Hi Fliss. Oh wow. This is our 3rd caravan and we often run out of jockey wheel when hitching up. We’ve been putting the corner steadies down and then adjusting the jockey wheel!!! No one has ever told us that one before. You’re a star Fliss. We won’t forget that now. THANKS.👍 King regards Amanda and Paul.
A perfect tip. I've been towing trailers for years and when the trailer is unhiitched and moved, if that jockey wheel doesn't have enough room to allow for it to be lowered properly, like you showed first, it is very difficult to hitch back on. And if its a single axle trailer with weight in it, its a nightmare. Well done good video.
Simple but great advice. This will stop me unwinding the small tightener, then having the front of the caravan suddenly slide down and be difficult to lift back up!
Oh I've got what you mean now! Adjusting the jockey wheel before unhitching, as you have done, gives more scope for manoeuvrability if required! Thanks dear. I feel so dimdumb! 🤦😬😁
So true. I always unclamp the jockey wheel shaft and lower it fully onto the floor. The problem I encounter is when hooking up the hitchlock doesn't fully engage with the towbar as I can't unscrew the handle anymore. Usually the bottom of the shaft on the jockey wheel is resting on the metal bracket with the two slots, fastened to the jockey wheel.
Thank you so much for this fabulous tip. I often had to put the steadies down and readjust the jockey wheel. Used this for the first time this week and it is so simple and made levelling up and hooking up a doddle.
Good plan! Last time the jockey wheel was actually under the hitch which stopped me lowering it down to the car. Much messing about with steadies to rectify. Unfortunately, when my wife asked what was going on, she thought I said that the jockey wheel was under the hedge and she nearly had a fit!!
Hello Fliss, just to let you know that I used your idea of putting the jockey wheel a few inches off the ground before rising it and it worked perfectly, thanks for that great suggestion 👍👍.
Good tip, thanks for sharing. What about when you run out of extension on sloping pitch, and you need to drop the Jockey Wheel fully to have enough “inner” to wind down and get the caravan level?
Good observation! No, it was actually filmed on a slight downhill, and the caravan nudged forward a bit too much for my liking when I released the handbrake
Another good jockey wheel tip. When travelling set the jockey wheel so that if the trailer detaches the van will go towards the near side (i.e. left). On a motorway this means the van ends up on the hard shoulder rather than the fast lane. On other roads it means the van doesn't hit on coming traffic head on. When travelling in the EU, the wheel should point to the right, Look at the beginning of this video to see the wrong way to have the jockey wheel pointing (unless it was shot in the EU). Another good tip is to disconnect the safety chain before taking the trailer off the tow ball. Many people have moved the tow car with the safety chain still attached. Again this video shows how to get the sequence wrong.
Thank you for your comment. I see what you're saying, but I can't see how this would work in practice. The jockey is stowed in that position to prevent grounding on speed bumps or uneven ground. To achieve what you're suggesting, surely the jockey wheel will be too low and will ground, especially when a car, rather than an SUV or pickup truck, is towing it. Please correct me if I'm misunderstanding you. With regards to the breakaway cable, these are safety features, and this sequence was approved by the DVSA for the now abolished B+E Test. The only reason people drive off with it still attached is because they are not sticking to the same sequence and forgot to remove it.
I purchased my first caravan just before the introduction of Purchase tax (1973) and have towed caravans/ trailers/ boats with cars/4x4s / motorhomes ever since, I have always alined the jockey to the left and never had a problem with grounding. Tow vehicle type doesn't make a difference as correctly fitted tow bars have the tow ball at a standard height. This video illustrates the problem of the jockey pointing to the right ua-cam.com/video/jVmNT-gpo60/v-deo.html . Your point about having a fixed procedure is a good one, but sometimes you are distracted and deviate for whatever reason. My believe is that disconnecting the cable early on in your standard procedure reduces the ramificaions of such a distraction. @@the_trailer_lady
Hi Fliss. Oh wow. This is our 3rd caravan and we often run out of jockey wheel when hitching up. We’ve been putting the corner steadies down and then adjusting the jockey wheel!!! No one has ever told us that one before. You’re a star Fliss. We won’t forget that now. THANKS.👍 King regards Amanda and Paul.
You're very welcome. I'm glad I've been able to help
A perfect tip. I've been towing trailers for years and when the trailer is unhiitched and moved, if that jockey wheel doesn't have enough room to allow for it to be lowered properly, like you showed first, it is very difficult to hitch back on. And if its a single axle trailer with weight in it, its a nightmare. Well done good video.
Thank you. I'm pleased my tip has helped solve a problem
Very well explained 👏
Thank you. I'm glad it was useful
Thank you for a very useful tip. We’ve been caravanning for over 20 years and still we’re learning new things.
Glad it was helpful!
Simple but great advice. This will stop me unwinding the small tightener, then having the front of the caravan suddenly slide down and be difficult to lift back up!
I'm pleased it was useful to you
Oh I've got what you mean now! Adjusting the jockey wheel before unhitching, as you have done, gives more scope for manoeuvrability if required! Thanks dear. I feel so dimdumb! 🤦😬😁
Exactly! More height adjustment both up and down
Bloody brilliant. I have been struggling, and sometimes losing skin, with this problem. Thank you.
You are most welcome. I'm glad I've been able to save the skin on your knuckles! Happy Caravanning
Really great tip! We'll remember this one (hopefully) 🤣
I'll ask you when I next see you!
Top tip, Fliss!
Thank you. It's got me out of trouble so many times!
Thats really helpful im new to all this and had the problem you described thank you for sharing your tip
You're most welcome. I hope my other videos help too
So true. I always unclamp the jockey wheel shaft and lower it fully onto the floor. The problem I encounter is when hooking up the hitchlock doesn't fully engage with the towbar as I can't unscrew the handle anymore. Usually the bottom of the shaft on the jockey wheel is resting on the metal bracket with the two slots, fastened to the jockey wheel.
I hope this video has helped solve this problem for you
Followed your guidance ever since you taught me how to do this, never had a problem !
Hi. I'm so pleased to hear that! It's good to know what I teach stays with people 🙂
Thank you so much for this fabulous tip. I often had to put the steadies down and readjust the jockey wheel. Used this for the first time this week and it is so simple and made levelling up and hooking up a doddle.
Fantastic! I'm so pleased it's solved a problem 😍
Great stuff, Flis
Glad you enjoyed it
Great tip, thank you. ❤️
You're welcome
Good plan! Last time the jockey wheel was actually under the hitch which stopped me lowering it down to the car. Much messing about with steadies to rectify. Unfortunately, when my wife asked what was going on, she thought I said that the jockey wheel was under the hedge and she nearly had a fit!!
It certainly does prevent any issues and the need to use the steadies to remedy the problem
I’ll remember that tip. Didn’t know about it. Thanks. 👍
You're welcome
Well done girl
Thank you
Thank you very much Fliss , I will be doing your way from now on 👍👍.
Let me know how it goes!
Hello Fliss, just to let you know that I used your idea of putting the jockey wheel a few inches off the ground before rising it and it worked perfectly, thanks for that great suggestion 👍👍.
@@busterboy7505 I'm so happy it's worked for you. Happy Caravanning!
Excellent help
Glad it helped. Keep following us for more content coming soon
Glad it helped
She is brilliant
Thank you 😊
Good tip, thanks for sharing. What about when you run out of extension on sloping pitch, and you need to drop the Jockey Wheel fully to have enough “inner” to wind down and get the caravan level?
Use blocks of wood or something and then lower the jockey wheel until it is 4" from the blocks. Then wind from there
Great tip. Did you forget to uncompress the hitch? (move car forwards a bit after reversing) :)
Good observation! No, it was actually filmed on a slight downhill, and the caravan nudged forward a bit too much for my liking when I released the handbrake
Nadat ik dit gezien heb, zal ik altijd beweren dat ik het altijd zo deed 🤣
It's good to know I'm doing it right! 🤣😉
But this is only done, when un-hitching from the car?
Yes, because you're setting the height of the jockey wheel so you can then lower or raise the hitch to level the caravan for sleeping.
Another good jockey wheel tip. When travelling set the jockey wheel so that if the trailer detaches the van will go towards the near side (i.e. left). On a motorway this means the van ends up on the hard shoulder rather than the fast lane. On other roads it means the van doesn't hit on coming traffic head on. When travelling in the EU, the wheel should point to the right, Look at the beginning of this video to see the wrong way to have the jockey wheel pointing (unless it was shot in the EU). Another good tip is to disconnect the safety chain before taking the trailer off the tow ball. Many people have moved the tow car with the safety chain still attached. Again this video shows how to get the sequence wrong.
Thank you for your comment. I see what you're saying, but I can't see how this would work in practice. The jockey is stowed in that position to prevent grounding on speed bumps or uneven ground. To achieve what you're suggesting, surely the jockey wheel will be too low and will ground, especially when a car, rather than an SUV or pickup truck, is towing it. Please correct me if I'm misunderstanding you.
With regards to the breakaway cable, these are safety features, and this sequence was approved by the DVSA for the now abolished B+E Test. The only reason people drive off with it still attached is because they are not sticking to the same sequence and forgot to remove it.
I purchased my first caravan just before the introduction of Purchase tax (1973) and have towed caravans/ trailers/ boats with cars/4x4s / motorhomes ever since, I have always alined the jockey to the left and never had a problem with grounding. Tow vehicle type doesn't make a difference as correctly fitted tow bars have the tow ball at a standard height. This video illustrates the problem of the jockey pointing to the right ua-cam.com/video/jVmNT-gpo60/v-deo.html . Your point about having a fixed procedure is a good one, but sometimes you are distracted and deviate for whatever reason. My believe is that disconnecting the cable early on in your standard procedure reduces the ramificaions of such a distraction. @@the_trailer_lady
Belter tip 👍
Thank you 😊
It did t help…. I don’t have a caravan.
You're missing out!