Jockey wheel mishap

The mistake you made was trying to support the weight of the van using muscle power. Much better to lower the front steadies while repositioning the wheel. Same  when hitching up. If the front of our van was very low due to the slope, it was never possible to hitch in one. The method being raise to near maximum, lower front steadies, reposition jockey, raise so high enough for hitching. Plus of course don't forget to take steadies up again. If you use a drill, plus adaptor for the steadies, it is a matter of a few seconds to raise / lower them.

When we needed to keep to 75 kilos it was always a bit of a juggling act. However, after a few trips you soon learn what goes where and balancing it will become second nature. The awning will affect noseweight more / less depending where it is placed in relation to the axle. Over it will have least affect. Avoid placing heavy objects at the rear.

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I’ve seen the jockey wheel mishap on site more than once. Folk rally round and help put things back together. 

When you go to use the jockey, I always undo the clamp and let the wheel touch the floor, then lift the jockey up about 3 to 4 inches and clamp tight, then wind down till van starts to lift. I usually put a couple of blocks down and put the gauge on top of them so don't have to wind down as much. you'll get there after some trial and error.

I would go along with Steve's advice as to how to handle the problem. Painful way to learn though.

Thank you for your responses and advice, it’s quite heartening to hear that it can happen to seasoned caravaners also. Having just spent our first night in the caravan I have to say, it’s great isn’t it! Absolutely loving it so far (despite the suspected hernia from the jockey wheel incident).

Same thing happened to us two or three times with our previous caravan.  Fortunately the wardens on the sites (twice on our storage site, and once at Buxton, I think) helped us out putting it back together.

My jockey wheel mishap involved the jockey wheel falling apart as I hitched up which meant that the postage stamp pitch I was offered enroute to home, I couldn't use without using my mover. Fortunately I had some bits & pieces with me to bodge a temporary repair.

Milenco gauges, as owned by the OP are sized to fit under the hitch at its normal running height. Raising or lowering the hitch alters the nose weight at around 5kg/ 4” on most vans. Ideally the van should be level when measuring hitch weight.