Looking to replace or upgrade your jockey wheel? There are a few simple things you should think about before you make your decision. Do you need something for a little box trailer, horse float or twin axle caravan? Do you just unhook and leave in the same spot or do you need to use the jockey wheel to maneuver? How tall does it need to be - do you have a high offroad camper?
The standard alko jockey wheel is what you would commonly see on trailers or small caravans. They have solid tyres and a standard clamp which can be welded or bolted on to the A-Frame. They are a basic jockey wheel, good for simple unhooking with not much movement.
Extra tall and larger wheel units are also available with the standard clamps.
Moving up the range you have units with Swivel brackets, this means you no longer have to attach the jockey wheel each time. Instead you simply pull the handle to release the locking pins and rotate the wheel down. Not only does it save you time in setup but also means you do not have to find space to store the jockey wheel when not in use. Swivel bracket units generally come with larger solid rubber wheels for easier mobility.
The Extreme OffRoad Ark jockey wheel is designed to be tough, versatile and easy to use. The large dual wheels give a larger platform for spreading the drawbar weight. This provides unmatched traction on both hard and soft surfaces, while the trailing yoke design offers superior manoeuvrability. The heavy duty shaft has a 750kg dynamic rating and 4 adjustable starting height positions to suit also most any trailer / caravan. The detachable side winding handle is another feature of this easy to use design.
If you need to move a heavy caravan around on uneven ground or into a tight spot you might want to consider a ratchet jockey wheel. These units enable a single person to maneuver larger caravans into positions impossible to achieve when still attached to a tow vehicle. The Alko Power Mover was one of the first models available with a ratchet and lever system and is ideal for moving single axle caravans with a ball weight of up to 150kg.
The Trailer Valet range is becoming increasingly popular in the Australian market. Building on the ratchet jockey wheel concept they have a multi gear system with added safety features for effortless and secure movement even on an incline of up to 10 degrees. There are 2 models available, the 5X is designed for single axle caravans, horse floats and trailers up to 2200kg. It has a heavy duty mounting bracket which attaches to the drawbar, side winding crank handle and an auto engaging safety break. The Trailer Valet XL is designed for larger caravans and is able to effortlessly move trailers with an ATM of up to 4500kg. Also gear driven using a side winding handle or the included drill attachment can be used in conjunction with a 18v cordless drill if you prefer. The XL attaches to the trailer via a 50mm ball coupling, this means it can used on multiple trailers without the need of mounting brackets.
The Trail-A-Mate is a high quality multi-use caravan accessory, in just seconds this jockey wheel can be transformed into a powerful hydraulic jack with a lifting capacity of 1000kg. It has a 50mm shaft and will suit standard clamps already fitted to your A-frame. The kit includes 2 brackets which attach to the chassis cross-member at the rear of the wheel axle to provide a secure lifting position. You simply swap out the detachable wheel with the included base plate, attach the lifting clamp and position the under locating bracket at rear of wheel. You can now lift a caravan or trailer with a 2900kg ATM for easy wheel replacement or maintenance.
If you have a 12V mover fitted to your caravan you should be using a heavy duty dual wheel unit. Designed with larger solid rubber wheels and steel centre they provide the added strength required of this type of setup. The twin wheel system allows smooth pivoting and greater traction on rough or sloping terrain.
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5 Comments
Gordon Evans
Wanted for Golf van rear wind down stabiliser leg .regards Gordon
Lee Daniels
We have a 20ft geist cv. 1540kg.duel wheel Wanting a new jockey wheel. We are in our 60s and do not ever move the cv without our vehicle. Do you recommend the trail mate or should we get the conventional wheel type. Thanks
Les
We have a Trail a mate and we could not be happier with it. Fantastic product and the follow up care was awesome. Thank You.
Greg
Hi. If your caravan or heavy trailer does not have to be moved, to reduce stress on the Jockey Wheel Bracket when unhitched the jockey wheel should be located directly under and parallel to the A frame. The further away from this position, the greater the stress is on the mounting bracket. It would be a good idea if a small sticker was available to indicate the ideal position on the A frame to be supplied by the manufacturer and/or retailer with all jockey wheels sold. Indicate that the sticker should be on the A frame between the mounting brackets pointing towards the center of the trailer. "Jockey Wheel {Red or Black Wide Arrow Up} Ideal Position"
Greg
If you select a pivoting jockey wheel swing the wheel away from the tow vehicle and swivel it up towards the A frame to avoid the wheel scraping on the the ground. Also secure the winding handle above the A frame. These items can be severely damaged especially when maneuvering over the gutter.