Caravan Jockey Wheels & Movers

Why a Decent Jockey Wheel Matters

A jockey wheel is the only thing holding up the front of the van once you unhitch. Most standard wheels that come with a trailer are too flimsy for the weight of your caravan, which is why they often bend or seize up. A heavy-duty trailer jockey lets you move the caravan or trailer into tight spots or onto a levelling ramp without needing the car attached.

Upgrading to the right jockey wheel saves your back and your equipment. If you spend time on soft ground, solid or pneumatic tyres make moving much easier by stopping the wheel from digging in. For big rigs, a manual and electric jockey wheel setup or a hydraulic jockey wheel like the Trail-A-Mate does the heavy lifting for you. This means you can get the caravan into place faster and start your holiday sooner.

You can shop jockey wheels at Outback Equipment because we only stock gear that survives the corrugations. We carry a wide range of jockey wheels from brands like Ark, Supex, Trail-A-Mate, Camper Trolley, and Al-Ko.

What Else You Might Need

Check these products in the following categories to make sure your hitching and unhitching setup is complete:

• Brackets & Parts: Grab a spare jockey wheel handle, thrust bearing, or a 60mm jockey wheel clamp to fix a seizing thread and ensure a proper fit on your drawbar.
• Chocks: Use a wheel chock or rubber receiver to stop the caravan or trailer from rolling or shifting once you’ve unhitched.
• Leveling Ramps: Use these under your tyres on uneven surfaces to get the caravan into place and perfectly level so your 3-way fridge runs efficiently.
• Couplings & Wire Cables: Find the hitch pins, security locks, and safety cables needed to keep your rig securely connected to the tow vehicle while towing.
• Stabiliser Legs: Drop these legs after leveling to stop the van from rocking and bouncing when you're moving around inside.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my jockey wheel handle so hard to turn?

Most of the time, the internal grease has dried out or the thread is full of road grit. A reliable caravan setup needs regular maintenance; try pumping fresh grease into the nipple or down the inner tube. This keeps the hitching and unhitching process smooth and stops the thread from stripping under load.

Will a pneumatic tyre go flat under a heavy caravan?

Standard pneumatic tyres often struggle with high caravan weights. While they are great for shock absorption on soft sand, they can "bead-pop" or go flat if left stationary for too long. For larger vans, a solid rubber or "puncture-proof" pneumatic wheel is a more dependable choice because it won’t fail when you’re miles from a service station.

Why does my jockey wheel keep burying itself in the sand?

A single wheel has a small footprint, which acts like a shovel in soft ground. If your trailer jockey wheel is sinking, swap to a dual-wheel setup or a wide pneumatic tyre. This spreads the weight over a larger area, making it much easier to manoeuvre without the wheel digging a hole.

My jockey wheel handle is hitting my stone guard, how do I fix it?

This is a common clearance issue on modern A-frames. You can solve this by switching to a swing-up jockey or a side-wind model. A side-wind handle stays lower and out of the way of front-of-van accessories, while a swivel bracket lets you stow the unit horizontally along the drawbar.

How do I stop the "death rattle" from my jockey wheel while driving?

If your jockey wheel isn't wound tight or the clamp is slightly loose, it will vibrate and wear down the metal. Many experienced towers use a travel strap or remove the wheel entirely and stow it in the vehicle to save the bearings from dust and salt spray.

Why is my electric mover struggling on wet grass?

Traction is the main issue. If the wheel sizes are too small or the tyre tread is slick, the motor will just spin. Try putting more weight over the hitch or switching to a knobby pneumatic tyre on the mover to get enough grip for slippery slopes.