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Post Info TOPIC: When the Jockey Wheel is too short for leveling (at home)


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When the Jockey Wheel is too short for leveling (at home)


Parking our new caravan on our sloping driveway has created an issue when trying to level it. confuse

The standard jockey wheel doesn't go high enough. cry But, by using my trailer mate side winder jack to hold the A frame and re-setting the jockey wheel on to a brick enables the level to be achieved. smile

This only take a couple of minutes but is fraught with danger as the side winder isn't "clamped" or attached in any way no It works but I've certainly not been happy with this method.nono

How to solve this problem and find a safer way has taken a couple of weeks of thought. confuseconfuse

Here's my solution - Use a scaffolding "Screw Jack".

It's a solid 38mm diameter square threaded jack with a SWL of 4 tonne. A 48mm diam tube is held in the Jockey wheel clamp with a welded tab to prevent slippage. The weight at this point will be a little higher than the 140kg tow ball weight but well within the SWL of the jack itself. biggrinbiggrin

Jack%201.jpg

The only down side will be the slower speed of raising and lowering. BUT it certainly won't fall off/down during the process.

Now this is certainly not something I'd use while traveling (it's a heavy bugga!), but for for home in the driveway it seems to be ideal. You can't see it in the photo but there is a ¼" strip of steel on the downhill side to get the base plate parallel to the A frame.

I'm rather proud of my solution biggrin

Jeff 



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How is the Kokoda going? Taking off for the holidays?



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I put a second 'bolt on' jockey wheel clamp on the other side of the A frame. That way I can use a second jockey wheel to swap over. Jockey wheels are relatively cheap - especially from trash and treasure markets.

Murray

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Murray,I did the same thing with reasonably light poptop. I bought the jockey wheel & clamp from repco on special for about $20. The first time i used it the clamp let the van fall over sideways. It gave way like a piece of cheese. So of to a trailer place to buy an alko clamp, $18. You only get what you pay for. I cut the wheel bracket of the second jockey wheel. Sometimes i find the drawbar is to close to the ground to get the jockey wheel on. Cheers Pete

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Wasn me - luckily I bought mine from Caravans Plus. The clamp is extra heavy construction and the u bolts attaching it are 12mm. I also use the second one with one of those power wheels at home, then use the other one with a normal jockey wheel when coupling up to the tug.

Murray



-- Edited by Long Weekend on Monday 14th of December 2015 12:20:03 PM

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I don't leave my van leveled at home unless being used as a spare room when unexpected excess guests turn up.

Better to have it nose down slightly and that way the water runs off the roof (cover) rather than puddling until the sun or win dry it out.

 



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