Recommend Me a Jockey Wheel Please

[pommiedic]

G'day

What brand of jockey wheel do you use? And would you purchase it again?

About 18 months ago, I purchased the Ark brand XO jockey wheel, highly recommended and paid good dollar.

Straight out the box, I thought the quality was poor.  The retaining pin on the wheel broke during installation. Now the top pinion  wheel has chewed it's own teeth off; looks like it is made of a very soft alloy.  If I said I've used it 10 times the last 18 months, I'd be exaggerating. Very dissapointed.

What do you recommend as a replacement please?

dic

[Marty]

Hi Dic, I have a Bos jockey wheel, they are made in St Marys NSW check out their web site
www.bos370.com.au . You can ether use a crank handle or an attachment with a cordless drill to wind up or down, also you can leave the body attached to the A frame just remove the wheel or flat plate when travelling. Had it for over 3 years without any issues and find it easy to use and have had good after sales service from Bos, they replaced mine free after 12 months as they had added a grease nipple for maintenance and wanted to standardise. Marty

[Johnnos3003]

yep...

Had the same experience.

I decided to go back a regular detachable style too avoid any issues with getting a swing away unit hooked up on any tracks.

So I had regular run of the mill jockey wheel lying around and cut the crap little wheel off it. Then cut the twin wheel off the XO unit and welded it onto the regular style one. I also fitted the detachable handle to make it easier to store while traveling.

Has been working well but is a bit bulky with the twin wheel, have been thinking about getting

http://www.bcf.com.au/Product/Ark-Premium-10-Standard-Jockey-Wheel/367076

Twin wheel is the go for soft ground/easy movement.

I would also avoid pneumatic wheels, I have always found them a hassle.

[archer63]

Our swan outback came with a standard jockey wheel that I replaced with a ratchet jockey wheel which was given to me as a freebie. Really liked this but the wheel tread was old and worn and the ratchet was worn as well.

Then bought a 12v jockey wheel which I used once or twice but they are gutless and noisy.

Went and bought a new ratchet jockey wheel and am satisfied with that. I take it off while traveling and put it back on when setting up.

Cheers
Rob

[Traveller]

When we picked up our trailer 12 years ago, our friends who had a similar one suggested we get a ratchet jockey wheel to help move it around. We ended up buying a Manutec EM1 and it is still going strong. I couldn't imagine having a camper without a ratchet jockey wheel as they are so useful. Great for pushing the trailer into tight spots, moving it to line up the Treg hitch, or pushing it back into the garage. Simple to use, strong, and as it is permanently hanging off the side of the trailer, robust. I just looked up the price of the current ones and was a bit stunned, but then thought we have had 12 years use of it so far.

The only issue I have had with it is that the 'handle' sometimes comes off the wheel while manoeuvring the trailer, frustrating but I can live with it.

[achjimmy]

Hi Dic, I have a Bos jockey wheel, they are made in St Marys NSW check out their web site
www.bos370.com.au . You can ether use a crank handle or an attachment with a cordless drill to wind up or down, also you can leave the body attached to the A frame just remove the wheel or flat plate when travelling. Had it for over 3 years without any issues and find it easy to use and have had good after sales service from Bos, they replaced mine free after 12 months as they had added a grease nipple for maintenance and wanted to standardise. Marty

Same had ours 2+ yrs no issues. Said it before I find ark stuff average at best from there crap Chinese bearings up. Yes they have improved but all they seem to do is copy an idea and make it cheaper

[baggs71]

those BOS jockey wheels look the bomb!
Ill call BOS in a second to set up a purchase...
Not sure which model of solid wheel i should choose for the CUB Brumby...ive added a little weight to the drawbar...not much however...maybe 50kg

[Bird]

Have you tried searching the forum? Might be lucky to find 1 or 2 dozen threads on em.

[pommiedic]

Bird,

I've had a look at some past threads.  I was chasing the latest greatest information. The Ark when purchased, was supposed to be a good unit, yet turned out to be very dissapointing; hence my request for new information.

 
dic

[feisty]

I have just replaced mine with the heavy duty 10 inch solid rubber alko swing away unit. I had the lighter weight alko unit and it was hopeless on uneven ground. It always felt it was going to snap off and i was going to have the draw bar land on my leg.  The new one has a much wider and bigger diameter tyre and has a lot less flex.  Was going to buy the ark but am now really glad I didn't. 
The alko cost me about $90
The only issue I have is that mine is welded on and although the height it was mounted suits my lifted landcruiser it is a cm too high for the miss's forester even when wound down to its lowest adjustment.

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[Cruiser 105Tvan]

That's a great looking Jockey Wheel Fiesty.

  Just have to use the angle grinder to take some off the tyre and it'll work fine on both.

[Johnnos3003]

those BOS jockey wheels look the bomb!
Ill call BOS in a second to set up a purchase...
Not sure which model of solid wheel i should choose for the CUB Brumby...ive added a little weight to the drawbar...not much however...maybe 50kg

Make sure your sitting down when they tell you the price!

[clarky]

I currently have the Ark ratchet jockey wheel and have found that it slips under pressure. It is fine anywhere I can push the camper easily and I would not buy another. I really like the look of the Manutec jockey wheels but am having trouble sourcing one without having it mailed out ( at a substantial cost, although I apppreciate that they are both bulky and heavy ). They are a relatively pricey unit but the fact that they will hold a static weight of 750 kgs it comforting.

[feisty]

That's a great looking Jockey Wheel Fiesty.

  Just have to use the angle grinder to take some off the tyre and it'll work fine on both.

Hadn't even thought of that! Nah I'll just get the trailer place up the road to move it up an inch. They were the ones who fitted it for me. Really happy with it as I was never brave enough to move the camper on the jockey wheel before even on concrete that's how little faith I had in the old one

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[archer63]

I currently have the Ark ratchet jockey wheel and have found that it slips under pressure. It is fine anywhere I can push the camper easily and I would not buy another. I really like the look of the Manutec jockey wheels but am having trouble sourcing one without having it mailed out ( at a substantial cost, although I apppreciate that they are both bulky and heavy ). They are a relatively pricey unit but the fact that they will hold a static weight of 750 kgs it comforting.

Not disputing what you say....but you have lowered the ratchet jockey wheel all the way down as per the instructions when using the ratchet as all the draw bar weight must be on it.
Only time mine has slipped a little was when I had it wound up over half way (van level instead of nose down) but since it is wound down I have never had another slip.

Cheers
Rob

[clarky]

Hi Rob,

Thanks for that. I bought the wheel at a show and I never got instructions with it. I will take your advice and lower the wheel to see if it makes a difference.

Cheers, David

Not disputing what you say....but you have lowered the ratchet jockey wheel all the way down as per the instructions when using the ratchet as all the draw bar weight must be on it.
Only time mine has slipped a little was when I had it wound up over half way (van level instead of nose down) but since it is wound down I have never had another slip.

Cheers
Rob

[archer63]

No worries...hopefully it wil make all the difference.

[Vitara_JaycoSwift_Outback]

I have a manutech Ratchet Jockey wheel which I used on my Jayco to help get it in the Garage. Good product, but the tyre losses its air quickly. I'd like to change it to the solid wheel version.

[D4D]

The Easylift on my Tambo was the best I've had/seen. Hard to source, I think they're made by some old guys in Sunshine VIC. I see they're used on a lot of high end campers eg Vista, KK etc. The Ark on my Customline is not the greatest.

[kylarama]

I decided to go back a regular detachable style too avoid any issues with getting a swing away unit hooked up on any tracks.

Like you, I'm now happy to stick with the simple old style.

I've been wanting to upgrade the std removable AL-KO 8" solid jockey wheel on the Jayco camper for ages.
We've had a 6" swing up wheel on our old caravan for ages, but unhappy with the movement in the pivot bolt. Also had to cut and weld the mount bracket lower to suit our van.

Wanted one of those Ark xo wheels for ages, but when I got up close and personal with one a few months back I lost interest. Far too bulky to fit on a Jayco in a swing up arrangement and too many moving parts for my liking.

Replaced the broken plastic thrust bearing in the AL-KO with a quality NSK one.  Sooooo much easier to wind and swivel.

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[Cruiser 105Tvan]

The Easylift on my Tambo was the best I've had/seen. Hard to source, I think they're made by some old guys in Sunshine VIC. I see they're used on a lot of high end campers eg Vista, KK etc. The Ark on my Customline is not the greatest.

Track fit the Easy lift to all their campers and Topaz caravans.