Jockey wheel vs jack

Arty Tart and old Fart · Newbie

Jockey wheel vs jack

Dougwe · Chief one feather

Welcome to the gang Arty Tart and old Fart, enjoy here and out in the playground.

I use the Jockey wheel to raise and lower van only then use a axle stand to support the Aframe. I still leave the Jockey wheel in place but only JUST touching the ground as a back up, sort off. I have been thinking of replacing it with just a Jockey Stand (no wheel).

A lot of people have a 'Trailer Mate' or similar. It can also be used to jack wheels up to change. I had one but found it heavy and didn't really like it.

Keep Safe on the roads and out there.

Umpie1 · Senior Member

I have the trail -a-mate and most times just use the plate. I find it a lot easier to pump the jack rather than wind it up or down.

Jimmy Kwaka · Veteran Member

Dougwe wrote:
Welcome to the gang Arty Tart and old Fart, enjoy here and out in the playground.

I use the Jockey wheel to raise and lower van only then use a axle stand to support the Aframe. I still leave the Jockey wheel in place but only JUST touching the ground as a back up, sort off. I have been thinking of replacing it with just a Jockey Stand (no wheel).

A lot of people have a 'Trailer Mate' or similar. It can also be used to jack wheels up to change. I had one but found it heavy and didn't really like it.

Keep Safe on the roads and out there.

We do exactly as Dougwe does. leave the wheel on, use an axle stand as the main holderupperer.

Treecrest · Veteran Member

I have a Trail a Mate with the plate. I bought it because of being able to use it as a jack.

To store the van, I have to back it around on our driveway (and it is a Tandem van) I find the trail a mate doesn't like it when the van is raised off the vehicle. Why - once in place, the tandem wheels have a twist still, so it puts a lot of pressure on the trail a mate hydraulic ram when the hitch comes off the vehicle and the van straightens.

Also, I'd like to leave the trail a mate raised on the van drawbar, but not confident that the leg won't lower as we drive along. I know mine doesn't like being laid on its side!
Glen

Radar · Guru

Arty Tart and old Fart wrote:
We need a new jockey wheel and are considering replacing it with a jack, since you never move a 20' van by hand anyway :) Any suggestions pros and cons appreciated

I have both system.

Which is better? I seriously do not have a real clue.

The silver wind up one matches the chassis and looks better

The orange knocked around trail a mate looks ugly maybe with paint rubbed off. Could paint it.

The wind up one lighter by a bit and when your pushing weight it wins hand down.

So the winner to me for simplest is the wind up one, I do need some excercise.

Our caravan come with a side winder jack and that system is a different jack point.

Enjoy your travels.

travelyounger · Guru

Hi the travel mate is the best thing I have put on my van especially with high toeball weight.You are right you can't move van by hand unless you are superman they are expensive and much safer than wind ups

Cheers

Radar · Guru

travelyounger wrote:
Hi the travel mate is the best thing I have put on my van especially with high toeball weight.You are right you can't move van by hand unless you are superman they are expensive and much safer than wind ups
Cheers

Would you like to explain how a hydralic jack is safer then a mechanical operated jack with a lot less parts.

How I obtained a spare jack handle, small wheel and plate was from a man who was going out to buy his 3rd trail a mate jack because the tubes give way under stress and bends just below where you attach the jack to the frame of the caravan.

Ron-D · Guru

My van is two ton single axel ,and at my age I can assure you Iam not superman but the stock wheel on my jockey wheel has come in handy when giving the the nose of the trailer a nudge to couple things up,but haveing said that the trail mate has its Advantages...

DMaxer · Guru

After experiencing the thrill of a jockey wheel collapsing, I invested in an axle stand and only use the jockey wheel to lift the van off the tow ball. After leveling the fore and aft I lower onto the axle stand and there it remains with the jockey wheel just touching the ground, a la Doug.

I also have a Trail A Mate but haven't used it (touch wood) as yet. I don't trust the jockey wheels.

PeterD · Guru

There is a bit of swings and roundabouts with wheels and feet on the bottom. If you get a leg with a wheel on it you can lift the draw bar higher than with the foot (not using blocks.) If you get the normal length leg with a foot you can get the draw bar lower than with a wheel (and I find some situations I could not get the nose low enough when I had a wheel.)

I now have this longer one - Jockey Stand Flat Plate 27" - It has nearly the lift of using a wheel but still has the advantage of the usual size leg. It has 5 locating ridges on the length of the barrel where the normal ones have 2 or 3. It costs a lot more but I find it worth it.