Destroyed Jockey Wheel

[brucehawsker]

The jockey wheel on my trailer is playing up. Very hard and graunchy to turn. It has been taken apart and fully re-greased, but it still graunchy even on an unloaded trailer.

Suggestion is the thread is knackered because the nose weight is quite high. I suspect the fully laiden rib is and trailer to be about 1300kg. When we attach it to the car, there is a noticable depression of the rear suspension. But it drives very well.

Solution may be to move the wheel on the trailer but that sounds complicated and is probably best left for the 100 hour service at Solent Ribs.

Suggestion is that I purchase a new more heavy duty jockey wheel

BJ48ML Bradley Jockey Wheel 48mm 175x45 wheel
48mm medium-duty telescopic jockey wheel, Sylvatect finish, 175x45mm steel centre wheel with composite tyre. Suits Bradley couplings & clamps, ideal for light/medium commercial trailers. Maximum nose weight: 150kg

I cannot really lift the trailer at all on my own so it suggests a nose weight of way more than 30kgs - or am I wrong given the angle?

My question is - does the new wheel come apart when you wind it out (like the old one) so is the process of fitting just replacing new for old very simply?

Any thoughts?

Thanks

Bruce

[codprawn]

Really speaking you should check the nosweight of your trailer - by placing a bathroom scales or similar under the nosewheel - it should be within the limits set down by your car maker. Heavier is better but not more than they state!!!

[brucehawsker]

Yeah, thanks for that idea. Problem is I don't have bathroom scales in Lymington, and a buying a pair seems overkill. Anyway, they scare me

[Hightower]

Usually Bruce you replace the whole lot, that's bracket, wheel and winding mechanism.

Have a look at this: http://www.towsure.com/default.asp?d=28&t=57&p=0&op=

Is based in Southampton as well.

Just wind up the front of the trailer (if you can) on the jockey, place some bricks underneath the trailer drawbar and lower the trailer onto the bricks to unload the jockey. Remove jockey and replace......Easy

Andy

[Hightower]

If ya can't lift it, I bet it's more than 60/70kg's

[brucehawsker]

Hightower, the clamp is all sort of one assembly with the trailer, welded on. See piccy. You get the jockey assembly out by screwing it out all the may, then if falls apart into two pieces, and one half comes out of the hole upwards, and one part downwards.

The question is - do all jockey wheels fall apart in the same way?

[Richard B]

My old Indespension jockey wheel corroded internally from dunking.

The heavy-duty Bradley one I have on my current trailer is OK, and although I don't dunk it, previous owners have.

[Simon B]

Bruce,

Going beyond the stated noseweight will infringe your insurance. Also it isnt at all kind to the performance of the suspension. If you cannot lift it then I'm guessing its pretty high.

If bathroom scales scare you measure the hieght of the bottom of the hitch whist loaded and get your mates to sit in the boot of the car till it gets to back to that level, diplomatically request an "estimate" and hey presto your noseweight is calculated.

Our trailer was "heavy" so we borrowed a noseweight guage - 130kg my old landy was ok but other vehicles wouldnt be.

[brucehawsker]

The mind boggles. What happens to the car if you dunk the jockey wheel?

Oh, I get it, the trailer is on a rope and they put the wole trailer fully into the water?

But I have never done that.

[brucehawsker]

Simon a great idea. Have you ever sat on the 'bonnet' of a people carrier

But I am getting the impression the weight may the problem.

BUT is that not something a boat builder who supplied boat and prepped trailer would have checked??