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I don't believe that once the van is on the car you will not be able to get the jockey wheel out unless you are talking about just taking the wheel off.

I arrived in Spain for the Winter Rally with a puncture in the jockey wheel tyre and I know that the van had to be lifted quite high to get the whole thing out.

Mike

If your Jockey Wheel is attached by a side bracket, then it is easily removed.

I do believe that some folks tow with the jockey wheel removed.

Quote: Originally posted by phil75 on 13/6/2012

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Mine is fixed to the side so can be removed in seconds.
To confuse the issue though, I've just discovered that it's probably illegal to tow with it removed

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If the trailer became detatched from the vehicle whilst on the road, I doubt very much if the jockey wheel would support the weight of the caravan/FC crashing down onto it anyway.

Another case of an ill thought through law.

Quote: Originally posted by LobeyDosser on 13/6/2012

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If the trailer became detatched from the vehicle whilst on the road, I doubt very much if the jockey wheel would support the weight of the caravan/FC crashing down onto it anyway.

Another case of an ill thought through law.

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Quote: Originally posted by phil75 on 13/6/2012

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... whereby the jockey wheel snapped under the weight of the caravan (possibly due to being unclamped at a slight angle).

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Quote: Originally posted by phil75 on 13/6/2012

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Under the Road Traffic Act- Construction and Use Regulations.

Below is an extract from the Construction and Use Regulations paragraph 86A.'

(2) The requirements of this paragraph, in relation to a motor vehicle drawing a trailer, are that a secondary coupling is attached to the motor vehicle and trailer in such a way that, in the event of the separation of the main coupling while the trailer is in motion,—(a) the drawbar of the trailer would be prevented from touching the ground; and (B ) there would be some residual steering of the trailer.

If the wheel was wound up I can't really see what much use it would serve if the caravan became unhooked, but there you go.

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This is in relation to a motor vehicle drawing an an unbraked trailer not a caravan,some trailers do not have a jockey wheel at all.

Unbraked trailers require a chain to keep it attached to the vehicle,a braked trailer or caravan have a cable that pulls the handbrake on and then is designed to snap so the van or trailer should come to a halt separate from the vehicle.A wound up jockey wheel would not make much difference if the hitch hits the ground so taking it off will not matter unless the wheel is so low that it hits first.  

Afew months ago my van came off the hitch( my fault) and the jockey wheel,fully retracted stopped the hitch from hitting the ground saving me having to get a new hitch

  doug