, this only works on level ground. If the pitch is sloping and the front steadies only have to be lowered a little before touching the ground, I use the jockey wheel to assist.

 

[Litespeed]

So......are we saying its safe to lift the jockey completley off the ground safely once the steady's 's are down ???

I usually set the van level using the jockey then lower the corner steady's - leaving the jockey bearing most of the weight and the steady's just taking up the movement of the from the pneumatic tyres .....is this correct???

 

[Val & Frank]

Glad I wasn't alone on this one, thanks for the reples.

Frank

 

[Geordie]

Litespeed, I do as you do, and never let the steadies take all the weight. The chassis is a lot stronger than than the body,so I let the jockey take the weight and use the steadies as their name suggests.