been dragging a van for a number of years off and on and have never considered this until recently, seen a few posts here mentioning this....
can see the point of removing it to improve ground clearance and possibly as a security measure but would worry me should it be necessary to seperate the car and van in a hurry?
so what's your thoughts on removing the jockey for travelling?
Can't see why you would need to separate the 2 in a hurry - in the unlikely event of a fire you could just drop the van on the ground or put the corner steadies down just as quick as cranking the jockey down.
If there is a fire I don't think you would be thinking "oh gosh - I wish I had left the jockey wheel on"
Personally I would leave it where its meant to be. You surely can't have a ground clearance problem with a C5! I assume they have self leveling suspension. The main reason for leaving it is place is safety. An example, heaven forbid, that the driver is injured in and accident whilst towing and the emergency services have to remove the caravan to the side of the road to allow recovery of the tow car. You can't expect the Fire Service or the Police to root through you car boot to find the jockey wheel.
Quote: Originally posted by David Klyne on 17/8/2010
Personally I would leave it where its meant to be. You surely can't have a ground clearance problem with a C5! I assume they have self leveling suspension. The main reason for leaving it is place is safety. An example, heaven forbid, that the driver is injured in and accident whilst towing and the emergency services have to remove the caravan to the side of the road to allow recovery of the tow car. You can't expect the Fire Service or the Police to root through you car boot to find the jockey wheel.
David
So the emergency services will provide a fire engine and trained team to cut you out of the car with 2 paramedics in attendance. The police will provide patrols to close the road, a helicopter or ambulance will be provided to take you to the hospital where a medical team will provide life saving treatment. But putting the jockey wheel back on is just expecting too much?
I would never remove it unless there was a problem (and to date, there has never been a problem). Spending the time to take it off means making the time to put it back on again. Then you have to find somewhere to put it - and it can get dirty/oily/greasy too. Leave it where it is, I say. Save yourself time, storeage space and a little bit of mess.
Quote: Originally posted by millermicm on 17/8/2010
Quote: Originally posted by David Klyne on 17/8/2010
Personally I would leave it where its meant to be. You surely can't have a ground clearance problem with a C5! I assume they have self leveling suspension. The main reason for leaving it is place is safety. An example, heaven forbid, that the driver is injured in and accident whilst towing and the emergency services have to remove the caravan to the side of the road to allow recovery of the tow car. You can't expect the Fire Service or the Police to root through you car boot to find the jockey wheel.
David
So the emergency services will provide a fire engine and trained team to cut you out of the car with 2 paramedics in attendance. The police will provide patrols to close the road, a helicopter or ambulance will be provided to take you to the hospital where a medical team will provide life saving treatment. But putting the jockey wheel back on is just expecting too much?
Absolutely, they should not be expected to do that. I accept they would be perfectly capable but would suggest their time and expertise would be far better spent dealing with the main situating not faffing around trying to find the jockey wheel and refitting it.
Quote: Originally posted by David Klyne on 18/8/2010
Quote: Originally posted by millermicm on 17/8/2010
Quote: Originally posted by David Klyne on 17/8/2010
Personally I would leave it where its meant to be. You surely can't have a ground clearance problem with a C5! I assume they have self leveling suspension. The main reason for leaving it is place is safety. An example, heaven forbid, that the driver is injured in and accident whilst towing and the emergency services have to remove the caravan to the side of the road to allow recovery of the tow car. You can't expect the Fire Service or the Police to root through you car boot to find the jockey wheel.
David
So the emergency services will provide a fire engine and trained team to cut you out of the car with 2 paramedics in attendance. The police will provide patrols to close the road, a helicopter or ambulance will be provided to take you to the hospital where a medical team will provide life saving treatment. But putting the jockey wheel back on is just expecting too much?
Absolutely, they should not be expected to do that. I accept they would be perfectly capable but would suggest their time and expertise would be far better spent dealing with the main situating not faffing around trying to find the jockey wheel and refitting it.
David
I agree with you David. If there is no jockey wheel fitted and the car and unit needed to be seperated urgently, the hitch would be put to the ground. The priority is to deal with casualties and re-open the carriageway. The emergency services would not waste time by sending someone to A&E to ask you where your jockey wheel is. Although in such circumstances a grazed hitch is probably the last of your worries.
I agree with David Klyne and Captain Caveman. Why waste the time of the emergency services? They may be needed somewhere else.
I don't think it would usually be necessary to spearate the car and caravan - unless one or the other is on fire of course - but the wheels are designed to travel where they are fitted.
Might be a question mark on ferry ramps, but otherwise, leave it where it is.
We always remove it - have had clearance issues with it going over "speed bumps" where the council have been over-indulgent with the tar, causing damage to both the jockey wheel and the plastic towbar cover beside it. Haven't travelled with it on since.
We realised our wheel was broken when we were pitched in the Isle of Wight. We think it was caused when we got onto the ferry as there was a louder than normal bump when we got on to the ferry. As we have a motor mover we knew we should really have a pneamatic? wheel for it so that just inspired us to go and buy one straight away lol.
We did wonder whether to take it off each time just in case but can't be bothered with that extra time. Didn't even think of what would happen in an accident if we were to take it off!
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Topic: Jockey wheel removal
