Best Jockey Wheel ?

PJMEG
PJMEG Forum Participant Posts: 180
edited March 2017 in Caravans #1

Hi,

I have finally gone to the expense of having a Powr mover fitted, now I am wondering if I should get a pneumatic jockey wheel or stick with solid one already on the van, the reason for asking is that some people have said the solid wheels can dig into loose or soft surfaces when being moved, any advice would be great, sorry if this has been asked before.

Comments

  • jayvee
    jayvee Forum Participant Posts: 7
    edited March 2017 #2

    I fitted a Alko sprung  jockey wheel that weighs the nose weight not to weigh it but just for the suspension,much smoother when manouvering.

  • Greygit
    Greygit Forum Participant Posts: 167
    edited March 2017 #3

    It seems to me someone could make a little money by designing a jockey wheel  that was neither solid or inner tube based as that can lead to punctures, there is a new type of pedal bike tyre that doesn't use an inner tube.

  • Pippah45
    Pippah45 Forum Participant Posts: 2,452
    1000 Comments
    edited March 2017 #4

    Good idea for a new one as you guessed the pneumatics do puncture and the one I had was much nearer the ground when wound up.  There is less drag on the jockey wheel if you can reverse on difficult terrain be it soft ground or deep gravel.  

  • dmiller555
    dmiller555 Forum Participant Posts: 717
    500 Comments
    edited March 2017 #5

    I've recently changed to a pneumatic tyred jockey wheel and it certainly is better than the original solid plastic one that was starting to break up.

    Whether there is a great puncture risk as other claim remains to be seen.

  • Metheven
    Metheven Club Member Posts: 3,987 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2017 #6

    After having a Motormover fitted last month I am undecided whether to change my bog standard hard plastic jockey wheel for something a little more forgiving. I agree that reversing the 'van' where possible certainly does make for a smoother movement like a trailing castor, I would prefer I think a honeycombed semi sollid tyre if I can find a wheel with one fitted.

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited March 2017 #7
    The user and all related content has been Deleted User
  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
    1000 Comments
    edited March 2017 #8

    Not had a problem on sites either David. No problem at home for storage. I suspect that I would only invest in a pneumatic tyre or similar if I had a particular problem in storage. 

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,311 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2017 #9

    We used to have a pneumatic on our last van, as well as a sprung weighing jockey. However, although it manovered well on soft gravel, it needed to be extended more because of the wheel diameter and spring movement. Otherwise it caught on the plastic surround of the hitch area. This resulted in more strain than would have been the case with a smaller, non sprung wheel. 

    Our current van has the standard jockey with a hard wide plastic wheel. As there is no movement, this can be extended the minimum necessary to avoid strain. It does dig in in the deep gravel at our storage, but I bought a couple of those hard plastic mats, for getting you out of the mud, which I use to get across it. It has been fine every where else, including all CAMC gravel pitches.

  • PJMEG
    PJMEG Forum Participant Posts: 180
    edited March 2017 #10

    Hi,

    Thanks to all who took time to reply and from the feedback I feel like I should stick with the solid wheel for now and see how things progress, like Steve L I have a couple of hard mats that I keep in the van for soft ground so I can could you use those if needed. 

    Here`s hoping you all have a another good year touring.

  • commeyras
    commeyras Club Member Posts: 1,853 ✭✭✭
    1000 Comments
    edited March 2017 #11

    Don't bother changing.  Never had a problem.  Yes mats would help if on muddyy pitches.

  • PITCHTOCLOSE
    PITCHTOCLOSE Forum Participant Posts: 658
    500 Comments
    edited March 2017 #12

    Alko sprung wheel perfection, even checks the nose weight and no flat tyres😊

  • PITCHTOCLOSE
    PITCHTOCLOSE Forum Participant Posts: 658
    500 Comments
    edited March 2017 #13

    They have, it is made by Alko👍

  • vulcan558
    vulcan558 Forum Participant Posts: 19
    edited April 2017 #14

    I changed to one last year. Its the treaded solid rubber one which is excellent with the mover. We have 2 runs of slabs on the drive and gravel in the middle which is a pain with the solid plastic wheel. The pneumatic one was good and gave good control on the gravel but sooner or later you will either have a puncture or it will just perish and give up. The Alko solid rubber treaded one did it for us.

  • hitchglitch
    hitchglitch Forum Participant Posts: 3,007
    1000 Comments
    edited April 2017 #15

    Travelled all over Europe for 30 years with a solid one and when I switched to pneumatic I couldn't get on with it. Still under my bench I think. 

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