Smarter ideas for jockey wheel?

Submitted: Saturday, Apr 21, 2007 at 15:11

ThreadID: 44566 Views:3637 Replies:5 FollowUps:15

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Willem

My 7x4 bush trailer weighs around 800kg fully laden but most of the time it is around 550kgs as camping gear is stored in it.

When I bought the trailer it had a normal swing-away hard rubber jockey wheel. I changed that for a jockey wheel with a pneumatic wheel.

The fork on the pneumatic wheel got bent at one stage and has been a problem for some time now. Later it got so bad that the wheel rim bent. This had to be straightened out again with a gas axe. Today I had the same problem again when the fork bent, while pushing the trailer around the yard. I have sand on my driveway and the jockeywheel tends to get stuck sometimes and then the problems begin. I get the feeling that the manufacturer fitted the jocket wheel in the wrong place as the wheel seems to swing out from the centre of the trailer putting the weight off balance.

Yes I can go and buy a new one but are there any better ideas out there for jockey wheels ??

Cheers

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Reply By: Bonz (Vic) - Saturday, Apr 21, 2007 at 15:54

Saturday, Apr 21, 2007 at 15:54

Willem I have often thought that two jockey wheels, one on either side of the drawbar would balance and halve the load on the wheels. Was lookign at mine this morning as I pushed the trailer around

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Follow Up By: Member - Peter R (QLD) - Saturday, Apr 21, 2007 at 16:09

Saturday, Apr 21, 2007 at 16:09

Can anyone tell me the way to post a copy of photo in a reply?

I have a couple of photos of ones used by a couple of caravaners.

Pedro

FollowupID: 495930

Follow Up By: Bonz (Vic) - Saturday, Apr 21, 2007 at 16:52

Saturday, Apr 21, 2007 at 16:52

Peter you need the pics hosted elsewhere, like photobucket or something else and you then use the "For images" stuff below the reply like this

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Follow Up By: Member - Peter R (QLD) - Saturday, Apr 21, 2007 at 17:15

Saturday, Apr 21, 2007 at 17:15

Still having problems will send to Willem by email once I hear from him.
Thanks anyway

Pedro

FollowupID: 495943

Follow Up By: Trevor R (QLD) - Saturday, Apr 21, 2007 at 20:22

Saturday, Apr 21, 2007 at 20:22

Pedro,

I see you have no rig pics loaded. If you load the photo into your rig profile, when you post a response there is a "Add Gallery Picture" icon at the bottom of where you type and this will allow you to add pic from your rig pictures into your response.

Just another option to having photobucket account.
Trevor.

FollowupID: 495972

Follow Up By: Member - Peter R (QLD) - Saturday, Apr 21, 2007 at 20:39

Saturday, Apr 21, 2007 at 20:39

Thanks Trevor,
Two of the caravan legs that can be used to move a van or to support one.
Not sure if this will turn out but anyway there are 2 loaded on my rig.

Pedro

FollowupID: 495976

Follow Up By: Member - Peter R (QLD) - Saturday, Apr 21, 2007 at 20:48

Saturday, Apr 21, 2007 at 20:48

!MPG:3!!MPG:4!

FollowupID: 495980

Reply By: Alloy c/t - Saturday, Apr 21, 2007 at 16:16

Saturday, Apr 21, 2007 at 16:16

Just had a look at the jockey wheel on our Campomatic c/t which has a load rating of 1000kg up to a max of 1600kg , it is well forward on the draw bar so much so that the handle is almost level with the red block part of the treg hitch when folded ,thing is that the wheel is also bigger than any other that I see round . tire dia is 12" compared to 10" on the usual blow up jockey wheel , bigger wheels = easier movement once initial inertia is overcome.

AnswerID: 234943

Follow Up By: macka2 - Saturday, Apr 21, 2007 at 17:41

Saturday, Apr 21, 2007 at 17:41

You can have blow up wheels filled with foam

FollowupID: 495944

Follow Up By: Crackles - Sunday, Apr 22, 2007 at 17:22

Sunday, Apr 22, 2007 at 17:22

Or the another option is a company making solid rubber jockey wheels that look identical to a large diameter blow up tyre & feel like they have the equivelant of 40 psi in them. No leaks or punctures & had a sturdy winding mechanism too from memory.
Cheers Craig............

FollowupID: 496134

Reply By: Steve Ellis - Saturday, Apr 21, 2007 at 18:01

Saturday, Apr 21, 2007 at 18:01

Willem I have what may be the answer for you re jockey wheels if you send me an email. steveeli@tpg.com.au I have tried to send you an email with 2 photos but I think I stuffed up. The 2 wheels come from supercheap or similar bleep shops and cut an axle short to suit. I have had a look at your site and I dont think it would be a problem to a handy bloke like yourself. I will say it seems you carry a lot of stuff. regards Steve Ellis

AnswerID: 234960

Follow Up By: Willem - Saturday, Apr 21, 2007 at 18:43

Saturday, Apr 21, 2007 at 18:43

Thanks Steve

The stuff I carry is only an illusion. Most people carry that gear. My GQ now runs under GVM when on trips. All the gear is stowed in the trailer including 240lts of diesel!

Email on its way.

Cheers

FollowupID: 495949

Follow Up By: Willem - Saturday, Apr 21, 2007 at 19:29

Saturday, Apr 21, 2007 at 19:29

Thanks for the photos mate.

The idea to have two wheels is a good one and I will follow that up soon. Will have to buy a new jockey wheel leg and then do a bit of engineering to get the wheels on.

Cheers

FollowupID: 495959

Follow Up By: Member - Steve T (NT) - Saturday, Apr 21, 2007 at 19:48

Saturday, Apr 21, 2007 at 19:48

Hi willem

Try this.

Site Link

Cheers Steve.

FollowupID: 495961

Follow Up By: Willem - Saturday, Apr 21, 2007 at 20:46

Saturday, Apr 21, 2007 at 20:46

Thanks Steve T

I am looking more for something for use when travelling and at home of course.

A dual wheel Jockey wheel is a good idea. Am going to follow it up.

Cheers

FollowupID: 495978

Follow Up By: Member No 1- Monday, Apr 23, 2007 at 09:01

Monday, Apr 23, 2007 at 09:01

A cheap sack track would be a handy place to start willem

FollowupID: 496285

Reply By: Steve Ellis - Saturday, Apr 21, 2007 at 19:34

Saturday, Apr 21, 2007 at 19:34

I have sent you the photos of dual jockey wheel. I see you have a "Twozone " for your 32ltr Engel. I have a 40ltr engel and was wondering about the twozone. please tell me. By the way. Dont pull the camper / caravan around. Push it or lever it with timber or something similar. Easier on your back. Had a SA bloke ovrer here[Newcastle]who pulled his poptop and the jocky wheel was not secured and collapsed on his leg while pulling. Spent a week in hospital and his wife had to drive home. They came back 2 months later to pick up the van. Regards Steve Ellis.

AnswerID: 234974

Follow Up By: Willem - Saturday, Apr 21, 2007 at 19:46

Saturday, Apr 21, 2007 at 19:46

Thanks Steve

I always push the trailer. Thats why the jockey wheel is stuffed.

Missus is wrapt with the Two Zone. We run the Engel on freeze throughout our trips and the Two Zone gives us that much more space for food. I don't carry beer out bush

Cheers

FollowupID: 495960

Reply By: Member - michael H (NSW) - Tuesday, Apr 24, 2007 at 10:41

Tuesday, Apr 24, 2007 at 10:41

Gday Willem, I find I have to wind my jockey wheel right down on my boat trailer when pushing/pulling to stop the wheel digging into the ground it seems to flex too much when right up high and has a mind of its own. It also settles in to the ground when left for long periods so I use some cheap plastic wheel chocks available from caravan shops placed behind wheels and push the drawbar sideways to get the wheels up and out of holes.

Cheers Michael

AnswerID: 235501