MySwag.org The Off-road Camper Trailer Forum
General => General Discussion => Topic started by: maverick01 on August 15, 2013, 10:20:07 AM
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Im in a bit of a pickle at the moment..........
Our Lifestyle camper is fitted with an ARK offroad jockey wheel and the bearings keep popping out the sides.
Now I went to buy new bearings but the bearings just fell into the housing as they say the housing is worn but I cant see that happeing.
Now I have been to Camec and a replacement complete unit will be roughly $109 for an alko swingaway.
My concern is I don't know if the alko will be much better than the ARK.
I have rang around other places and there are a few other brands such as Manutec etc but once again I don't know much about these brands
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Firstly, i do not like swing Way jockey wheels for offroad campers. Its as silly as using road tyres in mud..
Ppl knock them off or damage them all the time. I have a senior friend that knows every thing about everything, except he doesnt remove his jockey wheel, he just lifts them up. They need to be removed and put in the tool box. It was the third time he damaged it.
I think u should look at a moveable jockey wheel and put it in ya tool box and it will be out of harms way and out of the dust..
I use a jockey wheel thats over 20 years old..
There is a bolt in the middle that you can tighten up after you put the bearings in place..
But remove the swingaway and fit a jockey wheel that can be removed fully.
Any brand these days are ok, so what ever brand that you feel looks the goods in the shop should be ok..
Tapa talker
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Mine and others have done exactly the same. Lucky I was at home when mine died.
Theres numerous threads on jockey wheels, have a search.
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I have a Lifestyle AT10 and my bearings fell out before I even got the van home.......they sent another set and they've been fine for 1 1/2 yrs.....
Measure up and see if you can just buy another wheel....preferably one with "proper" bearings..
I have had 2 KK's and now this and the swingaway jockey wheel is the ONLY way to go...........you have to drill a hole for a pin so the wheel sits at right angles to the chassis ( KK's come standard like this ), so no way it can get damaged unless you tow it behind a tough truck comp vehicle !!
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Ok
Tapa talker
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Mate, Trackabout use [or did] Manutec swing up jockey wheels & we never had a problem with them.
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Never had a problem with the swing-up jockey wheel on the Coota......but then, I don't push it around, either.... ;D ;D
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Thanks guys for your feedback
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Last time i brought a new jockey wheel i pulled it apart and greased all the bearings as it had almost no grease in it at all. it still works great after a full year on the road in 2012. we are about to order a new cub and i will regrease its jockey wheel as soon as i get it home too.
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Does anyone have any thoughts on a pneumatic tyre versus a solid tyre? I keep my camper in the back yard and take it out via the cobble stone lane way out the back. It is a bugger trying to move it over the cobbles with the solid tyre. Wondering if a pneumatic tyre would help.
Cheers
Stephen
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Does anyone have any thoughts on a pneumatic tyre versus a solid tyre? I keep my camper in the back yard and take it out via the cobble stone lane way out the back. It is a bugger trying to move it over the cobbles with the solid tyre. Wondering if a pneumatic tyre would help.
Cheers
Stephen
(http://i1095.photobucket.com/albums/i475/tmlehr/HDTrailermover.jpg)
Nearly got all the bits cut for mine now.
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Gotta get me one of them!!!
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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Wont have a problem with pebbles with that sucker
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There is a Jockey wheel that is surprisingly good. Made in .NZ it is streets ahead of the Chinese made
Brands. Check out "Christine Products" After suffering hundreds of crappy ones this one was very well made and since using them i haven't had any complaints. Hope this helps. Cheers
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Does anyone have any thoughts on a pneumatic tyre versus a solid tyre? I keep my camper in the back yard and take it out via the cobble stone lane way out the back. It is a bugger trying to move it over the cobbles with the solid tyre. Wondering if a pneumatic tyre would help.
Cheers
Stephen
I like solid tyre's
dont have to worry about pumping them up & they dont roll on the rim as much
:cheers: sheeds
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I've fully p1ssed orf at Ark cr@p.
Had hard floor for 8 months - and damaged 2 already (the 350kg ratchet model). The clamp is the weak point (though wheel can twist on the axle and even the solid rubber tyre can be made to partly roll off the rim). Clamp distorts under high ratchet loads (even on smooth surface).
So I'm looking at the only other ratchet type jockey with a higher load rating and HD clamp. This 750kg model is all I can find from Manutec. Anyone gone from Ark to Manutec that can comment on differences (good or bad)?
Manutec jockey: http://manutec.com.au/default.asp?pageid=5&template=PRODUCTCAT&catid=38&catalogue=2&prodid=EM1SNC (http://manutec.com.au/default.asp?pageid=5&template=PRODUCTCAT&catid=38&catalogue=2&prodid=EM1SNC)
…and with a HD clamp:
http://manutec.com.au/default.asp?pageid=5&template=PRODUCTCAT&catid=40&catalogue=2&prodid=HDCLAMP48 (http://manutec.com.au/default.asp?pageid=5&template=PRODUCTCAT&catid=40&catalogue=2&prodid=HDCLAMP48)
...but dunno if it'll distort as badly as Ark clamp... appears more robust... any issues among Swaggers with Manutec clamps?
- Finners
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Mate have a look at what Adventure Off Road Campers use as a jockey wheel, it looks similar to the second link.
Ive had no dramas, its a big arse jockey wheel, and a big arse clamp which does the job well.
Swanny
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its cause you are trying to ratchet with the jockey wheel extended
Wind up jokey wheel to get of tow ball
The lower jockey wheel all the way
Then ratchet
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its cause you are trying to ratchet with the jockey wheel extended
Nope. It's because the clamp is p1ss weak cr@p
But you get what you pay for >:D
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Just replace your wheel. much cheaper than buying a new jockey wheel. Solid rubber in the new black.
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I agree ^^^^^ I replaced my wheel twice then got a solid rubber 4" wide one 8) no more punctures. Good on grass and cobbles. :cheers:
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Nope. It's because the clamp is p1ss weak cr@p
But you get what you pay for >:D
Ok - bouquets after the brickbats. eMailed Ark about the (repeat) bending clamp - and they offered up at no cost a "heavy duty" clamp (not normally available as separate part). Arrived today - will spanner on and see if tougher.
Full credit to Ark for customer service. :cup:
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Hello Finners,
I've ordered a bolt on clamp, the Ark FCL8, which looks the same as your bent one. Do you know what the order code is for your new clamp?
Cheers, Marschy
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I've ordered a bolt on clamp, the Ark FCL8, which looks the same as your bent one. Do you know what the order code is for your new clamp?
G'day Marschy - the FCL8 is the clamp I had (bent), and apparently (i'm told by Ark) only rated to 350kg. The HD clamp is 500kg they say. Will see if part# on shipping docket when I get home. Or quickest to email Ark and ask them to supply the HD clamp that is not available for individual sale. Will PM you my contact there.
G'luck...
- Finners
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G'day Marschy - the FCL8 is the clamp I had (bent), and apparently (i'm told by Ark) only rated to 350kg. The HD clamp is 500kg they say. Will see if part# on shipping docket when I get home. Or quickest to email Ark and ask them to supply the HD clamp that is not available for individual sale. Will PM you my contact there.
G'luck...
- Finners
G'day Finners
I've already ordered the FCL8, but looking at your photo where it's bent, I wonder if putting bolts through the drawbar as well as u-bolts may have stopped it from buckling. The 500kg clamp part # is FCL2HD.
Cheers, Marschy
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I wonder if putting bolts through the drawbar as well as u-bolts may have stopped it from buckling
IMHO Marschy, I reckon that won't make any difference due where the bracket has warped - mostly at the hinge of the 2 halves. YMMV.
Give what you've got a go I reckon... you'll probably never bend it as you know it's not HD, so you'll remember to go easy on it. Unlike me ;)
- Finners
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IMHO Marschy, I reckon that won't make any difference due where the bracket has warped - mostly at the hinge of the 2 halves. YMMV.
Give what you've got a go I reckon... you'll probably never bend it as you know it's not HD, so you'll remember to go easy on it. Unlike me ;)
- Finners
Mine is going to be clamping a jockey stand, so it shouldn't have to go through the same stress as moving it around with a jockey wheel attached.
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Marschy - got home last night - fitted the HD clamp, put the RJW1C jockey wheel on... and it doesn't fit! i.e. the HD clamp fits the 500kg dual-wheel model RJW2C - not my single wheel model! (Shaft diameters different. Or so SWMBO says ;p)
Point being the HD clamp wouldn't help you anyway, assuming your stand's diameter is same as the single wheel jockey wheel (likely).
Still sorting my issues. Who wouldda thunk a jockey wheel could be such a headache!?
- Finners
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Got the FCL8 clamp in the mail last night. It's the correct size for the 500mm high jockey stand I bought. Ordered it on Monday from Caravansplus and it arrived Thursday. It's good sized material on the clamp, at least 4mm plate. You must have spread too much vegemite on your toast that morning to bend it like that.
Just going to duck out to SCA at lunchtime to pick up some suitable u-bolts for mounting it to the drawbar. Yay, no more getting the bottle jack out to unhitch the trailer from the car.