I went away at the start of the month and when we released the jockey lock to hitch the caravan the jockey wheel gave way and the caravan fell to the ground, it was ok and managed to lift it with the car jack and just had to accurately line up the car. When you turn the handle the wheel wasn't moving up or down. On the way home obviously the problem was still there but we just did the same to hitch it up.
When I got back home the problem seemed to correct itself and we managed to raise it with the jockey wheel.
I'm hoping to go away again soon and would like to get this sorted first. There must be something not quite right but I'm not sure what, does anyone have any ideas?
You had`nt over wound it had you,(extended it too long) I think it would come out of the shaft if you do, or oiled the shaft and when you tighten it it just slips down ( not in your case though )
I am not clear what you mean when you say you released the jocky wheel? Do you mean that the inner tube fell down from the outer or do you mean that the whole assembly slid down the clamp? The two are very different situations. It sounds very much to me that when you released the corner steadys and the whole of the weight of the van was on the wheels and jocky wheel the clamp on the jocky wheel leg was loose or faulty and the A frame slid down it the the floor. If this is the case, check the clamp for any damage, and make sure that it is tight before putting any weight on the leg.
If as the previous respondent suggests, the inner and outer sections have become unscrewed(by trying to raise the van too high, or not securing the wheel in a position where it cannot turn whilst towing--this usually means that you cannot adjust the height until you have screwed it back in--I have never heard of this causing a collapse. Hope this helps, let me know what happened.
Brian
------------- there are 10 types of people in this world, those who understand binary and those who don't.
i started having a few problems and i changed it for new,only cost £25 from discover.you could have major problems if it fails completely.could even fall off causing an obstuction in the road.
nb .we too have the santa f'e.
------------- the only silly question is the one you do not ask.
Hi, thanks for the replies,I maybe didn't describe it too well. Brianjose from what you describe I would say that the inner part fell into the outer when the clamp was released. I will go out and further investigate, but I think to be sure I may get a new jockey wheel, and I will also check the clamp. I was just wondering if there was an easy fix.
I have been out to further investigate the issue. The steadies are down and I released the jockey clamp, no movement, I'm assuming the steadies are taking the weight. I turned the jockey handle and it moved up and down no problems, no collapsing. My drive is slightly sloped with the back end sitting higher, so the caravan will always have the weight on the front.
I ama going to try raising the steadies but not completly and release the clamp again and see if anything happens, my theory is if it goes again it isn't falling from a great height.
If I require a new jockey wheel is there anything specific I need to check before buying. My chassis is a B&B and the jockey wheel fixings are contained under the fibre glass cover of the gas locker etc.
If you release the jockey wheel clamp with the steadies up, front of caravan will indeed fall onto ground. To hitch up, jockey wheel needs to be on the ground with clamp tight. Then fully wind up all 4 steadies. Wind handle on top of jockey wheel until hitch is higher than towball on car.
With the help of assistant reverse car so ball is under hitch. Lift hitch handle & wind jockey wheel down(do not touch clamp handle yet)until hitch is on ball & handle goes to running position.
Wind down jockey wheel hard onto ground & watch rear of car rise to ensure hitch is on ball. Wind jockey wheel fully up.....
......NOW release clamp & slide jockey wheel shaft up as high as it will go into A frame & tighten clamp hard. Connect electric plugs & breakaway cable & away yer go.
That was how my husband tried to hitch up, I'm off to my brother in laws to practice on level ground, Thanks guys I thought my jockey wheel was goosed, maybe its ok.
Help.I need some help from you professionals regarding our jockey wheel.
firstly I wound the wound the jockey wheel to high after putting WG40 on the top of it and leaving it for a short time and the whole thing came apart .
inside the handle part there is a very long screw part which screws into the bottom part and that is fine it goes back into a nut of some sort. I can do that BUT there is a funny washer or something at the top below the handle which I can get back on but it is split and does not hold the handle properly. any ideas please. I may not have described it properly I don't know.where can I get a new rubber washer from.
Thank you all
Reta
i suppose some basic advice to new users (and old ones) would be never ever undo the main clamp unless you are sure something else is supporting the front of the trailer..
its maybe best to buy a new one.. they are fairly cheap.. the diameter varies so it needs measuring.. there are three or so stock sizes..
i got a new jockey wheel from ebay, after mine was old and extremely hard to use, it said it was suitable for medium / heavy duty and was only £ 18 , it works lovely, ....worst bit was getting the caravan raised enough to get the main shaft bit out and putting the new one in