Planning a cross-country adventure through Australia's vast landscapes? You've packed your essentials, checked your caravan's tyres, and hitched up properly. But one question might be nagging at you: should you remove your caravan jockey wheel before hitting the road, or can you leave it attached for the journey?

This seemingly simple question divides caravanners across Australia, with passionate advocates on both sides. Let's explore the facts, risks, and best practices to help you make an informed decision for your next trip.

Understanding Your Caravan Jockey Wheel

Your caravan jockey wheel serves a crucial purpose when your van isn't hitched to your vehicle. This retractable wheel assembly allows you to manoeuvre your caravan manually, adjust its height for coupling, and provides stability when parked and unhitched.

Most modern jockey wheels feature a swing-up or wind-up mechanism that lifts the wheel clear of the ground during towing. This design theoretically allows you to leave it attached while travelling. However, the reality of Australian road conditions adds complexity to this decision.

The Case for Removing Your Jockey Wheel

Protecting Your Investment

Australian roads present unique challenges that can wreak havoc on your caravan jockey wheel. Corrugated dirt roads, unexpected potholes, and debris on remote highways create constant vibration and potential impact risks. Even when properly secured in the raised position, your jockey wheel assembly experiences significant stress during long-distance travel.

The mounting bracket and clamp can gradually loosen from continuous vibration, particularly on unsealed roads. This loosening increases the risk of the wheel dropping unexpectedly, which could cause serious damage or create a dangerous situation at highway speeds.

Reducing Wear and Tear

Every component of your jockey wheel assembly—from the swivel head to the clamp mechanism—contains moving parts and joints that wear over time. Extended exposure to road vibration, dust, and debris accelerates this deterioration. Removing the wheel eliminates these stresses entirely, extending its operational lifespan significantly.

Minimising Accident Risk

A caravan jockey wheel that drops or detaches while travelling poses serious safety hazards. At highway speeds, a falling wheel assembly could damage your caravan's drawbar, strike your tow vehicle, or become a projectile endangering other road users. While rare, such incidents have occurred and often result from assumptions that a secured wheel will remain safely in position.

The Case for Leaving It Attached

Convenience Factor

Removing and reinstalling your caravan jockey wheel at every stop adds time and effort to your travel routine. For caravanners making frequent short stops or travelling through areas with multiple stopovers, the convenience of leaving it attached becomes appealing.

Manufacturer Design Intentions

Many jockey wheel manufacturers design their products with the expectation that users will leave them attached during towing. Quality units feature robust mounting systems and secure locking mechanisms specifically engineered to withstand travel conditions. Following proper securing procedures, these assemblies should theoretically remain safe throughout your journey.

What Manufacturers Recommend

Most caravan jockey wheel manufacturers provide clear guidelines in their product documentation. The consensus among major brands leans toward removal for long-distance travel, particularly on rough or unsealed roads. However, recommendations vary by product quality and design.

Premium jockey wheels with heavy-duty clamps and reinforced mounting systems may safely remain attached for sealed-road travel. Budget models often lack the structural integrity for extended journeys, making removal the safer option regardless of road conditions.

Always consult your specific jockey wheel's manual before making decisions about long-distance towing.

Australian Road Conditions: A Critical Factor

Sealed Highway Travel

If your journey keeps you exclusively on sealed, well-maintained highways, a properly secured caravan jockey wheel faces minimal risk. Regular checks at rest stops ensure the clamp remains tight and the wheel stays elevated. Many experienced caravanners successfully travel thousands of kilometres on sealed roads with their jockey wheels attached.

Outback and Remote Area Considerations

Australia's outback presents a different story entirely. Corrugated surfaces, bulldust, creek crossings, and extended rough patches subject your caravan to punishment that sealed roads never deliver. Under these conditions, removing your jockey wheel becomes strongly advisable, if not essential.

The combination of continuous vibration, sudden impacts, and fine dust infiltrating mechanical components creates an environment where even the best-secured jockey wheel risks failure.

Best Practices for Long-Distance Towing

Regular Inspection Schedule

If you choose to leave your caravan jockey wheel attached, implement a rigorous checking routine. Inspect the clamp tightness, wheel position, and mounting security at every fuel stop or break. Look for signs of loosening, unusual wear, or damage to the assembly.

Proper Securing Technique

Wind or raise your jockey wheel to its highest position, ensuring maximum ground clearance. Tighten the clamp mechanism firmly, but avoid over-tightening which can damage threads or split clamps. Some caravanners add an additional safety strap or bungee cord as backup retention, though this shouldn't replace proper clamping.

When to Definitely Remove It

Certain conditions demand jockey wheel removal regardless of convenience preferences:

• Extended travel on unsealed roads
• Journeys through remote outback regions
• Routes with known rough sections
• Any travel where roadside assistance would be difficult to obtain
• When using an older or lower-quality jockey wheel

The Verdict for Australian Conditions

While technically possible to leave your caravan jockey wheel attached during long-distance towing, the safest approach for Australian conditions involves removal, particularly for outback travel or unsealed roads.

The few minutes required to remove and reinstall your jockey wheel provides peace of mind and eliminates risk entirely. For sealed highway travel between established towns, a well-maintained, properly secured quality jockey wheel can reasonably remain attached with regular monitoring.

Ultimately, assess your specific route, road conditions, and equipment quality. When in doubt, removal represents the conservative choice that protects both your equipment and your safety. Your caravan jockey wheel will thank you for the consideration, and you'll travel with confidence knowing one less component could cause unexpected problems on your Australian adventure.