Jockey wheel when towing

PLE
PLE Forum Participant Posts: 1
edited January 2022 in Towcars & Towing #1

We are awaiting delivery of our new caravan, after 3 years of motorhoming and a thought struck me recently! Once when navigating the A66, with caravan in tow, we heard a strange noise, fortunately I realised what it was and pulled over to solve the issue. Our jockey wheel clamp had come loose in the up position and the jockey wheel was hitting the road when we went over a bump. We were very fortunate on this occasion and had realised before any damage was done. My thought was why have none of the manufacturers come up with a fail safe clamp, peg or something that permanently secures the jockey wheel in the up position? Or have they and I haven’t come across it?

Comments

  • ADP1963
    ADP1963 Forum Participant Posts: 1,280
    1000 Comments
    edited January 2022 #2

    That must have been a nasty experience, however in all my 44 years of towing a caravan I have never had such an issue. When I lift the jockey wheel I just tighten it up vey tight and it has always remained secure until it is time to release it.

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited January 2022 #3
    The user and all related content has been Deleted User
  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,425 ✭✭✭
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    edited January 2022 #4

    One of the first pieces of advice my father in law gave is when we started towing that was if you hear a strange thump-thump-thump sound check your jockey wheel I assume it had happened to him?

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
    1000 Comments
    edited January 2022 #5

    Our jockey wheel is mounted on the outside of the Aframe ,and after a couple of occasions of it "unwinding" I now remove it when travelling 

  • Boff
    Boff Forum Participant Posts: 1,742
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    edited January 2022 #6

    I’ve had a Jockey wheel clamp come undone, not good these days I use a bungee to keep the jockey wheel in place.  

  • TimboC
    TimboC Club Member Posts: 422 ✭
    250 Likes
    edited March 2022 #7

    This happened to me with a pneumatic tyre. The tyre deflated, and the loose rubber caught the airflow and caused a vibration that loosened the clamp. I have now gone to a hard rubber wheel and like Boff, use a bungee.

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