Is there an easy way to move a trailer thats not conected to a vehicle?

G'day wato

We've started looking at the maco mule ratchet jockey wheel. It's expensive tho' ($450+). Don't know how it'd go in sand / soft dirt. Will be interesting to see other replies.

Cheers
John

Get your half grown son [mine's 25].

Tell him how it's amazing the way he can lift and push things nowawdays, and how you wish you had his strength....

He'll puff out his chest and fling that trailer wherever you want... add some of his mates... and you're laughing!

The best and easiest way... but it uses the vehicle... is often to have a removeable towball on your bullbar. Then you can often manoever [spelling?] a trailer more easily.

Others use a ride on mower, or 4wheel bike..

I guess you might be talking about camping spots.... under those circumstances... choose a better spot!

Cheers Royce

I agree with John.

I have a Maco Mule (dual wheel model) to move my camper from the carport, turning 90 degrees to manoeuvre it to its resting place.

The Maco Mule utilises a ratchet drive system to apply a turning force to the wheel, in either direction by the flick of a lever. It's slow, but does the job without undue strain.

Tip.
If you need to mount the Mule on the right (driver's side) of the A-frame, the dual wheel model will enable this. I don't believe the single wheel model can be placed on the right side as the operating handle will foul with the A-frame.
If you have a removable jockey wheel, mounted on the left side and held by an opening clamp, you won't need a separate clamp.
Just prop something underneath the A-frame to support it and swap the jockey wheels.

As John also stated, they are not cheap, but are still much cheaper than an electric powered solution which is in the order of $2000.

Bill.

Hi wato, Try using small plastic chocks behind each wheel and by pushing the tow ball end of the trailer sideways the wheels will pop out of the hole easier and keep moving chocks foward helps if your trailer has breaks but if not ask someone to keep moving each side as you crab forward.

Cheers Michael H

A trick to turn caravans was shown to me by a caravan storage place in Perth.
Let the jockey wheel right down . This changes the point of balance to the back, so makes it easier to move sideways .

Simple and it worked.
Regards Philip A

HI Wato,

I use an Ezimover ratchet type jockey wheel.
They are uner $100 from Supercheap
(I got mine for $79 but it was on special).
I think you can also get via Ebay.
I use mine to manouvre a 2700kg caravan to hook up to 4x4.
I'm not sure how they would go on sand or soft areas but if its not a real heavy boat they might be OK.
Cheers,
GPM

Its all about traction - I had read elsewhere that the ratchet type jocket wheel movers are next to useless on any loose surfaces when trying to move a weighty trailer / van - makes sense to me - no traction for the jockey - solid surfaces are a whole different story.

Another question, moving a tandem wheel caravan around a tight corner on solid ground without a car attached. Is there an easy way of doing it. Caravan weighs around 2700 kg.

Hello Wato,

I attach a tree trunk protector to the jockey wheel - the end loops slip over the shaft quite easily - and I use it like the last bloke on a tug-o-war team. Great exercise for the legs ! Together with the help of a ratchet-type pneumatic-tyred jockey wheel to get started, I am able to move a 16 foot caravan around by myself on consolidated gravel.

I modified the ratchet lever of the jockey wheel so that I could pull on it as well as steer with it. Simply weld a piece of 25mm RHS tubing to the bracket the jockey wheel spins in and use a retaing bolt to temprarily hold it in place. I use the ratchet type jockey wheel on the trailer when I know it's going to be jeavily laden.

When the ground surface is too soft, I also enlist the help of the cheese and kisses.

wato35.

I guess if soft dirt or sand is the issue then any sort of wheel will be a problem.
Consider this, get a short handle "shovel" (you know the wide blade type) put the blade under the jockey wheel, fix the handle to the trailer, attach a strap extension to the trailer and the vehicle. Now use the shovel as a ski.
Its been done before and it works.

Regards

Wato35
If you can position your trailer in soft dirt or sand without the vehicle connected, why not just reverse whatever you are doing to get it back out?