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 Topic: Jockey wheel mover help
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12/10/2021 at 10:48am
Location: Hampshire
Outfit: Hymer Nova S
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Being a 1998 van, you might be in luck in that a freak of the van's auto reverse mechanism can be used to help move them in the backwards direction.
I must stress this technique has to be used with real care, but can be a powerful tool for moving vans backwards uphill and onto ramps etc.
Hopefully the handbrake is a ratchet type as opposed to a gas strut assisted one?
If so with it partly applied so the van can't roll forwards, by moving the hitch sideways the van will "walk" backwards with very much less effort than if used directly pushing it backwards, even without the brake on at all.
Whilst seeming "magic" the underlying reason is very simple. These brakes unless fully set on only brake wheels from rotating in a forward moving direction.
As you swing the hitch sideways, one wheel would want to move forward and the other backwards, but with the handbrake not fully set on the one that wants to reverse can but the one that wants to move forwards can't; thus the whole van moves backwards a little on each swing.
The fact you are only moving one wheel at a time, plus the leverage involved makes the "work" of moving considerably easier. Add to this the sideways movement cycling can be "built up", again that progressive light duty eases the progress.
It is all a bit like running from side to side with wedges as the thing moves but done in an automatic and continuous way.
Lets return to keeping safe; try this progressively to find how much the brake needs to be applied to really ensure it can't roll forward, and always keep alert and positioned that you can slap on the handbrake if needed. If you have two helpers get them to "follow" the wheels with some good-sized blocks, till confidence builds.
I had an 1100 kg caravan that I moved singlehandedly backwards uphill on my 1:14 slope for some years, using this technique, prior to treating myself to a Mr Shifta hitch tractor.
Coming off the drive forwards I did using the handbrake to control it progress.
If the van has a gas strut assisted, ratchet-less handbrake, basically forget it.
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via mobile 08/10/2021 at 6:42am
