Jockey wheel "sledge" for gravel drives and motor mover?

[Chris_374224489]

I have a motor mover (Powrtouch)& a new gravel drive. The small solid jockey wheel is as likely to push its way through the gravel as ride over it. I have read the comments elsewhere & I am unimpressed by the reports of the quality of pneumatic tyred jockey wheels.

One mover manufacturer (rhyno???), at a caravan show, offered me a slip on solid steel sledge device that fitted over the jockey wheel & essentially slid over the top of the gravel. He argued that this worked much better on gravel than any jockey wheel. Has anyone any experience of these?

Chris

Chris

 

[RayS]

I have the same mover and a gravel drive, which is on a moderate slope. Change to pneumatic wheel helped considerably. Probelm is that they seem to loose pressure quite quickly for no good reason, and that re-inflating is a pain as you can't get the pump connector on easily (due to the side pieces).

I am investigating getting the wheel converted to solid - i had lawn mower wheel treated like this a few years ago. I can't think a sledge would work very well, particularly with changes of direction, as in spinning the van round 180 degrees.

Try running the van backwards so the jockey wheel trails rather than leads (appreciate you con't do this both ways). Also try to reduce nose weight, event to the extent of getting HID into the back of the van while you manouver it.

 

[Chris_374224489]

I have asked about a "gel" wheel rather than an inflatable but they don't seem to exist. I am still interested in the sledge idea if anybody has tried one.

 

[Clive_374342604]

Chris

I have a Powertouch fitted to my Bailey Bordeaux which has a solid jockey wheel but it is quite wide (just measured it at 70mm) and I have no problems at all with manouvering on my gravel drive.

I think the biggest problem with new drives is that the gravel layer is too deep,mine is no more than 20-25 mm over compressed scalpings. As for the sledge idea I agree with Ray regarding the steering of the van, I also agree it runs better backwards than forwards

 

[ShadySadie]

We have a wide solid tyre jockey wheel with a flat profile.

(not a rounded edge tyre) The wheel is from an Ifor Williams trailer and was cheaper than caravanning alternatives when my husband bougtt it.

The jockey wheel assembly from his old trials car trailer fitted the caravan and rode over our gravel drive and he then bought IW wheel and adapted it for our old caravan and transfrerd it to our new caravan.

 

[Chris_374224489]

I will have a look at the Ivor Williams jockey wheels. Sounds like my wife is going to be at the very back of the van when we are manouvering it!