Several new caravans now have the jockey wheel placed in the centre, no longer to the side. What are the advantages of this? Are they as accessible?
Jockey wheel - the change to centre fitting good?
- Thread starter mealsonwheels
- Start date
Ours is in the centre, I think it does look better but it can be a pig to remove if required for something else.
I leave it in place, so the only problem we get sometimes is when the wheel gets stuck outside of the A frame and you sometimes have to lift the front of the van to be able to stow it. With a side mounting this would be easier.
I leave it in place, so the only problem we get sometimes is when the wheel gets stuck outside of the A frame and you sometimes have to lift the front of the van to be able to stow it. With a side mounting this would be easier.
Up to now i have not seen the centre fitting type but i do know on our Coachman side fitting one causes it to ground on uneven roads and i modified the fairing a bit to allow it to go up another couple of inches and it still grounds on some slopes.I think going down the road thoughts of smaller wheels and such like but up to now have not done s
n the centre one does it go up through the A frame?.
n the centre one does it go up through the A frame?.Sometimes with the centre mounted jockey the tube can get jammed in the hole in the A frame and as it is fully enclosed it can - to use the previous quote - be a pig to release as the clamping mechanisim is inaccessible and does not always release the tube. If there is some weight still on the jockey wheel you have to lower the steadies to relieve the weight and then free the jockey wheel. A side mounted jockey wheel although not so pretty is far more 'servicable' and far easier to remove if required - you can see what you are doing!
At one time (on a previous van with side mounted jockey) I used to remove the jockey wheel completely to reduce nose weight - it was an easy operation with side mounted jockey, but it would be a right pain with the centre mounted as you would have to separate the 2 halves of the jockey wheel, lift the top half out of the A frame from the top and lower the bottom half from underneath and risk getting black grease everywhere. Also it is more awkward to align the slots in the outer tube with the wheel supports.
Nice to look at, but not very practical.
At one time (on a previous van with side mounted jockey) I used to remove the jockey wheel completely to reduce nose weight - it was an easy operation with side mounted jockey, but it would be a right pain with the centre mounted as you would have to separate the 2 halves of the jockey wheel, lift the top half out of the A frame from the top and lower the bottom half from underneath and risk getting black grease everywhere. Also it is more awkward to align the slots in the outer tube with the wheel supports.
Nice to look at, but not very practical.
Alko say that it makes it easier for the caravanner
So far its been an absolute pain
If you want to remove the jockey wheel for going on to a ferry etc you have to unwind the top until it seperates but the bottom will not drop out if you are attached to the car on the level so you need to find as I did at Exeter a dip between 2 pitches.
To replace it then you have to put levelling wedges under the car rear wheels
You can see why Alko say its easier??
Also I find using the mover that the jockey wheel is nowhere near as well clamped and it leans at alarming angles
The dealer replaced the clamp at the first service but it is no better.
So far its been an absolute pain
If you want to remove the jockey wheel for going on to a ferry etc you have to unwind the top until it seperates but the bottom will not drop out if you are attached to the car on the level so you need to find as I did at Exeter a dip between 2 pitches.
To replace it then you have to put levelling wedges under the car rear wheels
You can see why Alko say its easier??
Also I find using the mover that the jockey wheel is nowhere near as well clamped and it leans at alarming angles
The dealer replaced the clamp at the first service but it is no better.
In my case the limited space and hassle to remove it inhibits the use of a pneumatic tyre. Pity as I prefer the pneumatic type for use on CL's, that often have somewhat soft surfaces.
Thanks for your replies, which are quite alarming to read. There doesn't seem to be anything in its favour, apart from looking better.
It is especially disconcerting to read that it inhibits the use of a pneumatic tyre and that it is nowhere as well clamped and leans at alarming angles when using a mover.
May'be this is something Practical Caravan could investigate and report on in a future issue.
It is especially disconcerting to read that it inhibits the use of a pneumatic tyre and that it is nowhere as well clamped and leans at alarming angles when using a mover.
May'be this is something Practical Caravan could investigate and report on in a future issue.
I do use a pneumatic jockey wheel but I have made a slight mod
The split pin holding the JW spindle has been replaced by an R clip that can be pulled out and just the wheel can easily be removed should the need arise such as when going on to ferries or if it gets stuck when hitching up.
The split pin holding the JW spindle has been replaced by an R clip that can be pulled out and just the wheel can easily be removed should the need arise such as when going on to ferries or if it gets stuck when hitching up.
After reading your comments makes me think of another aspect of jockey wheels.I said in another post about ours making contact with the road etc which leaves me with thought does it cause any damage/wear to the car when suddenly it jerks the car up?.
Robert
I have only had the jockey wheel touch the ground once when I left it down accidentally (Doh!)
I would find it worrying if it happened in any other circumstance because it would have the potential to unhook the van, I would get the tow ball height etc checked out with the dealer.
I have only had the jockey wheel touch the ground once when I left it down accidentally (Doh!)
I would find it worrying if it happened in any other circumstance because it would have the potential to unhook the van, I would get the tow ball height etc checked out with the dealer.
I'd rather have the jockey wheel touch the ground when driving over a hump than scraping the underside of the drawbar. The towbar will withstand an occasional knock even though it might involve lifting the back end of the car up. The coupling itself will bear the weight without separating.
I have never encountered a bump which has caused either of those things to happen but the jockey wheel would hit first.
At the end of my parents drive there is a sharp dip between the drive, pavement and road.
I regularly hit the tow bar frame on this dip solo, I have only once towed a van down this drive and the tow bar frame grounded but not the jockey wheel.
I also have friends whose caravan was knocked off the towball on a railway level crossing and I believe the jockey wheel did not ground, the bump knocked the stabiliser pads out.
At the end of my parents drive there is a sharp dip between the drive, pavement and road.
I regularly hit the tow bar frame on this dip solo, I have only once towed a van down this drive and the tow bar frame grounded but not the jockey wheel.
I also have friends whose caravan was knocked off the towball on a railway level crossing and I believe the jockey wheel did not ground, the bump knocked the stabiliser pads out.
Something must have been amiss with the coupling for a bump to knock the stabiliser pads out. My caravan has bottomed out while crossing particularly vicious sleeping policemen or boarding ferries at high or low tide, but I've never had any problems.
Thanks Lutz for your comment, it does make me a little bit more confident the unit will not come off.As said by others it always hits on ferries ,sleeping policeman, roadworks ramps.In fact whilst going through the roadworks motorway to Dresden this year the jockey wheel fell down because the winding handle had turned somehow. I tied it up and had no m ore problems.It has made me very wary and it has become one of the first checks when stopping.
No, JohnG, it doesn't have a 'skid'. Without the jockey wheel the underside of the drawbar would come into direct contact with the hump.
Hi Lutz
Just wondered as it seemed a good fitting on some continental vans and the thread made me wonder if it was still normal practice to fit them.
Just wondered as it seemed a good fitting on some continental vans and the thread made me wonder if it was still normal practice to fit them.
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