Jockey wheel up or down

We use the jockey wheel to set the level initially .  But after I guess u could wind it up, guess it makes no difference. 

This topic ran to nine pages back in December 2016. 

Link here

Hopefully of some help. Mind you it took a Google search to find it. Using the search box at the top of the page returned a list of caravan sites and CL's.☹️👎

Jockey wheel should always be down when pitched, just imagine if taken up after lowering the steadies. The steadies would then have to take the full noseweight plus all the occupants sitting up front, and they would no longer be steadies, but overloaded jacks. The jockey wheel down takes some of the front weight and transfers it to the chassis.

That is your opinion Dave. Not sure it makes much difference personally. When we pitch we use the jockey wheel to level up, wind down back legs and then the front. The bulk of the loading is probably on the axle. Not sure that the jockey wheel is that critical. 

As Easy says, that is Dave's opinion but I did as requested and imagined the jockey wheel up. I did so whilst imagining lying in the transverse bed with almost all the payload, myself and my wife included,  to the rear of the axle.

I know why mine is usually down-I can't be bothered to wind it up but does it make a real difference when, as said, it's the axle that's carrying the weight?

Of course it's my opinion and everyone is welcome to disagree but if for instance a family of four where sitting up front their weight would be forward of the pivot point (axle), and with only the steadies to take that excess weight. Weight to the rear is not so critical as all/most caravans are nose heavy anyway.

Level sideways, use jockey wheel to level fore and aft, lower rear steadies, lower front steadies, leave jockey wheel as it is, the purpose of the steadies is in the name.

thank you for all your comments it was very intresting reading I have allways kept my jockey wheel down for all the reasons that you have gave , thanks

I agree with what you say. I have always thought it strange that in our 4 berth Unicorn, heavy duty steadies are fitted to the rear, but only standard to the front. Although we occasionally have four people round the table at the front, we have never had four in the rear bathroom. So why the difference?

We have the Alko jockey wheel with built in nose weight gauge so no weight is taken on the jockey wheel when pitched as it is sprung

We always leave the jockey wheel down when on holiday, because of always having been told that the corner steadies were just that - steadies - and not to support the caravan.

I have recently started to wind up the jockey wheel at home - we have a pneumatic one and I think it's a lot of weight to have on it all that time and may be the reason that it sometimes deflates.

But I place a short length of railway sleeper under the tow hitch to support the front of the caravan, then wind down the steadies - so they are again only acting as steadies.

However, as I recall, Alko say there is no problem either way.