How to Fit a & Trailer Types
How to use a jockey wheel
BASIC USE & Instructions to use a trailer jockey wheel

Welcome to your Kartt trailer jockey wheel....it will give you years of trouble free service if properly looked after and serviced. Jockey wheels can be vulnerable and susceptible to damage but this can usually be avoided with a few moments care…. or in the case of your fleet operatives, a little basic training.

A trailer jockey wheel is a simple mechanical device designed for lifting and lowering the coupling head off and on to the tow ball and for steadying the front of the trailer whilst manoeuvring it to and from the towing vehicle. Jockey wheels are designed to take the maximum nose weight of the trailer comfortably in order to do this.  You should therefore ensure that the jockey wheel that is fitted is adequate for the size of the trailer, the trailer’s gross weight and the stated nose weight of the trailer.

At all times the winding action of the jockey wheel should be smooth and easy.  This will allow you and other operators to wind the trailer jockey wheel with the minimum of effort.  Having an ergonomically designed handle can help, and the KARTT jockey wheel has just that.

Check that there is no damage to the outer tube of the jockey wheel.  Sometimes the tube can be damaged by the locking handle of the clamp (this could be a separate jockey wheel clamp or it could be part of the cast housing of the overrun coupling.  Ensure that the locking handle thread is not acting directly on to the jockey wheel tube and that there is a pad between the locking handle and the tube.  The pad spreads the load when tightening the handle and locking the jockey wheel in place and also prevents damage to the outer tube.


WHEN TO REPLACE & COMMON PROBLEMS

If the trailer jockey wheel has been left down in transit, or it has been run at speed in to a solid object it is possible that the outer tube, or the inner tube could be damaged.  This might prevent the inner tube winding up fully in to the outer tube.  If so then it should be replaced.

Beware of your jockey wheel being left down in transit!  The KARTT wheel is not only plated but also powder coated in a bright ORANGE.  This gives a visual warning to the operator that the jockey wheel is still down and should be stowed away prior to departure.  The polyester powder coating also offers greater protection against road salts and sea salt.

The plating on the KARTT jockey wheel is also a minimum of 12 microns thickness on high quality tube.  It will always look the part.
Your KARTT jockey wheel has a full roller bearing at the top of the jockey wheel spindle.  This also enables a smooth winding action.
However, it is always wise to periodically strip down the inner from the outer stem and lubricate the moving parts.


THE WHEEL


Periodically check the tyre of the jockey wheel for damage, ensuring that the tyre is free from cuts and missing chunks of rubber so that it will run smoothly on the ground once it is lowered.  The KARTT rubber tyre has been designed to withstand aggressive forces but should still be treated with reasonable care.

Likewise the axle spindle (that connects the wheel to the jockey wheel forks) also runs smoothly and has not been damaged by an impact or by serious overloading.  The KARTT jockey wheel has a high quality nylon bearing in the axle spindle to ensure low maintenance and long life.
Check the castor side plates (to which the wheel and tyre is fitted).  Make sure that these are not damaged and that the wheel and tyre can still spin freely.  The KARTT jockey wheels have castor side plates made from 6mm section material, stronger than most other standard jockey wheels.


HITCHING TO VEHICLE

Kartt Orange Premium trailer jockey wheels are made from top quality components for trouble free long life. Check that the winding handle is operating smoothly in wind up and wind down directions.  Excessive loading can damage the bearing or other jockey wheel components.

Check that the tyre is not damaged and that the wheel is running smoothly on its spindle within the castor side plates that retain it. Wind the jockey wheel down until it touches the floor and then continue to wind it to raise the coupling head at the front of the trailer.  If the coupling head is attached to the tow ball you will have to release it from the ball.

If attaching the trailer to the vehicle, position the vehicle and trailer so that the coupling head is above the ball.  Open the coupling head and then wind up the jockey wheel in order to lower the coupling head on to the ball.  Ensure that coupling head is securely connected to the ball and locked in place.  Then continue to wind up the jockey wheel so that the inner assembly is fully retracted and stow it in position with the inner and outer assemblies “locked together”.  Your jockey wheel assembly might have an R clip and chain device (or similar) to ensure that the handle cannot rotate.  If fitted ensure that you use it.  Other jockeys have cut outs or angled cuts at the bottom of the outer tube or other devices to prevent the inner assembly from turning / lowering during transit.

It the jockey wheel is an “auto-lift” style then you only have to wind the top handle to lock out the jockey wheel.  If it isn’t, then after you have locked the inner and outer assemblies together you might have to unwind a clamp handle (locking the jockey wheel in place) to release the jockey wheel, then raise and stow the jockey wheel as high as possible before locking it in place again with the clamp handle.  See the videos that show how to raise and lower the jockey wheels.


HOW TO USE A JOCKEY WHEEL

Manoeuvre the trailer so that the coupling head is directly above the vehicle tow ball.  If the coupling head is too low, simply wind the jockey wheel counter-clockwise, using the top winding handle, so that the front of the trailer is raised and the coupling head can be directly above the tow ball.
Once in position over the tow ball, (ensuring that the coupling head is open) wind the trailer jockey wheel handle clockwise to lower the coupling head on to the ball, ensuring that it is locked in place. 

Only then it is safe to wind the handle clockwise again to raise the jockey wheel off the floor and stow it in position.  Keep winding, ensuring that the wheel and tyre is rising and not making contact with parts of the trailer body or coupling mechanism, until it is fully retracted.  You will feel a little mechanical resistance towards the end of this procedure as the castor and wheel assembly pivots to its final position and when the handle will turn no more.


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