Motorised caravan jockey wheel
Submitted: Sunday, Oct 08, 2023 at 09:26
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Uncle Arthur
Because of my age and physical limitations I am looking at purchasing a motorized jockey wheel to maneuver the van through 90 degrees off the loose gravel bitumen driveway into its carport
parking position. To date have been able to push it with the assistance of my wife. The unit I am thinking of is the T-REX Powered Jockey Wheel Heavy Duty Electric Motorised 12V 350W for Caravans Trailer Boat.
Looking for advise on suitability from other users. Thank you in advance.
Reply By: Peter_n_Margaret - Sunday, Oct 08, 2023 at 09:38
Sunday, Oct 08, 2023 at 09:38
According to the advertisement....
Note: Not suitable for dual axle caravans. Not suitable for loose surfaces including gravel, sand, long grass etc.
Edisons
Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 motorhome
AnswerID:
644578
Follow Up By: Kazza055 - Sunday, Oct 08, 2023 at 11:21
Sunday, Oct 08, 2023 at 11:21
The dual axle can be easy got around by removing a set of wheels of the van.
What you will find much harder to work with is the "loose gravel bitumen" as the wheel will just tend to spin.
I had one to run my van back into a bay, virtually a straight line on smooth hotmix surface and it really struggled.
I ended up changing the location of where I parked the van to make it easier to get in and out, sold the electric wheel to recoup some of my money.
Never did it but I reckon the best way to do it is either with a front towbar or use a quad bike.
FollowupID:
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Reply By: IvanTheTerrible - Sunday, Oct 08, 2023 at 11:35
Sunday, Oct 08, 2023 at 11:35
Tracked caravan tug
AnswerID:
644579
Follow Up By: IvanTheTerrible - Sunday, Oct 08, 2023 at 12:08
Sunday, Oct 08, 2023 at 12:08
FollowupID:
924718
Follow Up By: Kazza055 - Sunday, Oct 08, 2023 at 12:15
Sunday, Oct 08, 2023 at 12:15
That would be my only other suggestion but it's not cheap.
SIL had one and offered it to me but they are very heavy to lift into the canopy so didn't take up the offer.
FollowupID:
924719
Reply By: Member - Bigfish - Sunday, Oct 08, 2023 at 13:05
Sunday, Oct 08, 2023 at 13:05
Other option is to buy an electric winch with a Wi-Fi remote (only about $400) and put a couple of mounting points in the ground from which you can winch the van around. Steel rod with a u bolt attached would do it. I used one for manoeuvring my boat. Worked
well.
AnswerID:
644580
Reply By: Peter_n_Margaret - Sunday, Oct 08, 2023 at 14:11
Sunday, Oct 08, 2023 at 14:11
Chassis mounted mover. Drives the caravan wheels. Permanently mounted to the van.
Caravan mover.
Cheers,
Peter
OKA196 motorhome
AnswerID:
644581
Reply By: Kocon - Sunday, Oct 08, 2023 at 16:24
Sunday, Oct 08, 2023 at 16:24
I have been using a very similar type for about 12 years. Used to drag the 14ft van about 60ft on grass up a slight incline to get to the driveway. Yes the drive wheel did spin but I overcame that by using 2 plastic bread crates with the sides cut off placing 1 in front of the other as it went. One negative, I don't know about the Edison model but
mine draws heaps of current so I have to keep the car motor running whilst using otherwise it will kill the battery.
AnswerID:
644582
Follow Up By: Uncle Arthur - Sunday, Oct 08, 2023 at 17:17
Sunday, Oct 08, 2023 at 17:17
Thanks for the reply Kocon, what is the brand name of your unit, sounds like it might a bit more capability than the T Rex.
FollowupID:
924723
Follow Up By: Kocon - Sunday, Oct 08, 2023 at 18:46
Sunday, Oct 08, 2023 at 18:46
Unfortunately it doesn't have a label on it. I bought it at a garage sale as a bit of a chance. I've since modified it with the anderson plug and then a computer fan as I found I cooked the relays from the current it drew. I did work it pretty hard. Hopefully the photos will help you to compare it to what your thinking of purchasing.
Jockey wheel
Jocky Wheel
Jockey Wheel
FollowupID:
924724
Follow Up By: Nomadic Navara - Monday, Oct 09, 2023 at 00:00
Monday, Oct 09, 2023 at 00:00
That one looks very like the T-REX Motorised Jockey Wheel Electric Power Mover that the OP was looking at. The main difference looks like the control box has been shifted from above and behind the wheel to on top of the motor. I think your experience with it would be very much what the OP was asking for.
FollowupID:
924725
Follow Up By: Member - McLaren3030 - Monday, Oct 09, 2023 at 06:34
Monday, Oct 09, 2023 at 06:34
A set of TRED Boards or MAXTRAX might make it easier on the mover.
Macca.
FollowupID:
924726
Reply By: Mikee5 - Sunday, Oct 08, 2023 at 22:18
Sunday, Oct 08, 2023 at 22:18
Have you considered fitting a hand winch or boat trailer winch on a post or secure mount then wind the caravan into place?
AnswerID:
644585
Reply By: Member - PhilD_NT - Monday, Oct 09, 2023 at 00:55
Monday, Oct 09, 2023 at 00:55
I have a different style of electric mover, a Parkit360, that I bought about 10 years ago. Fairly expensive though but does the job.
https://parkit360.com.au
I'm using it to maneuver a 2.7 tonne dual axle van.
This can either attach to a towball, or in the case of an offroad style swiveling hitch it attaches to a bracket on the A frame, and this is how I'm using it. I use it with a large battery sitting on the mover itself but could be fed from the van house battery with suitably sized cabling and fusing. I use a separate battery though. I optioned it with fairly aggressive tyres as most of the area I need it for is lawn.
This earlier model is reasonably slow and noisy, but I believe that the current models are a lot better in these respects.
In my experience I doubt that it would fare
well on gravel as it does dig into the lawn when altering direction a bit. Might be better with single axle vans and I'm hoping to find out as we'll probably replace this van for a slightly smaller single axle one in the next few months. I might even try a tow pin on the front of the vehicle and see it that works as a better alternative for the new van.
AnswerID:
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Reply By: Rod N - Monday, Oct 09, 2023 at 08:00
Monday, Oct 09, 2023 at 08:00
Th e main problem with powered jockey wheels is that they are trying to move the full weight of the van with only about 10% of the weight as downforce.
AnswerID:
644587
Reply By: Uncle Arthur - Tuesday, Oct 10, 2023 at 12:21
Tuesday, Oct 10, 2023 at 12:21
Thank you to all the replies. I have taken on the advise given and not purchased the T rex. Following on the idea of a front tow bar I am having built a front tow bar for the ride on mower. I have seen on a T.V. ad for the rescue helicopter where it is pushed out of the aircraft hanger using a ride on mower. I figure the van is nowhere near the weight of the chopper so will give that a try.
Once again many thanks for your input. Uncle Arthur
AnswerID:
644594
Follow Up By: Kazza055 - Tuesday, Oct 10, 2023 at 13:14
Tuesday, Oct 10, 2023 at 13:14
Sounds like a great solution. My brother had a caravan park some years ago and he used a quad bike to park vans for those customers unable to reverse their vans. The towbar was on the back but having it on the front makes it easier to see where the van is going. Also driving forward means the van goes in the direction you are steering.
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Member - Jim S1 - Tuesday, Oct 10, 2023 at 15:19
Tuesday, Oct 10, 2023 at 15:19
Hey Kazza, are you sure about this ?
" driving forward means the van goes in the direction you are steering"
I'm trying to visualise, and having no luck. Are you saying that driving forwards, if I steer to the right the van will go to the right ?
Cheers
Jim
| "Sometimes I sits and thinks, and sometimes I just sits." A fisherman.
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FollowupID:
924732
Follow Up By: Kazza055 - Tuesday, Oct 10, 2023 at 15:31
Tuesday, Oct 10, 2023 at 15:31
Never done it myself but had read that this is how it works, one of the advantage of the front towbar. Maybe someone can confirm it.
I recall want one made for my old Patrol but nobody would make one because of the collision airbags.
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Bob Y. - Qld - Wednesday, Oct 11, 2023 at 06:41
Wednesday, Oct 11, 2023 at 06:41
Think about it. If articulated at the front of mower/quad, you steer right, the van draw bar goes right & rear of van goes left. But having the hitch on the front just makes easier to control, as you’re not using mirrors or glancing back over either shoulder.
Bob
FollowupID:
924734
Reply By: Peter J4 - Wednesday, Oct 11, 2023 at 07:22
Wednesday, Oct 11, 2023 at 07:22
If using a ride on mower be very careful if there is any slope involved as the mower brakes will not hold the van.
I watched a friend do it on his small hobby
farm and all went
well until the van got onto the slope and away it went , the look of horror on his face as the van took over was priceless.
Fortunately in his case there was nothing to hit and a gentle up slope stopped the van without damage but it was a wild ride on the rideon as it went for about 50 metres before stopping.
AnswerID:
644597
Follow Up By: Member - PhilD_NT - Wednesday, Oct 11, 2023 at 14:02
Wednesday, Oct 11, 2023 at 14:02
My Parkit360 came with a switch on the handle and a plug that connects to the van input so I can activate the van brakes. Seems like a wise addition for any mover.
FollowupID:
924735
Reply By: Uncle Arthur - Wednesday, Oct 11, 2023 at 08:18
Wednesday, Oct 11, 2023 at 08:18
Thanks for the advise regarding the downhill ride. Not a problem here as it is on a flat area off the flat driveway.
AnswerID:
644598