Jockey wheels

Submitted: Wednesday, Aug 29, 2007 at 20:20

ThreadID: 49131 Views:5534 Replies:12 FollowUps:3

This Thread has been Archived

Pete and Lez

Looking for some views/recommendations on jockey wheels in regard to solid tyres V pnuematic tyres. For off road camper. Mainly used on soft or loose ground, Thanks for any input.
Cheers Peter and Lez

Back Expand Un-Read 0 Moderator Share

Reply By: Olcoolone- Wednesday, Aug 29, 2007 at 20:37

Wednesday, Aug 29, 2007 at 20:37

Gday guys, the original wheel on our Trak Shak was solid and the camper was hard to move, went to a pnuematic one and what a differance....now I can sit back and I don't have to help Lyn anymore.......it was the best ivestment I made.

Regards Richard

AnswerID: 259446

Reply By: Anthony (Vic) - Wednesday, Aug 29, 2007 at 20:39

Wednesday, Aug 29, 2007 at 20:39

Hi Pete & Lez,
I've only used the hard or solid type of jockey wheel on a camper with a ball weight of 150kg (which may be a consideration).

I found in soft ground, in particular in sand, the wheel would sink most of its diameter below the surface just from winding up off the ball and a bit of positioning. I alway had to place a board under the wheel to maintain the level of the camper.
cheers A

AnswerID: 259448

Reply By: Brew34.5(SA) - Wednesday, Aug 29, 2007 at 20:45

Wednesday, Aug 29, 2007 at 20:45

Pnuematic tyre is the only way to go. Sooooo much easier to move around.

AnswerID: 259453

Reply By: Member - Luke (SA) - Wednesday, Aug 29, 2007 at 20:45

Wednesday, Aug 29, 2007 at 20:45

G,day Pete and Lez
I would definately say the pnuematic tyre would be the go. I had a solid one on my last camper (on road one) and it was realy hopeless when in soft dirt or sand.

I don't know what your intensions are but a few years ago the old man and me changed a solid wheel to a pnumatic one. was a little bit of stuffing around but worked out well. Already had the jockey wheel and paid about $15 for the new wheel

Cheers Luke

AnswerID: 259454

Reply By: Brian B (Brisbane) - Wednesday, Aug 29, 2007 at 20:59

Wednesday, Aug 29, 2007 at 20:59

Hi,

Pneumatic is by far the best on soft ground.

With our previous camper we started with a hard wheel but because we go to places like Moreton Island etc a fair bit we quickly swapped it over to a pneumatic and it worked a treat.

We have since changed over to a larger Goldstream camper and I have put an ALKO power jockey wheel on it which also has a pneumatic tyre and it is brilliant. The decision to put the power wheel on was because I have an AT35 hitch and these can be a bit dicky trying to line them up to put the pin in when on soft ground. The power wheel has a long handle and works on a ratchet principle and gives good control of the camper.

Pneumatic is the way to go IMO.

AnswerID: 259458

Reply By: MEMBER - Darian (SA) - Wednesday, Aug 29, 2007 at 21:05

Wednesday, Aug 29, 2007 at 21:05

Our Campomatic came with a large, wide solid wheel (looks a lot like a pneumatic one) - Manutec is the brand - never been a snag for us - we back up close and only have to nudge the trailer a bit anyway. Had to replace the jockey on a recent trip - the new Manutec kit bought in Winton ($100) came with a pneumatic wheel - butI swapped it over for my solid one - one less item to be maintained (air pressure).

AnswerID: 259460

Reply By: Member - Kim M (VIC) - Wednesday, Aug 29, 2007 at 21:13

Wednesday, Aug 29, 2007 at 21:13

Pete

Without a doubt go for the pneumatic tyre.

Also, the "lift up" type of jockey wheel is far more convenient.

Regards

Kim

AnswerID: 259462

Reply By: Outnabout David (SA) - Wednesday, Aug 29, 2007 at 21:29

Wednesday, Aug 29, 2007 at 21:29

I Pete,

Good to see you are getting back into it.
Pneumatic is the way to go on uneven ground but.........there are wheels and then there are wheels. My camper came with a bleep ty 8"wheel and when you moved it just leant over and jammed. I hunted around and even the manutec had chinese wheels with no proper bearings. I found a wheel 10" with bearings in it have cut and shut the bottom bracket and fitted it up and certainly is a lot better.

AnswerID: 259463

Reply By: Shaker - Wednesday, Aug 29, 2007 at 23:02

Wednesday, Aug 29, 2007 at 23:02

Pneumatic are hopeless, way too much sidewall flex even when over-inflated, you can get solid ones now with the same width & diameter as the pneumatic ones.
The ones in the standard are also better than the swing up type, as there is a lot movement in the hinge set up.

AnswerID: 259481

Follow Up By: Member - Oldplodder (QLD) - Thursday, Aug 30, 2007 at 08:14

Thursday, Aug 30, 2007 at 08:14

Good point.
I have pneumatic swing up.

Works quite well compared to the old thinner solid.

But as you note, if you are in a sticky situation and side load the swing up wheel, the clamping springs and the hinge system system really flex.

I need to blow up the wheel every few months. Luckily I have a tyre pump in the 4wd.

The plastic handle on the swing up dissappeared on the last trip. Must have been collected by a stone from the rear tyres of the car. Jockey wheel is in front of the stone shield.

If I am crossing some rough country, I need to make sure the wheel isn't dangling on the 4wd CT, but rope it witht he tyre up instead of down.

Good to hear about the larger solid tyre.
Also looking at taking the swing away off and having a removable one.

FollowupID: 521009

Follow Up By: Brew34.5(SA) - Thursday, Aug 30, 2007 at 20:19

Thursday, Aug 30, 2007 at 20:19

i wouldn't give you 2c for a solid tyre . :)

FollowupID: 521093

Reply By: SARocks - Thursday, Aug 30, 2007 at 07:55

Thursday, Aug 30, 2007 at 07:55

the new van came with a large wide solid wheel and find no trouble moving the van

AnswerID: 259518

Reply By: Pete and Lez - Thursday, Aug 30, 2007 at 19:57

Thursday, Aug 30, 2007 at 19:57

Thanks for all the replies, might take a look at the solid ones that look like a pnuematic one, no punctures would be good.
Cheers Peter and Lez

AnswerID: 259597

Follow Up By: Member - Roachie (SA) - Thursday, Aug 30, 2007 at 21:38

Thursday, Aug 30, 2007 at 21:38

G'day Pete,

I recently changed my pnuematic jockey wheel for a solid one on the camper.

If you decide you'd like a pnuematic type, let me know and you can have it cheap....haha

It's okay, but I find the large solid tyre better in most situations.

Cheers

Roachie

FollowupID: 521102