Jockey wheels - am I missing something?

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Comments

  • Paul Rainbow
    Paul Rainbow Forum Participant Posts: 129
    100 Comments
    edited September 2016 #62

    It's the twenty first century. 

    Of course I don't wind steadies anymore same as I don’t use a genny when solar panels are available. 

    I am looking for an app to lower the steadies from my smartphone. It's coming folks 

     

    It's the twenty first century. 

    Of course I don't wind steadies anymore same as I don’t use a genny when solar panels are available. 

    I am looking for an app to lower the steadies from my smartphone. It's coming folks 

     

    keep an eye out for the new Iphone 10 in 2020, it will be big enough for them by then.

  • AutoAddict
    AutoAddict Forum Participant Posts: 114
    edited September 2016 #63

    I have sent an e-mail to Al-Ko to clarify the point about it weakening the spring if left down. I will post their reply when I receive it.

  • AutoAddict
    AutoAddict Forum Participant Posts: 114
    edited September 2016 #64

    I have sent an e-mail to Al-Ko to clarify the point about it weakening the spring if left down. I will post their reply when I receive it.

    That was quick, they've just replied.

    They say they are not aware of any problems with the spring weakening if the Premium Jockey wheel is left down, supporting the nose of the caravan.

    So there's the official answer.

  • nicko
    nicko Forum Participant Posts: 101
    edited September 2016 #65

    ..."wind back torque wrenches back to zero after use, given that all you careful and responsible people use one to check your wheel nuts!!!!"

    Certainly do !!!! Innocent

    must be only us two that check then ?Wink

  • JCB4X4
    JCB4X4 Forum Participant Posts: 466
    100 Comments
    edited September 2016 #66

    I have sent an e-mail to Al-Ko to clarify the point about it weakening the spring if left down. I will post their reply when I receive it.

    That was quick, they've just replied.

    They say they are not aware of any problems with the spring weakening if the Premium Jockey wheel is left down, supporting the nose of the caravan.

    So there's the official answer.

    Some one on here is bound to challenge its validity. UndecidedWinkWink

  • JCB4X4
    JCB4X4 Forum Participant Posts: 466
    100 Comments
    edited September 2016 #67

    ..."wind back torque wrenches back to zero after use, given that all you careful and responsible people use one to check your wheel nuts!!!!"

    Certainly do !!!! Innocent

    must be only us two that check then ?Wink

    Mmm!!! Undecided  There may be others but they are probable to abashed
    Embarassed to admit to it on here.Wink Wink

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
    1000 Comments
    edited September 2016 #68

    I have sent an e-mail to Al-Ko to clarify the point about it weakening the spring if left down. I will post their reply when I receive it.

    That was quick, they've just replied.

    They say they are not aware of any problems with the spring weakening if the Premium Jockey wheel is left down, supporting the nose of the caravan.

    So there's the official answer.

    ...Dometic say they are not "aware" of any problems with their 9330 model fridge yet their engineer who came to us and two other vans last week to change a faulty gas valve,says they should be aware with the ammount of valves changedUndecided

  • AutoAddict
    AutoAddict Forum Participant Posts: 114
    edited September 2016 #69

    ..."wind back torque wrenches back to zero after use, given that all you careful and responsible people use one to check your wheel nuts!!!!"

    Certainly do !!!! Innocent

    must be only us two that check then ?Wink

    Mmm!!! Undecided  There may be others but they are probable to abashed Embarassed to admit to it on here.Wink Wink

     

    I have sent an e-mail to Al-Ko to clarify the point about it weakening the spring if left down. I will post their reply when I receive it.

    That was quick, they've just replied.

    They say they are not aware of any problems with the spring weakening if the Premium Jockey wheel is left down, supporting the nose of the caravan.

    So there's the official answer.

    ...Dometic say they are not "aware" of any problems with their 9330 model fridge yet their engineer who came to us and two other vans last week to change a faulty gas valve,says they should be aware with the ammount of valves changedUndecided

    Well, my Al-Ko premium wheel has been fitted to my Lunar for nearly four years now, and it's still reading the same nose weight.

    Prior to that it was fitted to my Swift for 3 years.

    But then, what do you know that I and Al-Ko don't.

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
    1000 Comments
    edited September 2016 #70

    ..."wind back torque wrenches back to zero after use, given that all you careful and responsible people use one to check your wheel nuts!!!!"

    Certainly do !!!! Innocent

    must be only us two that check then ?Wink

    Mmm!!! Undecided  There may be others but they are probable to abashed
    Embarassed to admit to it on here.Wink Wink

     

    I have sent an e-mail to Al-Ko to clarify the point about it weakening the spring if left down. I will post their reply when I receive it.

    That was quick, they've just replied.

    They say they are not aware of any problems with the spring weakening if the Premium Jockey wheel is left down, supporting the nose of the caravan.

    So there's the official answer.

    ...Dometic say they are not "aware" of any problems with their 9330 model fridge yet their engineer who came to us and two other vans last week to change a faulty gas valve,says they should be aware with the ammount of valves changedUndecided

    Well, my Al-Ko premium wheel has been fitted to my Lunar for nearly four years now, and it's still reading the same nose weight.

    Prior to that it was fitted to my Swift for 3 years.

    But then, what do you know that I and Al-Ko don't.

    ..Is your nose weight the same? ours alters on most weighs has yours stopped working?Wink

  • AutoAddict
    AutoAddict Forum Participant Posts: 114
    edited September 2016 #71

    ..."wind back torque wrenches back to zero after use, given that all you careful and responsible people use one to check your wheel nuts!!!!"

    Certainly do !!!! Innocent

    must be only us two that check then ?Wink

    Mmm!!! Undecided  There may be others but they are probable to abashed
    Embarassed to admit to it on here.Wink Wink

     

    I have sent an e-mail to Al-Ko to clarify the point about it weakening the spring if left down. I will post their reply when I receive it.

    That was quick, they've just replied.

    They say they are not aware of any problems with the spring weakening if the Premium Jockey wheel is left down, supporting the nose of the caravan.

    So there's the official answer.

    ...Dometic say they are not "aware" of any problems with their 9330 model fridge yet their engineer who came to us and two other vans last week to change a faulty gas valve,says they should be aware with the ammount of valves changedUndecided

    Well, my Al-Ko premium wheel has been fitted to my Lunar for nearly four years now, and it's still reading the same nose weight.

    Prior to that it was fitted to my Swift for 3 years.

    But then, what do you know that I and Al-Ko don't.

    ..Is your nose weight the same? ours alters on most weighs has yours stopped working?Wink

    Van is loaded with the same equipment, in the same place each trip, so why would it vary?

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
    1000 Comments
    edited September 2016 #72

    ..."wind back torque wrenches back to zero after use, given that all you careful and responsible people use one to check your wheel nuts!!!!"

    Certainly do !!!! Innocent

    must be only us two that check then ?Wink

    Mmm!!! Undecided  There may be others but they are probable to abashed
    Embarassed to admit to it on here.Wink Wink

     

    I have sent an e-mail to Al-Ko to clarify the point about it weakening the spring if left down. I will post their reply when I receive it.

    That was quick, they've just replied.

    They say they are not aware of any problems with the spring weakening if the Premium Jockey wheel is left down, supporting the nose of the caravan.

    So there's the official answer.

    ...Dometic say they are not "aware" of any problems with their 9330 model fridge yet their engineer who came to us and two other vans last week to change a faulty gas valve,says they should be aware with the ammount of valves changedUndecided

    Well, my Al-Ko premium wheel has been fitted to my Lunar for nearly four years now, and it's still reading the same nose weight.

    Prior to that it was fitted to my Swift for 3 years.

    But then, what do you know that I and Al-Ko don't.

    ..Is your nose weight the same? ours alters on most weighs has yours stopped working?Wink

    Van is loaded with the same equipment, in the same place each trip, so why would it vary?

    Write your comments here...Undecided

  • rovinmad
    rovinmad Forum Participant Posts: 102
    First Comment
    edited September 2016 #73

    I know that the instructions for my torque wrench state that it must be wound back to zero after use.  But then I suppose the Alko jockey wheel is not a precision instrument so any weakening of the spring will be of much less significance.

  • AutoAddict
    AutoAddict Forum Participant Posts: 114
    edited September 2016 #74

    I know that the instructions for my torque wrench state that it must be wound back to zero after use.  But then I suppose the Alko jockey wheel is not a precision instrument so any weakening of the spring will be of much less significance.

    Agreed, so what if it varies by a kg or two over it's life span, I for one will carry on the practice of always lowering it.

  • crusader
    crusader Forum Participant Posts: 299
    100 Comments
    edited September 2016 #75

    In the last 4 years we have become experienced caravan travellers clocking up over 10k miles towing (my wife has full details Smile)

    But I am still perplexed by one small but frustrating issue that crops up time and again - how do you hitch the caravan to the tow ball when the jockey wheel is not line up correctly? As I'm sure you know it's often the case that the towing hitch can't engage
    because the jockey wheel cannot be lowered sufficiently because the grooves are not lined up correctly.

    Currently I manually lift the nose of the van while my wife kicks the wheel in line.  Now I realise that not everyone can manage the 70kg or so lift so I suspect I'm missing something.  I'll be very happy if someone can make me look a little thick by telling
    me I'm missing something. Wink

     

    Lower a front leg while you adjust the Jockey wheel

  • Jennyeb
    Jennyeb Forum Participant Posts: 36
    edited September 2016 #76

    Am I being thick " no nasty comments please" if you lower the front steadiness so you can unclamp the jockey wheel to get it into right position to be able  to lower the hitch onto the towball ( because of forks out of line). Could the nose of the  caravan
    drop to the ground or will the front steadiness support the nose. Sorry if this sounds ridiculous but I am New to this. I have had a few days out with my lovely caravan ( I am a solo caravanner) and it happend to me when trying to hitch up, luckily, a very
    nice man came to my rescue.

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
    1000 Comments
    edited September 2016 #77

    Am I being thick " no nasty comments please" if you lower the front steadiness so you can unclamp the jockey wheel to get it into right position to be able  to lower the hitch onto the towball ( because of forks out of line). Could the nose of the  caravan drop to the ground or will the front steadiness support the nose. Sorry if this sounds ridiculous but I am New to this. I have had a few days out with my lovely caravan ( I am a solo caravanner) and it happend to me when trying to hitch up, luckily, a very nice man came to my rescue.

    ...You are not being "thck" the front steadies  (even one )are capable of supporting the front of the van 

  • Jennyeb
    Jennyeb Forum Participant Posts: 36
    edited September 2016 #78

    Thank you JVB66, it's a bit of a worry when you don't know much about caravans but I'm learning slowly. Doing everything on my own I start to think should I do this or should I do that!! This site is very helpful.

  • Rocky 2 buckets
    Rocky 2 buckets Forum Participant Posts: 7,101
    1000 Comments
    edited September 2016 #79

    JB, being thick don't come into it. We all started somewhere & all needed to learn, you are learning. Every day is a school dayHappy. PS-I've
    never seen nor held a 'torque wrench'EmbarassedLaughing

  • huskydog
    huskydog Club Member Posts: 5,460 ✭✭✭✭✭
    1000 Comments
    edited September 2016 #80

    . PS-I've never seen nor held a 'torque wrench'EmbarassedLaughing

    Thats surprising, seeing as you get nuts on treesWink

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,431 ✭✭✭
    5,000 Likes 1000 Comments Name Dropper Photogenic
    edited September 2016 #81

    JB, being thick don't come into it. We all started somewhere & all needed to learn, you are learning. Every day is a school dayHappy. PS-I've
    never seen nor held a 'torque wrench'EmbarassedLaughing

    the only silly, stupid question or thick question is the one that isn't asked, most times you can't learn without asking

  • Rocky 2 buckets
    Rocky 2 buckets Forum Participant Posts: 7,101
    1000 Comments
    edited September 2016 #82

    . PS-I've never seen nor held a 'torque wrench'EmbarassedLaughing

    Thats surprising, seeing as you get nuts on treesWink

    LaughingLaughing

  • Jennyeb
    Jennyeb Forum Participant Posts: 36
    edited September 2016 #83

    I'm going out tomorrow to check on my second home ( it's in storage). I'm going to practice hitching up ( hopefully I won't get any probs with the jockey wheel after all the good advise )  I am also going to reverse the said second home using my mirrors???
    Plus I shall put a marker on the bottom of my steering wheel so I will know which way to turn HOPEFULLY. Will keep you all posted.

  • Jennyeb
    Jennyeb Forum Participant Posts: 36
    edited September 2016 #84

    Well!! Everything went well today except for the reversing, got the back end into the barn ( storage) ( at an angle) so I unhitched the van and pushed it into place!! I think I should go on a course. Saying that! I was reversing on a left hand turn which
    apparently is harder to do, might try the right hand turn next time, at least I can look out of the car and watch the angle of the said second home. Oh the joys of owning a caravan.

  • nicko
    nicko Forum Participant Posts: 101
    edited September 2016 #85

    . PS-I've never seen nor held a 'torque wrench'EmbarassedLaughing

    Thats surprising, seeing as you get nuts on treesWink

    LaughingLaughing

    apparently we get some nuts on here aswellMoney Mouth

  • Jennyeb
    Jennyeb Forum Participant Posts: 36
    edited September 2016 #86

    Sad

  • Navigateur
    Navigateur Club Member Posts: 3,880 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited September 2016 #87

    Great you can reverse the caravan by unhitching and pushing. You know you will never be stuck.  From doing that you will see how it turns, which will help you when pushing it with a vehicle.  

    Some vehicles can be fitted with a front towbar which makes shoving a cravan into a tight space much easier. These towbars are removable for normal driving.

  • nicko
    nicko Forum Participant Posts: 101
    edited September 2016 #88

    Sad

    sorry wasnt meaning you there was another thread that had some undesirable posts removed from non members, hope you havent taken offence Worried

  • Jennyeb
    Jennyeb Forum Participant Posts: 36
    edited September 2016 #89

    Yes I did think it was me, felt hurt. But I'm over it now.