Jockey wheel support on soft grass

Davvygolf

Where I site my caravan it is necessary to turn it on grass before I hitch up ,due to lack of space. When it is wet it is difficult to turn the van without the jockey wheel sinking.

any good ideas for a temporary support that I can put down whilst I turn the van?

NIMROD

I always carry a square of plywood to put under the jockey wheel when it is boggy or loose gravel.  It makes hitching up a lot simpler ( even with a mover!)

DaveCyn

We always put a short plank under the jockey wheel when pitched on grass.

If you're talking about at home or in storage then a sheet of old plywood does the trick.

Davvygolf

Thanks for the suggestion of plywood. I need it for my seasonal pitch so really wanted something easily transportable but maybe  it's worth  a try . Probably cheap enough to throw away anyway if it gets too messy!

obbernockle

I think you mean that your jockey wheel digs in whilst manouvering, as apposed to whilst static. You need to temporarily reduce your nose weight - perhaps someone could sit in the rear of the caravan whilst you turn it.

Nuggy

I use two small sheets of Ply which I keep in the gas box. When moving the van and turning, the wheel rolls onto the second sheet and I move the first sheet to the front, leap frog fashion. Does that make sense?

rayjsj

It might be easier to steer with a pneaumatic jockey wheel rather than a solid rubber one, especially on grass. 

Pathfinder

A good few years back there was a jockey wheel ski which you put under the said wheel, you placed a pin through the wheel locking it in place. You could then manouver the van even tow at low speed, primarily used for soft ground 

ValDa

We use one (or you could use more if your soil is very soft) of those 'dishwashing mats' made of plastic in a grid formation.  On our year round site it means we can cut the grass easily still as it grows through the mat. 

Similar to this one! (Click for link)  I don't know how strong the one linked to is, but you can find them in places like Poundland, where you can test how firm they feel and the ratio of 'hole to plastic'!  

 In our 'touring' caravan we keep one of these in the front locker for use if we need it to manoeuvre.

geoffeales

pneumatic tyres don't sink in as much as solid ones, the only problem is pumping the thing up - very awkward to get at the valve

Surfer

The question is whether you have the plastic jockey wheel or a pneumatic.  The former might as well be a plough share.  The latter will prevent the jockey wheel sinking into the grass or soft ground.  Unfortunately with the pneumatic you will need to buy
the whole assembly as the forks are slightly wider for pneumatic tyre.  

TimJim

I haven't seen one for years but I do remember seeing a modified jockey wheel with what can only be described as a ball instead of a wheel. It just floated over the soft stuff. I guess it was a personal modification. Good idea though. 

Tj

rayjsj

When using a motor mover over grass a pneumatic jockey wheel is a must have, otherwise the motors turn the jockeywheel into a plough.   

Davvygolf

Thanks everybody for your suggestions - I think I am going to go for the 2 sheets of ply & "leap frog" them as I turn the van

Thanks Nuggy