Jockey Wheel too short?

[NGuvplimuf]

Went out on first excersion last few days and had no choice but a pitch which is on big slope. Such that rear of van almost on grass and front steddies had to be jacked up on blocks.

Have searched this forum for talk of levelling, mostly about axle levelling but interested in methods for handling above levelling type when the Jockey wheel is essentially too short to level enough.

I am guessing I should be using the steddies, adjusting the Jockey down on the clamp again etc.

 

[colin(bridgend)]

The steadies are there purely as supporting feet - they should not be used for major levelling of the van. Fair enough slight adjustment would be OK but what you should have done is blocked under the jockey wheel using timber or concrete blocks.

 

[emmerson2]

I had this problem once, and used the spare wheel under the jockey wheel. The jockey wheel fits into the hole in the centre of the spare wheel, thereby eliminating any chance of it slipping.

 

[colin(bridgend)]

Emmerson that is a very good idea for sloping sites - well done sir.

 

[colin(bridgend)]

If the site is so steep that the jockey wheel needs propping up how would this affect the fitting of an awning?

 

[emmerson2]

If the site is so steep that the jockey wheel needs propping up how would this affect the fitting of an awning?

Virtually impossible, colin.And btw, your praise for my spare wheel idea will not help your case with Screwem & Leggitt!

 

[NGuvplimuf]

Thanks for advice and I did use Stackapads under the Jockey wheel after a little trial and error but of course when I came to lower the van onto the car the jockey wheel wouldn't lower far enough. So I guess this is when I should have put the steddies back down and then taken out the Stackapads (Towsure) adjusted the Jockey wheel and continued lowering.

What I did do I shall not do again, as I loosened the clamp, thinking it would lower gently onto the ball, well it wasn't gently and was dangerous, could easily have damaged the Alko Stabiliser. Reprimanded myself so don't need you to

 

[MikeP]

Here's another method, but it only works if your wife is a big lass. Wind the front up on the jock, and put your large wife in the back. That will take all the weight off the jock so that you can let it down more, but only if she's REALLY big.

 

[Joyce_5063910]

Thats where a Trail-A-Mate can help, as it doubles up as a jockey wheel and jack. It has a lift of 15 inches ( 38 cm )and when it has reached the highest point it does not come apart.

We have never had any problems on any sloping ground and we do not need to start putting items under the jocket wheel to get the height.

Also when you come to hitch up again there is no problem you just lower the Trail-A-Mate and the caravan goes straight onto the tow ball.

 

[Lutz]

I normally wind the jockey wheel down as far as it will go, then the steadies, then wind up the jockey wheel again, release the jockey wheel clamp to drop the jockey wheel strut, tighten the clamp and then extend the jockey wheel again to raise the front end further, i.e. do the whole thing in steps.

I find that if the jockey wheel clamp is right at the top end of the strut and the jockey wheel fully extended, the back end of the caravan is already touching the ground even without dropping the steadies. The strut is therefore not too short.

(I hope you know what I mean)