Second failure of BOS jockey wheel and more sturdy and reliable alternative

Pradokakadudavid · Senior Member

Second failure of BOS jockey wheel and more sturdy and reliable alternative

hufnpuf · Senior Member

Is it the winding up and down that hurts your back?

Dhutime · Senior Member

I have had the Bos and currently have the blue trailamate but that keeps on leaking after several repairs so Im thinking of an electric jockey. That may suit you as well ? Black Jack is one brand that looks ok around $600 + - .

-- Edited by Dhutime on Sunday 22nd of May 2022 05:21:14 PM

Pradokakadudavid · Senior Member

With two disc operations and a third scheduled, I try to limit the load on my back.

Pradokakadudavid · Senior Member

I was a bit concerned about the possibility of leakage so thanks for the heads up. Obviously the simplicity of the original jockey wheel is why people use them. Thanks.

oldbloke · Guru

I just had an ALKO fail after about 2 weeks. The wheel split. Rated 400kg. My TBW about 275kg.To their credit a replacement is in the mail.

You could probably make one with a 2T hydraulic jack.

yobarr · Guru

Pradokakadudavid wrote:
I was a bit concerned about the possibility of leakage so thanks for the heads up. Obviously the simplicity of the original jockey wheel is why people use them. Thanks.

Don't know how plausible it is, but there is a model of car, Landrover I think, that has an airbag type suspension that raises and lowers the rear of the car as required when hooking up. Perhaps it is possible to fit something like that to your Prado? I've got it on the Roadtrain and it makes life so easy. May not be viable on the Prado, but simply a suggestion. Cheers

slowboat · Member

ARC 750 is the go, tough as and has a huge range of height adjustment, also has an easy to use handle.
it does have wheels though.

Jacksa · Veteran Member

I am not sure why the Trail a mate gets the leaking reviews.

I have used mine about 150 times over 5 years, plus 170 times at home. Two of our caravanning mates have them, no problem.

Put a cover over it when parked in the sun, and the seals will last for many years.

Jacob

-- Edited by Jacksa on Monday 23rd of May 2022 08:34:46 AM

Gundog · Guru

I have an Alko Jockey wheel, I had the jockey wheel cut off and a 10mm Steel plate welded as a replacement (the plate is 8 sided not square)

Buzz Lightbulb · Guru

yobarr wrote:

Pradokakadudavid wrote:
I was a bit concerned about the possibility of leakage so thanks for the heads up. Obviously the simplicity of the original jockey wheel is why people use them. Thanks.
Don't know how plausible it is, but there is a model of car, Landrover I think, that has an airbag type suspension that raises and lowers the rear of the car as required when hooking up. Perhaps it is possible to fit something like that to your Prado? I've got it on the Roadtrain and it makes life so easy. May not be viable on the Prado, but simply a suggestion. Cheers

I use the air suspension on my Touareg to do the same. It works very well but I haven't had experience with the Landrover nor after market air bags.

RichardK · Senior Member

We have what is called a "lovely Leg" by the maker, well made, and I understand has been tested with a down-force of 5 tons before deforming, it is fitted to our ARC 750 jockey wheel and can be simply removed if required.
Have only had it since Xmas but it appears ideal for the purpose you have. We use it on our flat pad.

A couple of pictures...

20220523_091436 (450 x 600).jpg

20220523_091448 (990 x 1320).jpg

The cost I think is around $90 delivered

If this is of interest please PM me and I will give you details.

Cheers

RichardK

-- Edited by RichardK on Monday 23rd of May 2022 11:55:24 AM

Bobdown · Guru

Pradokakadudavid wrote:
With two disc operations and a third scheduled, I try to limit the load on my back.

Just leave it hooked up to the tug David........lol smile smile

Cheers Bob

bratboy · Veteran Member

RichardK wrote:
We have what is called a "lovely Leg" by the maker, well made, and I understand has been tested with a down-force of 5 tons before deforming, it is fitted to our ARC 750 jockey wheel and can be simply removed if required.
Have only had it since Xmas but it appears ideal for the purpose you have. We use it on our flat pad.
A couple of pictures...

The cost I think is around $90 delivered
If this is of interest please PM me and I will give you details.
Cheers
RichardK

-- Edited by RichardK on Monday 23rd of May 2022 11:55:24 AM

looks like they have reinvented the wheel and turned it into a wheel .

not sure how this contraption is going to help with old mates back issue .

RichardK · Senior Member

OP suggested a plate would be beneficial so I put this forward

RichardK

KevinJ · Senior Member

Pradokakadudavid wrote:
Hi all. I have persevered with my BOS 370 jockey wheel and now that the key pin in the operating parts has sheared twice, I have given up with it and thrown the whole thing in the bin in disgust. When it works it is very good but the basic design is flawed and even when using a clutched drill properly to raise and lower, the mechanism design is bound to fail eventually. I have repaired it once with proper parts from BOS but can't tolerate the poor reliability any longer. Whilst the standard (probably heavy duty) jockey wheel that came with my caravan is simple and reliable, I need something that exerts a bit less stress on my back. I have investigated the Trail a Mate which seems fit for purpose however was told by a very rude and abrupt employee that is is not fit for sloping driveways due to the hydraulic mechanism. I have sent them some photos and measurements as I think my driveway has a fairly limited slope where the caravan is stationed.
Question is, can someone recommend a heavy duty "jockey wheel" (note I don't need the wheel and prefer a plate) that is easier to use than a standard jockey wheel? I have searched the web but the Trail a mate seems the only other option.
Any advice would be appreciated.

Try a bar, (See attached). Ignore the counter weight in the picture. I have had my wife push just two fingers down on the bar to lift the draw bar so I could get the jockey wheel into place on occasions. I used the counter weight to calculate the tow ball weight. The weight is 38kgs and using simple maths, I can calculate the TBW very accurately.

KiloBravo · Member

Have a look at the Black Jack trailer jack, I just bought one. Seems to be very good.

Pradokakadudavid · Senior Member

Ha ha I don't/can't tow my 24" van with Prado but a Nissan Patrol 5.6 litre Y62 which is brilliant.

My nickname was from the days when I owned a 2016 Prado Kakadu (2.5t towing capacity) so and I never bothered to change the name!

Thanks for the advice anyway.

Pradokakadudavid · Senior Member

After sending photos and dimensions to Trial a mate, they couldn't even be bothered getting back to me. Probably read by the same rude bastard I dealt with on the phone.

In contrast, when I let BOS know how unhappy I was with what I perceived was a flawed design, they got straight back to me, sincerely apologised, informed me of their new design that does not have the easily broken winding pin anymore and offered to sell me a new version at half price. I think that was a very fair deal. I opted to go with this option as I already kept the original base plate, double wheels and extension tubes so this was the best cost effective option. Fortunately it was only the winding mechanisms and tube that I threw in the bin.

Thanks to Bronwyn at BOS for this excellent service who the DS at Trail a mate could learn a lot from!

DMaxer · Guru

Did they refund the purchase price of the original wheel they sold you and then only charge you 50 percent for the latest one or did you pay 150 percent for a dud one and a new one combined?

Pradokakadudavid · Senior Member

Unfortunately, known for haste and over aggressive responses (one of my many fatal flaws!) I threw the key part of the mechanism in the bin. BOS did say that if I could return the original parts to them then they would update it for free. So they did do the right thing and I over reacted, as is my way! I did enjoy chucking the defunct jack in the bin though but in hind site should have waited for BOS reaction before chucking it out. Will know better next time.