I think John's idea is quite good. I reckon that quite a lot would be in for a shock to know what the steadies are actually supporting, especially if you put the steadies down with the caravan empty and then add all the gear, water, etc.
I have a jockey wheel with the nose weight incorporated in it and there is no difference in the indicated weight when the steadies are lowered using a drill. I am sure that would change if the steadies were to be screwed by hand. Incidentally the type of thread used in the steady is of a type which aids ease of use when supporting loads when being raised, i.e. old type vehicle lifts etc. I usually leave the jockey wheel down but release the nose weight on the spring in the jockey wheel by raising it just enought to indicate no load but still contacting the ground.
I have caravanned since 1968 and I have only seen one steady collapse and that was at a rally with twelve people in the van!
Alex
I have caravanned since 1968 and I have only seen one steady collapse and that was at a rally with twelve people in the van!
Alex
My friend put the front steady through the outer floor skin by levelling with it
That was down a lot to bad design as it was mounted to the plywood floor rather than attached through a hole in the chassis hole as is more usual
The Lunar agent simply stuck on a bigger piece of plywood between the steady and the floor!!
Hi John,
you are correct in your comment,the steadies can take far more of the weight than the areas that some manufacturers position them.
It would be interesting to hear what a manufacturers opinion is on this if they have the bottle. It's just why would a corner steady be called a steady if it was actually meant as a support.
Well until there's a good reason to remove or higher a jockey I'll continue to use mine.
Many Thanks All, Dan.
Well until there's a good reason to remove or higher a jockey I'll continue to use mine.
Many Thanks All, Dan.
Does anybody know why some caravans have heavy duty steadies at the rear and lighter ones at the front. I thought it was because the jockey wheel supports the weight at the front.
Colin.
Colin.
I think that its more to do with the manufacturer saving a bit of money
On the Challenger range and Ace Award etc Swift have cut prices this year but replaced heavy duty steadies with lighter ones all round
On the Bailey which we just parted with it had HD ones at the rear but I felt that it was more to make the winder easier to reach than anything else
It was a nuisance having different ones front and rear as the leg extenders would only fit the front legs an dblocks had to be carried for the rear ones
On the Challenger range and Ace Award etc Swift have cut prices this year but replaced heavy duty steadies with lighter ones all round
On the Bailey which we just parted with it had HD ones at the rear but I felt that it was more to make the winder easier to reach than anything else
It was a nuisance having different ones front and rear as the leg extenders would only fit the front legs an dblocks had to be carried for the rear ones
If it were really important to have the jockey wheel down then the manufacturers should state so in the owner's handbook. Otherwise, they could be held accountable for any damage to the front steadies.
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