Jockey wheel clamp lever failure

[Hettasch]

Hi
We were on a three weeks road trip in March this year and just before departure from our second last stop, the lever that tightens the jockey wheel clamp snapped off as I was loosening the jockey wheel to place it on its peg. The bottom part of the threaden portion of the lever was now stuck in the female area that it goes into. I had, fortunately, just hooked our XpeditionPod to the vehicle. Imagine if the jockey wheel lever snapped if the caravan had not been hooked up - it would crush one's foot!
We were departing from Bergkwagga National Park heading towards Bloemfontein and it was the Saturday during Easter Weekend. Through the helpfull members of the Kampmal group on Facebook, I managed to get a new clamp in Bloemfontein and another good Samaritan removed the piece that had broken off in the existing clamp, and with the new clamp's lever, we were ready to go again.
What I want to bring to all's attention, is to ensure that the lever does not tighten against the A-frame's steel. Either there should be a hole in the A-frame, or the lever's threaded portion should be a bit shorter to prevent it from "bottoming" against the A-frame's steel. In the comments on Facebook, I read that this same problem has happened to others also. So, our situation was not unique. One would think that Roadque and other manufacturers of the jockey wheel clamps would have their design checked for such possibility, and to manufacture the lever to prevent this from happening.

[mcowell]

When our Sundowner came back from the last service at Bushwakka, I noticed there were new bolts on the jockey wheel clamp. I asked what I had missed, and the reply was the clamp had been removed and a hole drilled into the A-frame to prevent damaging the clamp bolt. It is their standard practice to use new bolts when re-installing the clamp.

[Koebelwagen]

https://www.adendorff.co.za/mac-afri...-lbs-gjackx451

This is the answer if it is able to fit.

Have had one on my boat trailer for 3 years now and another on our company flatbed trailer for about 4 years. No more damaged wheels, no more swearing at tight levers and no stripped/ broken levers just ease of use.

[Thilo]

This mod saved me a few times when clamp was not properly tightend. Make a few welding spots on shaft so that it cannot slip.

[JanL]

Great idea!!!

[Hettasch]

This mod saved me a few times when clamp was not properly tightend. Make a few welding spots on shaft so that it cannot slip.

Great idea.

[Dwayne P]

My inlaws had the exact thing happen earlier in the year on their Bushwakka Sundowner. Dropped to the ground/jockey wheel. Luckily all body parts were out of the way. At home we replaced the bracket and drilled the A-frame for this reason as well.

I suppose there are multiple causes for this to happen. I think the bolt might be about 5mm to long for the application, but as new clamp would work perfectly. However once worked and bit worn, the jockey wheel could have dented a bit and causing the 'over' tightening of the clamp leading to bolt snapping and deformation of clamp itself possibly.

Strange that not many have thought of this precaution when manufacturing the parts.

[Gungets Tuft]

This mod saved me a few times when clamp was not properly tightend. Make a few welding spots on shaft so that it cannot slip.

Afrispoor put these welds on as standard practice now. They're useful but can also be irritating if you're just trying to hoist the jockey wheel higher, it forces you to almost have to completely loosen the fastening bolt. It's better than the alternative though.

The new double wheel jockey wheel is just too low, even in it's highest hold position, so my van is going in next week to figure out a way to fasten it to the drawbar when travelling. At the moment I put it into the back of the van, not ideal because it'll do damage there on very bad roads. Added problem.is the MTB rack on the drawbar as well, space wise. Might need to carry KY to help make everything fit

[franshorn]

Jockey wheel also slips on our Miskruier.

Woke up saterday morning, feeling a bit head down (might have been the Brannas as well), got out the van and realised the jockey wheel slipped down slightly again.

So had to pull out the bakkie's jack to raise up the nose to reallocate the jockey back to its correct position again. Just left the jack there for the second night.

Seems I need to install front stabilizers.

Where to find proper stabilizers now? I see Al-Ko is no longer available in SA or am I misinformed.

Cape Town suppliers?

[Cats]

https://www.adendorff.co.za/mac-afri...-lbs-gjackx451

This is the answer if it is able to fit.

Have had one on my boat trailer for 3 years now and another on our company flatbed trailer for about 4 years. No more damaged wheels, no more swearing at tight levers and no stripped/ broken levers just ease of use.

How does this jack work? Can it still be removed and stored separately easily? How does it clamp on?

I am going to measure and see if it will lift my Xplorer high enough. I like the lever design and dependant on the ease of clamping, will definately be on my shopping list.

CATS

[Koebelwagen]

How does this jack work? Can it still be removed and stored separately easily? How does it clamp on?

I am going to measure and see if it will lift my Xplorer high enough. I like the lever design and dependant on the ease of clamping, will definately be on my shopping list.

CATS

As I said, really easy to use and you don't need to remove it because it stows out of the way.

I replaced three wheels on a standard jockey wheel setup because they hanged too low in the stowed position before I changed to this type on my boat trailer. Haven't needed to do so since because it is out of the way.

[dilligafrican]

This is why I’ve always used two jockey wheels.

The main one being a proper double-wheel which stays on the peg when travelling.

Second one a normal one but it does help to level the van, and also act as a fail safe when you have a slip. It is also out of the way enough not to plough in thick sand as it’s only about two inches lower than the a-frame.

And I carry a spare clamp for the main one when travelling. Had a failure recently where the thread got stripped but I was able to use the normal wheel to keep it up and bolt on the new clamp for the main jockey.

[LowRange]

I had a similar issue with the Burquip jockey wheel clamp on my Baobab. Eventually replaced it with a much sturdier unit from AL-KO.

No further problems.

Thread here:

Bush Lapa general discussions - Page 16 (4x4community.co.za)

Johan

[Amolkarnik]

On my new trailer, I asked for a stabiliser leg on the A frame. This is belt and braces. As soon as the jockey wheel starts to take the strain, I engage the stabiliser and then continue working on the jockey wheel. That way, any failure of the jockey wheel only results in a drop of 10-30mm.

I also store my jockey wheel in the nose cone while travelling at all times. There is no risk of it falling off or coming in contact with the ground.

[Amolkarnik]

You can see I have an ALKO stabilizer in the A frame in the bottom left corner of the film.

Works a treat