Jockey Wheel blues

Inali
Inali Forum Participant Posts: 224
edited March 2012 in Your stories #1

I set off from Norwich, towing my Gobur Carousel folding caravan to Beechwood Grange, York. I did all my pre-trip checks, and all was well when I pulled in to East Heckington parking layby on the A17, after two hours on the road. I stretched my legs, had my packed lunch, and did a quick check before setting off again. Not much further on, I bumped over a pothole, and then started hearing muffled noises when the road was uneven- but couldn't find a layby that was clear for several miles. When I eventually found one, and with trepidation got out of the car to check the caravan, I found that the Jockey wheel shaft had shifted in the clamp, and the pneumatic tyre was ruined. I readjusted the clamp, and continued my journey, as the caravan itself was fine.

When I checked in at Beechwood Grange, I told the warden my plight, and she helpfully told me that there was a newly reopened caravan store about 6 miles away on the A64 towards Scarborough. I set up the caravan on the chosen pitch, and with the corner steadies lowered, was able to unclamp the jockey wheel. I drove to the caravan store (Ebor Caravans)- they had the right size of wheel/tyre, but the axle fitting was wrong for an Alko fitment, so I had to buy a complete new setup, but at least I was able to get one. I drove back to Beechwood Grange and fitted the new jockey wheel to the clamp. Now I can get on with my holiday! I will have to be mega careful on the way back home to avoid any future damage to the tyre.

Comments

  • HalifaxAndy
    HalifaxAndy Forum Participant Posts: 174
    edited March 2012 #2

    I had exactly the same problem at xmas, we were at Strid Wood but luckily for me I had an old spare that I managed to adapt to fit until we got home almost 2 weeks later and funnily enough taking in a 4 night stay at Beechwood Grange.

  • FiatBessacarr
    FiatBessacarr Forum Participant Posts: 21
    edited March 2012 #3

    A similar occurence when we used to caravan. Travelling along the A30 in fairly heavy traffic doing about 40mph I heard a loud bang and pulled over into a layby we just happened to be approaching about 100yrds further up the road. I got out and looked around
    couldn't see anything or any damage expecting I hit or something had gone into the van. As I checked the breakaway cable and 12v/12s connections I also checked the jocky wheel and found the turn-handle floppy loose just went round and round with no pressure.
    I looked underneath and to my horror the jocky wheel and inner stem was completely missing. It was the type that goes right up under the A-frame covered by plastic surround and don't see it when raised. I decided to walk back up the road grass verge as far
    as possile to roughly where I heard the bang and found the jocky wheel and stem lying in the middle of the carriageway. Another kind caravanner slowed right down to a snails pace to allow me to pick it up and as I carried it back I noticed the nut and split
    pin with the thread had completely sheared off and was missing. When I got home I had a good look around the underside of van and couldn't find any damage to the van. I got the jocky assembly repaired for about a £10'r and put it back on with no further issues.

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