jockey wheels in the centre of the A frame and alko handbrake

[rayc]

I have just brought a van which has the jockey wheel in the centre of the A frame. Can anybody explain the advantage of this arrangement over the side fitting ones? It means the wheel must be in line with the van and facing toward the rear of the van before hitching up otherwise it cannot be turned to stow it in the A frame.

The van also has the Push of handbrake without a button or ratchet. It is either off or On. On my previous van I could apply the handbrake 4-5 clicks and then push the van backwards down a slight slope of my drive.

I am not a Ludite but is this progress?

 

[WatsonJohnG]

http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/chatter/display_topic_threads.asp?ForumID=8&TopicID=72921&PagePosition=1&showActive=8&ReturnPage=Active
This thread on UKCS is an the same subject (Jockey Wheel).

I have E-mailed Alko to ask if they do a kit to site it at the side where it is easy to get off should it get stuck/for speed humps/going on and off ferries etc.

They are on 2 weeks works holiday at the moment.

It looks great but is a triumph of design over function.

Using the pneumatic jockey wheel reduces ground clearance further.

You are not a Luddite but someone like me who wants a caravan to use rather than look good in the showroom.

 

[rayc]

http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/chatter/display_topic_threads.asp?ForumID=8&TopicID=72921&PagePosition=1&showActive=8&ReturnPage=Active

This thread on UKCS is an the same subject (Jockey Wheel).

I have E-mailed Alko to ask if they do a kit to site it at the side where it is easy to get off should it get stuck/for speed humps/going on and off ferries etc.

They are on 2 weeks works holiday at the moment.

It looks great but is a triumph of design over function.

Using the pneumatic jockey wheel reduces ground clearance further.

You are not a Luddite but someone like me who wants a caravan to use rather than look good in the showroom.

Thanks John. I thought that there must have been requests from caravanners for it as I could not see Alko coming to the conclusion that it was an engineering improvement. I guess I was wrong. Ray

 

[joeby]

the back of your car must be low to the ground ,i havent found it any different to the side mounted jockey wheel ,and i cant see what you mean about the handbrake its either on or its off ,the only thing i have noticed with the centre jockey is bringing it down our sloping rear drive is when i reach the bottom i need to lower the front right down to stop the rear hitting the drive ,once its down i cant turn the van without raising the front again ,some times i forget to raise it and i can hear the jockey wheel scraping on the road as the mover turns the van ,so i suppose the side mounted is better it also has a smaller wheel

 

[rayc]

Joby, I didn't say I had any problem with the wheel hitting the ground when towing, although lots of others have especially with speed humps. My comment was that the wheel has to be parallel with the A frame and facing backward before hitching as it may not be possible to swing it aftewards. This is amore of a problem ona rally field than on tarmac or a smooth lawn but I still cannot see it is an advantage.

As for the handbrake it is on or off. With my last van which had the button/ratchet system 4 -5 clicks put the brakes 0n slightly so you had to push the van to overcopme them which was hand on a slope.

I'm pleased you have no problems with your set up.

Ray

 

[rayc]

Joby, I didn't say I had any problem with the wheel hitting the ground when towing, although lots of others have especially with speed humps. My comment was that the wheel has to be parallel with the A frame and facing backward before hitching as it may not be possible to swing it aftewards. This is amore of a problem ona rally field than on tarmac or a smooth lawn but I still cannot see it is an advantage.

As for the handbrake it is on or off. With my last van which had the button/ratchet system 4 -5 clicks put the brakes 0n slightly so you had to push the van to overcopme them which was hand on a slope.

I'm pleased you have no problems with your set up.

Ray

sorry for the spelling.

 

[WatsonJohnG]

If you want to remove the jockey wheel as I do before going onto a ferry etc you have to find a gulley etc so that when hooked up the wheel can drop out of the bottom when unwound.(I know that not everyone sees the need to do this but past experiences etc )

This was easy to do on the CC site at Exeter but replacing it meant that the car rear wheels had to be driven up levelling ramps first.

Its much easier with the old side clamp fixing