When the Jockey Wheel is too short for leveling (at home)
Kendo said
09:07 PM Dec 13, 2015
Parking our new caravan on our sloping driveway has created an issue when trying to level it.
The standard jockey wheel doesn't go high enough. 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.
This only take a couple of minutes but is fraught with danger as the side winder isn't "clamped" or attached in any way It works but I've certainly not been happy with this method.
How to solve this problem and find a safer way has taken a couple of weeks of thought.
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.
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
Jeff
DMaxer said
09:35 PM Dec 13, 2015
How is the Kokoda going? Taking off for the holidays?
Long Weekend said
09:45 PM Dec 13, 2015
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
wasn_me said
11:31 AM Dec 14, 2015
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
Long Weekend said
12:19 PM Dec 14, 2015
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
Hylife said
10:41 PM Jan 20, 2016
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.
Parking our new caravan on our sloping driveway has created an issue when trying to level it.
The standard jockey wheel doesn't go high enough.
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. 
This only take a couple of minutes but is fraught with danger as the side winder isn't "clamped" or attached in any way
It works but I've certainly not been happy with this method.
How to solve this problem and find a safer way has taken a couple of weeks of thought.
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.
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
Jeff
How is the Kokoda going? Taking off for the holidays?
Murray
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
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.