Marcusmax Posted June 3, 2017 Share Posted June 3, 2017 As the title says. Set off for the weekend and drove about 70 miles. On the way I heard a few knocks at the back, not too loud but not normal. I thought it was probably something in the boot moving around however when I arrived at my destination I realised it was the jockey wheel hitting off the road occasionally. I had retracted it fully up into the grooves but had neglected to raise the whole tube fully in the clamp. (It's the type that is clamped to the side.) It all works fine and I can't see anything amiss but I'm wondering if this is likely to have caused any damage, particularly to the chassis? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shipbroker Posted June 3, 2017 Share Posted June 3, 2017 Done this more than once. ..has shaken electrics out but nothing else. Geoff Quote Kia Sorento KX-1 CRDI 4WD towing an Elddis Affinity 530 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan Stanley Posted June 3, 2017 Share Posted June 3, 2017 We've all done it. If the jockey wheel tyre is ok I'd breath a sigh of relief and lesson learned 2 Quote Kia KX 3 auto / Bailey Alicanto Grande Estoril and Swift Challenger 570 (2010 model Not towed - used as a static) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hawkaye Posted June 3, 2017 Share Posted June 3, 2017 In my limited experience the jockey wheel will show damage before the chassis does. If the jockey wheel is OK, no need to look further. 1 Quote hawkaye Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaydug Posted June 3, 2017 Share Posted June 3, 2017 Something most of us has done at sometime. As the jockey wheel is held at an angle to the direction of the car's travel, it just might be that the axle of the wheel has twisted slightly, causing the wheel to not run true. Quote Citroen C5-X7 Tourer+Avondale Rialto 480/2 https://jondogoescaravanning.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iansoady Posted June 3, 2017 Share Posted June 3, 2017 Yes, done that myself. It wrecked the jockey wheel in my case but no other damage. Quote Ian. 2013 Freelander 2 SD4 Auto / 2005 Bailey Pageant Vendée; 1952 Norton ES2, 1986 Honda XBR500 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Durbanite Posted June 3, 2017 Share Posted June 3, 2017 On our most recent trip the ALKO jockey wheel decided to unwind itself despite it being tight when initially setting off. Now have a bungee fitted although it should not be necessary if the assembly was of a decent standard. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
milkymarsh Posted June 3, 2017 Share Posted June 3, 2017 We've all done it. Even worse are speed bumps in France where I've decreed that i need to remove the jockey wheel to stop it bottoming out! The jockey wheel will show damage before the chassis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcusmax Posted June 3, 2017 Author Share Posted June 3, 2017 That's great thank you very much folks. I'm going to inspect it all more closely in a bit just to make sure that there's nothing visibly damaged but that is reassuring. I'll report back in with any findings! Yeah, had a few altercations with speed bumps over the years! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobby Brocklebank Posted June 3, 2017 Share Posted June 3, 2017 Done it masell !! Had a check list in ma top drawer for arrival and departure on Site. The worst one I did and it broke my heart when leaving the site after a glorious week in Brig House Bay. Usual safety checks on departure all good . . Faffing aboot with the mirrors and on the road home. Half an hour into the drive on the A75 making good progress and to my horror out steps a waddling mammy duck followed by a single file of about 6 ducklings. Even though I was only doing about 40ish had no where to go and ploughed through the lot. Checking my rear view mirrors all I seen was feathers floating through the air. The Mrs and Wee Smeesh were sound asleep and never witnessed my murderous manoeuvre thank goodness. Driving on very disappointed noticed movement inside the van on my rear view mirror and looked like my toilet door was swinging. Stopped and yes hanging on by one hinge with slight cosmetic damage inside the toilet was the toilet door. It was the vans second trip and only 4 months old. Still have that vision of they wee ducks stepping onto the road in ma head. ..... Quote "to be auld and wise you must first be young and daft " Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Marcusmax Posted June 3, 2017 Author Share Posted June 3, 2017 Ouch that's a sad tale indeed! My worst was in a site near Toulouse some years ago. Arrived at night. Long hill from road down to reception and then sharp uphill to the pitches. The owner told us to take a run at it in order to get up the steep slope. What he neglected to mention was that there was a mother of a speed bump right in the middle of that run. Couldn't see it cos it was dark so next thing I knew was the bang as we went over it. Gave our previous van an awful shock which I'm pretty sure compromised the structure leading to major water ingress a few months later. The repair was so expensive that we ended up trading it against our present one instead. The dealer absorbed the cost of the repair in the deal. Nasty business but thankfully no poor ducks died in the process! Checked the van earlier, jacked it up and took off the jockey wheel. All seems fine, no damage that I can see. So I think all is well and as was said earlier, I'll breathe a sigh of relief and hope the lesson had been well learned! Thanks again for your help everyone. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve05 Posted June 3, 2017 Share Posted June 3, 2017 Our first jockey wheel was forever coming loose, no matter how tight I clamped it. Trashed the pneumatic tyre one day but van and chassis AOK. Quote Hymer 545 Luxusline hauled by Audi SQ5 plus. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
shipbroker Posted June 3, 2017 Share Posted June 3, 2017 On our most recent trip the ALKO jockey wheel decided to unwind itself despite it being tight when initially setting off. Now have a bungee fitted although it should not be necessary if the assembly was of a decent standard. As I and many others now do. geoff Quote Kia Sorento KX-1 CRDI 4WD towing an Elddis Affinity 530 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Omega54 Posted June 11, 2017 Share Posted June 11, 2017 My worst experience of a similar nature was many years ago heading to Skellwith Fold at night late in the season and after work, so it was dark. Driving our ta Bailey Scorpio (a lovely van still wish we had it) down the Threlkeld road (I know the main road is via Keswick but we have used this road many times) I forgot about the hump back bridge towards the South end and hit it at around 35 mph ! Almighty thump when we returned to terra firma. We When we stopped to check the damage, the only problem was that the fridge door had opened and some of the contents were on the floor. Huge sigh of relief followed! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shirl250 Posted June 11, 2017 Share Posted June 11, 2017 (edited) Ha ha ha ! Done all of the above - the fridge door now has a heavy box up against it while travelling ! Although flying over a hump backed bridge may test even that solution Latest was leaving the long side window flapping as I'd opened it to plug the 12v tyre inflator in before we set off and forgot to close it ! The worst damage was done by a large white cabbage that jumped out of a plastic basket and rolled up and down the caravan for the whole journey badly damaging the thin piece of wood under the central chest. The nice people at Venture Caravans put a new piece over it at the next service ! Lessons learned !!! Edited June 11, 2017 by Shirl250 Quote 2007 Bailey Series 5 Senator Arizona (4 berth, rear bathroom, side dinette) towed by a 57 Kia Sorento XS Auto with Kumho KL17 tyres, Reich Mover, Kampa Rally 390, Caravan Tyres : GT Radial Maxmiler CX 185/80 R14 102R. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobby Brocklebank Posted June 11, 2017 Share Posted June 11, 2017 Ha ha ha ! Done all of the above - the fridge door now has a heavy box up against it while travelling ! Although flying over a hump backed bridge may test even that solution Latest was leaving the long side window flapping as I'd opened it to plug the 12v tyre inflator in before we set off and forgot to close it ! The worst damage was done by a large white cabbage that jumped out of a plastic basket and rolled up and down the caravan for the whole journey badly damaging the thin piece of wood under the central chest. The nice people at Venture Caravans put a new piece over it at the next service ! Lessons learned !!! Who would have a cabbage could destroy your van . .. Oh the joys . ..... 1 Quote "to be auld and wise you must first be young and daft " Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Sward Posted July 16, 2017 Share Posted July 16, 2017 This is going to sound really stupid, but as someone who's just lost a jockey wheel on their brand new 'van, can somebody please show me where and how you've attached the bungee cord? Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Johnaldo Posted July 16, 2017 Share Posted July 16, 2017 This is going to sound really stupid, but as someone who's just lost a jockey wheel on their brand new 'van, can somebody please show me where and how you've attached the bungee cord? Thanks. LS, the bungee is to stop the handle unwinding, so one end needs to be attached at the very top and the other to some fixed point on the chassis or A-frame so that the elastic stays taught. John Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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