The jockey wheel is one of the most important components of any trailer, and that is especially the case if you’re heading bush in a camper trailer or caravan. The thing is, not all jockey wheels are the same, and getting one that suits your specific needs is really important – after all, the last thing you want to ruin your trip away is a failing jockey wheel!
Here’s a look at some of the considerations you need to take into account when purchasing a new jockey wheel for your trailer.
Trailer Type
The biggest influencing factor to the type of jockey wheel you buy is the kind of trailer you’re buying it for. Obviously, a small single-axle boat trailer isn’t going to have the same needs as a large dual axle caravan. For example, a standard jockey wheel, such as the Ark Economic Jockey Wheel features a 250mm maximum height extension, a solid rubber tyre and is rated for up to 350kg making it perfect for lightweight towing. On the flipside, a 10” Heavy Duty Jockey Wheel is available in either fixed or swivel options and features a high 500kg load capacity and sealed bearings that protect the wheel in an off-road environment making it perfect for larger towing such as a big caravan.
Where You’re Planning to Travel
Your destination, or wherever you plan to take your trailer is another contributing factor to the type of jockey wheel you purchase. For instance, if you’re planning to head off road, then a standard wheel just won’t do the trick. Instead you’ll want to consider purchasing an off-road specific jockey wheel. An off-road specific jockey wheel, such as Ark’s XO Series, are specifically designed to handle anything the Aussie bush can throw at it. They’re super tough, but they’re also highly versatile with multiple height options, a highly maneuverable trailing yoke design, different yoke locking positions and are available in many sizes, weight ratings and cover most of the styles mentioned above. Alternatively, a pneumatic jockey wheel, such as Ark’s 10″ Pneumatic Jockey Wheels, feature a large 10in inflatable tyre specially designed to cope with difficult ground conditions. That makes them great for off-road use and even towing and camping on sand or other soft sites.
The Need to Maneuver Your Trailer
If maneuvering your trailer while it’s unhitched from your tow vehicle is something you need to do regularly, then this is another contributing factor to the type of jockey wheel you purchase. Your reasons for needing to maneuver your vehicle will vary. Maybe the location you store your trailer at home is difficult to get to, or the campsite you’re traveling to has limited maneuvering room. Either way, a jockey wheel suited to unhitched maneuvering is worth considering. Again, for off-road use Ark’s XO Series is a good option, as its trailing yoke design makes it highly maneuverable. Alternatively, a ratchet jockey wheel such as the Ark Ezi-Mover Ratchet Jockey Wheels is designed to easily maneuver trailers weighing up to 2 tonnes on an even surface with minimal effort. They’re easily operated by rotating the controls and feature four functions: forward, reverse, neutral and stop/lock.
Where to go for more information?
With extensive skills and experience, Ark are the experts when it comes to jockey wheels for your trailer.
Give the experts a call at Ark today to find the right Jockey Wheel for your trailer!
Anyone who has even a casual familiarity with the automotive industry knows of the famous SEMA Show which is held annually in Las Vegas. It’s one of the world’s largest automotive trade shows that attracts almost 2500 car manufacturers and aftermarket parts suppliers from around the world.
So, it’s fair to say that winning an award at the SEMA Show is no small achievement. Well, we’re incredibly proud to announce that ARK has been named the 2022 Global Media Award winner at the 2022 SEMA show for our XO-Tech Power Distribution hub!
What is this award all about?
SEMA’s Global Media Award sees 23 judges from seven different countries review and evaluate a whopping 3000 product entries, and the award is presented to the products that the judges will appeal most to the customer base in their home country.
“Vehicle customization and personalization has been growing worldwide,” said Linda Spencer,
SEMA director of international and government relations. “The global automotive specialty-equipment market is made up of enthusiasts who are passionate about the hobby. This passion can be found not only throughout the United States but also in countless spots around the globe including in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, Melbourne Australia, and Stockholm, Sweden.”
It goes without saying that we at ARK are absolutely blown away by winning this award. “We are extremely proud that the XO-Tech Power Distribution Hub emerged among thousands
as voted on by a panel of international judges,” said ARK’s founder and owner, Richard Arakelian.
What is the XO-Tech Power Distribution Hub?
About this award-winning product, Richard says “The Power Distribution Hub is unique and offers the user an innovative and cost-effective solution for a 12V electrical system for their camping setup.” Launched on the Australian market in 2022, the XO-TEch Power Distribution Hub is designed to be an innovative, compact, lightweight, and easy-to-install 12V system for 4WDs and other recreational vehicles. The concept of the PDH is to eliminate the need for bulky control boxes, rocker switches, and even fuse boxes.
Why the XO-Tech Power Distribution Hub is a Game Changer
Simply put, the XO-Tech Power Distribution Hub is unlike any other 12V control box on the market. The ultimate all-in-one power management system allows you to control all of your on-board devices, easily monitor your power consumption, protect your battery, and provides a huge range of outputs as well as Bluetooth connectivity for remote control and monitoring via your smartphone. Here are a few reasons why the PDH is a true game-changer:
1. Unlike any other 12V Control Box
Unlike any other 12V control box on the market, the PDH is packed full of technology and features in a compact and sleek design.
2. Saves Space
Because the PDH is just 267mm long by 192mm wide and 60mm deep, it’s compact enough to fit just about anywhere! The PDH is the ultimate solution to maximise available space and minimise the clutter in your camping 12V setup
3. Smart Camping
Because The PDH provides automation for your 12V camping setup and wireless operation through Bluetooth connectivity, you can use your smartphone to monitor your battery and switch devices on and off from the comfort of your camp chair. This also eliminates the need to install bulky rocker switches, which saves you even more space! The ARK Smart Hub also allows the pairing of multiple PDH devices to your smartphone which can be renamed individually, customise the names of your controllable outputs, change battery protection levels, and load battery data such as size and type.
4. Fully Protected Outlets Galore!
As well as the four 10A rated controllable relays, the PDH features a 50A output rated Anderson style connector, a 10A rated cigi socket, a 10A rated Engel socket, a 15A rated Merit socket, and a dual USB socket with 2.1A connections. And unlike other 12V control boxes, all PDH outputs are protected with internal self-resetting fuses and an electronically controlled main relay which are shown active from an array of LED indicators easily visible on the face of the unit. The PDH outputs are completely protected and no ongoing maintenance or replacement of fuses is required!
5. Easy Installation
All you need is a battery wired up to a 50A Anderson style connector with an inline fuse to install the Power Distribution Hub. Connect the battery to the input Anderson style connector and you’ve got yourself the ultimate 12V camping setup with added levels of automation and battery protection for your auxiliary battery!
6. Monitor your Batteries… and your Water Tank!
With the Power Distribution Hub, you can monitor battery voltage, current, power, and time to discharge – all in real-time. It also allows you to monitor total consumption including minimum and maximum voltage data, maximum current data, total watt hours, and used battery capacity in amp hours since last charge. All this information can be viewed on the scrolling OLED display directly on the unit or wirelessly through a smartphone. But here’s the really cool part: the PDH gives you the ability to monitor a single poly water tank. This provides you full control over your usage and the ability to monitor your water levels from the unit directly or wirelessly through a smartphone.
What makes ARK leaders in Portable Power?
ARK Corporation has 45 years of expertise in the areas of Portable Power as well as trailer and off-road accessories. As market leaders in these areas, all our products are engineered, designed, and tested in Australia’s vast and harshest conditions to ensure our range of innovative products meet and exceed the industry’s highest standards.
For many people who like to hit the tracks with a camper trailer, caravan or boat in tow, improving on the standard trailer towing gear you’re using is often necessary. Because we’re all different, and we all have different desires when it comes to hitting the tracks and heading to our favourite campsites, our towing needs are also different. For some people, the adventure of taking the gnarliest tracks to our favourite campsite is part of the fun, while others will prefer getting to camp as quickly and easily as possible so they can crack open the esky and wet a line. That means that the towing gear that comes standard with your trailer may not be the ideal gear for you, and when it comes to towing there’s one component that is hugely important to get right – your trailer coupling.
What is a Trailer Coupling?
A trailer coupling is the essential link between your trailer and your tow vehicle. It’s the component that is fitted to the leading edge of the A-frame of your trailer, and which connects to the tow hitch on your tow vehicle.
It’s REALLY important to mention this: the trailer coupling is NOT the tow hitch. Time and again we see so-called “expert” 4WD and off-road publications and shows referring to the coupling as a “hitch”. This is incorrect. The coupling is the component on your trailer, whereas the hitch is the component on your tow vehicle. It’s a pretty basic distinction, but something that people get wrong a lot of the time.
What does a Trailer Coupling do?
As already stated, a trailer coupling connects to the tow hitch on your tow vehicle, but the thing is, it’s far more important than just being a connector. It needs to be able to withstand the loads you’re towing, whether it be a small little 700kg box trailer with no brakes or a 3.5t off-road caravan with a full kit out and electric brakes.
It also needs to be able to handle any articulation that you demand of it, something that is especially relevant if you’re planning to tow off-road whether that be on soft sand beaches, or rough and complex 4WD tracks.
The Different Types of Trailer Couplings
There really is a lot of different types and styles of trailer coupling on the market, all with different strengths and weaknesses. Which coupling works best for you will depend on your needs, i.e. what and where you’re planning to tow. There are also different couplings to suit different types of tow hitches, from your standard 50mm ball hitch to an off-road specific polyblock hitch. We’re going to look at three main types of couplings: fixed couplings, over-ride couplings, and off-road couplings.
Before we do, it’s worthwhile to take a quick refresher on the legalities surrounding brake requirements on trailers. In a nutshell, there are essentially three levels. For trailers that are hauling a weight of under 750kg (including the trailer weight), no trailer braking system is required. For trailers that are hauling a weight of between 750kg and 2000kg (again, including the trailer weight) the trailer must have either a mechanical or hydraulic braking system fitted. And lastly, for any trailer that is hauling over 2000kg (you guessed it – including the weight of the trailer), it’s a legal requirement for your trailer to be fitted with electric brakes that are controlled by an electric brake controller.
With that out of the way, let’s take a look at the different coupling types.
Fixed Couplings
The most common type of coupling, simply because of how basic they are. A fixed coupling, such as Ark’s 3 Hole 50mm Coupling simply bolts onto the chassis of your trailer and connects to the standard 50mm ball hitch of your tow vehicle. A basic fixed coupling is relatively limited in how much articulation it offers, so it’s best suited to towing up to 2,000kgs on the road.
There are also fixed couplings that are capable of towing heavier trailers with electric brakes, such as Ark’s Electric Coupling with Ratchet Handle for 50mm Ball Hitches. This hitch is rated for up to 3500kg trailers that are fitted with electric brakes, and like the basic coupling works with the standard 50mm ball hitch. These couplings also offer relatively limited articulation, which means they’re best suited to on-road towing of things such as car trailers.
Over-Ride Couplings
Over-ride couplings are the next step up from a fixed coupling and are designed to activate the mechanical or hydraulic brakes on your trailer via an inertial-activated mechanism. As we know, any trailer that is hauling weights of between 750kg and 2000kg are required to be fitted with mechanical or hydraulic brakes, and an over-ride coupling such as Ark’s 50mm Over-Ride Coupling is designed specifically for this.
Here’s how they work: As the driver brakes, the coupling feels the inertial force the tow vehicle is applying to it, and it compresses a spring within it. When this spring is compressed, the brakes are triggered.
Off-Road Couplings
There are many different types of off-road couplings that are specifically designed to tow your camper trailer, caravan, or boat on the vastly varying 4WD tracks Australia has to offer. Off-road couplings are designed to provide a great degree of articulation across all three axiis (i.e. yaw, pitch and roll), and they achieve this in varying ways. Off-road couplings will often require a matching style of off-road hitch.
One common type is the polyblock style of coupling. Rather than utilising the standard 50mm tow hitch, the polyblock coupling utilises a plastic block that connects to the hitch via a through-pin. A coupling of this type provides a full 360 degrees of roll, which goes a long way to preventing your trailer from rolling in extreme off-road conditions.
The second type of off-road coupling we’re going to look at, and our personal favourite, is the fully articulating 50mm ball hitch off-road coupling, such as Ark’s 3.5t XO Off-Road Coupling with Parkbrake. There are a number of benefits to this type of coupling. Firstly, unlike many off-road couplings, it works with your tow vehicle’s standard 50mm ball hitch. That means there’s no need to change the hitch on your tow vehicle. That makes things much easier if you’re towing an off-road caravan while you’re on holiday, but need to tow the little box trailer to the tip on the weekend! Secondly, the XO Off-Road Coupling offers full off-road articulation, so you’re getting all the benefits of something like the polyblock coupling but without the need to switch out the tow hitch on your tow vehicle.
Want to Know More About Trailer Couplings?
At Ark, we test all of our products, trailer couplings included in the greatest testing ground there’s ever been – the Aussie outdoors! We love nothing more than hitching up the camper trailer and hitting the tracks as soon as the clock hits 5pm on a Friday (Okay, you caught us out – 1pm!)
100% Aussie-owned and independent, ARK have been the leaders in trailer parts, towing gear and 4WD accessories for over 40 years. Whether it’s towing gear such as couplings and hitches or 12V power systems and battery packs to enhance your camping experience, the team at ARK have you covered. Get in touch with us today to learn how our expertise can help you get off-road more often!
Jockey wheels may just be the most under-appreciated component of any caravan or boat trailer. Your trailer’s jockey wheel is often one of the accessories you’ll rely on most. It stops your trailer from tipping or falling, helps you manoeuvre it into place above a tow ball and helps keep other components such as the hitch off the ground and in good condition while not being utilised.
Unfortunately, the jockey wheel is also one of the components most likely to be forgotten when it comes to maintenance. Well, we’re here to fix that! Because your jockey wheel cops a regular beating (especially on a boat trailer where it is regularly submerged in damaging salt water), we’re going to show you how to service it, replace damaged and worn parts as well as some maintenance you can perform to prevent wear and tear.
The Tough Life of a Jockey Wheel
Depending on the type of trailer you tow, its jockey wheel can face a wide variety of conditions which can cause premature wear and tear. Let’s take a look at some of the more common stresses that various types of trailers can put on your jockey wheel.
Off-Road Caravans and Camper Trailers
An off-road specific jockey wheel such as ARK’s XO Series can cop an absolute beating when travelling off-road, especially when you consider the wide range of tough conditions Aussie 4WD subject their gear to on a regular basis. From being submerged in mud to copping hits from rocks and being coated in sand, an off-road jockey wheel lives possibly the hardest life of any jockey wheel!
Boat Trailers
Your boat trailer’s jockey wheel is regularly subjected to a specific condition that others rarely are – submersion in salt water. Of course, submerging a portion of your trailer when you off-load or collect your boat at the boat ramp is an unavoidable part of boating, so being proactive in preventing the damage that corrosive salt water can do to your jockey wheel is a must.
Car Trailers and other Heavy Load Trailers
If you tow a race car or heavy machinery then you can often be pushing your towing capacity to its absolute limit. While a car on its own often won’t take you close to the common 3500kg towing limits, it’s all the other things you may also need to load that will. Things like large toolboxes, extra tyres, extra engines, and heavy plant machinery, can all add up to some serious load. That means when your trailer isn’t hooked up to your tow vehicle, your jockey wheel can be doing a lot of heavy lifting and will require extra attention when it comes to maintenance.
Our 5-Step Guide To Jockey Wheel Maintenance
To make maintaining your jockey wheel easier, we’ve put together this handy 5-step guide to servicing and maintaining your jockey wheel!
1: Remove the Jockey Wheel
To make things easier for yourself, you’ll want to remove the jockey wheel from your trailer’s a-frame. Place wheel chocks and ensure the trailer’s handbrake is engaged, then place a jack stand or two under the a-frame to take the weight of the trailer. Wind the jockey wheel down until the trailer is being held by the jack stands, and remove the jockey wheel from the a-frame by unbolting it.
2: Disassemble and Inspect the Jockey Wheel
Most jockey wheel designs will require you to use a spanner at each side to loosen and remove the wheel from the lower casing. Once this is done, you’ll want to pull the wheel out and check it for any axle shaft wear, corrosion, or damage.
The lower and upper cases need to be separated. You can do this by fully winding the handle to extend the jockey wheel as far as possible until you release the worm drive shaft from its lock nut. Then, remove the handle by removing the roll pin with a punch.
3: Remove and Inspect the Bearing, then Reassemble the Upper Shaft
Next, you’ll need to use a plastic mallet to tap the worm drive shaft back into the housing, and completely remove the shaft. Remove the bearing and washer, clean them thoroughly, and check them for wear. If they look worn or damaged, it’s best to replace them.
Reassemble by placing the shaft back into the upper casing.
4: Clean and Check the Lower Shaft
Inspect the lower case to ensure the fixed nut is in good condition, is secure and there’s no damage to the thread. If needed, replace it with a new one. Apply fresh grease to the nut and the worm drive shaft.
Reassemble the lower shaft components and reconnect the upper and lower shafts.
5: Check The Solid Wheel and Reassemble
Apply fresh grease to the axle shaft and refit the solid wheel. Ensuring the wheel is free to rotate, re-tighten the axle nut. Inspect the roll pin for any wear or damage and replace it if necessary before refitting it into the handle.
Ensure the road wheel is free to swivel and rotates easily, and wind the handle in both directions to ensure it is operating properly. If everything is in order, you can refit the freshly serviced jockey wheel to your trailer!
Want to Know More About Jockey Wheels?
At Ark, we test all of our products, jockey wheels included in the greatest testing ground there’s ever been – the Aussie outdoors! We love nothing more than hitching up the camper trailer and hitting the tracks on the weekend, or hooking up the boat trailer and wetting a line.
100% Aussie-owned and independent, ARK have been the leaders in trailer parts, towing gear, and 4WD accessories for over 40 years. Whether it’s towing gear such as jockey wheels and hitches or 12V power systems and battery packs to enhance your camping experience, the team at ARK have you covered. Get in touch with us today to learn how our expertise can help you get off-road more often!
