A car trailer wheel is essential for steering a trailer. It is placed on the drawbar and serves as a support stand. The choice is made based on the diameter of the bracket and the trailer's support load.
The trailer wheel comes in the form of a telescopic support stand that adjusts vertically. It is attached with a clamp or bracket to the trailer's hitch. At its base, there are one or two steerable tires that simplify maneuvers once the trailer is unhitched. The height is adjusted using a screw jack.
A jockey wheel is securely locked in the raised position and facilitates hitching to the trailer. It consists of:
- a clamp or fixing bracket that is bolted to a plate welded to the drawbar. Thanks to a tightening handle, this accessory ensures the locking of the trailer wheel;
- a square or cylindrical tube painted or galvanized that includes a threaded rod acting as a jack to lower or raise the trailer;
- a permanent crank to effortlessly operate the screw;
- a bracket positioned at the base of the tube that grips a wheel and rotates 360°.
A jockey tire must be suitable for the load to be towed. When this load exceeds 50 kg, a trailer wheel is necessary. Furthermore, the effort is less when the wheel diameter is large.
Several types of trailer tires are available on the market. The wheel can be:
- lightweight telescopic with a plastic or plastic rim;
- puncture-proof for caravans;
- inflatable pneumatic wheel;
- double;
- automatic;
- semi-automatic lifting and spring-locking.
To choose correctly a car trailer wheel, you must:
- ensure that the diameter of the jockey wheel support tube and the existing bracket are identical;
- check the weight of the support load on the drawbar;
- provide a compressor, a pump, anti-puncture spray, and a spare inner tube.