Last Saturday we travelled back from our break in the 'van at Keswick CCC to our home in St Helens - just over 100 miles.
Before leaving I DEFINITELY remember that the jockey wheel was wound into it's shaft, the shaft raised to the top and the clamp tightened to hold it in place. I particularly remember this because my wife did this and I tightened the clamp a bit more to be sure it was secure. My jockey wheel is the type that has the socket running through the A-frames centre, not type that clamps on the side.
On arriving home I was horrified to discover that the jockey wheel shaft had become UNCLAMPED, fallen through the socket in the A-frame and was dragging on the ground The only thing that prevented it falling all the way through was the bend in the winding handle and the fact that it was too long.
It was EXTREMELY difficult to get the jockey wheel shaft back into the A frame to unhitch the caravan from the car. I had to remove the jockey wheel from its mount and even then I had to pull the 'van up onto the kerb to give enough height to pull the shaft back into the A-frame.
I just can't understand how the jockey wheel shaft became loose. I'm sure that the jockey wheel could have only become detached near the end of the journey. The only possilbe cause that I can think of is that the diesel ran low and I had to stop off at a Tesco filling station only about a mile from my home to fill up. It was tight getting the car into the service station with the 'van on tow and I had to mount the kerb with the 'van to get in. I can only think that the jockey wheel caught on the kerb and this loosened it.
I've never known this happen before in 10+ years of caravanning.
This has happened to me on a couple of occasions with an Alko hitch. It gave me the fright of my life when on a motorway; I suddenly heard a noise and thought I had a blowout. The jockey wheel had dropped to the floor and I recall tightening it.
I think it is possible for the wheel not to fully seat (even though it may appear to be) when you pull up the shaft and even though it was fully tightened it can work loose. I now make sure that I well and truly waggle the jockey wheel to make sure it is defiantly seated before tightening.
Hi, Sounds a bit of a strange one,not known them to loosen,or wind down if the wheel forks have been seated in the resess slots on shaft,and the leaver lock tightened, could be as you think at the filling station, Could be that if you had stopped along the road,and left van, some chancer has tried to nick it,and been disturbed, Lucky no damage to van.
------------- If everything runs smoothly then I must have done something wrong
If in Doubt Check it Out.
I wind a piece of the wide velcro that sticks to itself around the jockey wheel and the a frame.
If the clamp does work loose it then prevents the jockey wheel from dropping.
JOHN
It is possible, when lifting the jockey wheel into its travelling position, to clamp it otherwise than perfectly vertical. ...at a slight angle. The clamp can still feel tight but as the wheel is at a slant it does not touch the clamp all the way round. Bouncing along can then rock it into the vertical and it wobbles down. Always look down through the A frame at the jockey wheel just to check that it is straight.
Phil
------------- If you're not on a fell your wasting your feet and for 2014 it's.......Feb Castleton Mar North Yors Moors; Apr Sutton on Sea; May Thirsk; Jun Clapham/Riverside (Lakes); July Wharfedale; August Crakehall; Sept Knaresborough; Oct Wirral Park/Clitheroe
I go along totally with Phil on this problem, as by chance I spotted mine can be "locked" at a slight angle. I've not had the jockey wheel drop out yet, but I do make a check it is vertical and also well-tightened up before moving off.
Kevin
------------- Have wheels, will travel.... with or without the wife!
I go along totally with Phil on this problem, as by chance I spotted mine can be "locked" at a slight angle. I've not had the jockey wheel drop out yet, but I do make a check it is vertical and also well-tightened up before moving off.
Kevin
------------- Have wheels, will travel.... with or without the wife!
If you make sure the wheel tube clamp is slack enough to be able to rattle the tube about and whilst keeping it rattling you tighten it up then it beds properly avoiding Phil's misalignment issue.
Think he is spot on with the likely cause.
Our jockey wheel 'dropped' a couple of miles after leaving Keswick CCC! OH thinks it was the very high speeed hump just as you are turning for the exit - no clearance at all. Agree with others that it gives you a shock when it drops. Kuckily for us no harm was done.
I did definitely wind the jockey wheel fully into the forks and clamped the shaft very tightly. I think that Phil and Kevin are right in suggesting that the problem may well have been that the jockey wheel shaft was clamped slightly at an angle and was, therefore, not as tightly clamped as it would have been if truly vertical. I will certainly check that it is vertical in the future so thanks for that tip.
Although I've not yet had time to check thoroughly I don't think that any major damage has been done. The jockey wheel tyre was already rather worn and I was thinking of replacing it before this latest "event". There are some slight signs of scuffing on the weld on the bottom of the jockey wheel forks - from where it was dragged along the road.
Given the very limited damage to the jockey wheel I think that my suggestion in the original post that the jockey wheel was knocked and loosened when the 'van mounted the kerb entering the local filling station. I think that probably loosened the shaft but it did not work fully loose until we were nearly home - very possilby the SEVERE speed bump at the bottom of our own road. Fortunately the distance from the service station is only about a mile at relatively low speeds. I'm only glad it didn't happen earlier on our motorway journey where I kept up a steady 55+mph!!!
I'll have a good look at the jockey wheel and chassis over the coming Bank Holiday weekend when I've a bit more time.
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Topic: Jockey wheel became unclamped
