My neighbour, an experienced caravaner, adjusted my jockey wheel and tightened it for me after it dropped to the ground on my first manoeuvring from road to drive, however, on a subsequent short move across six inches in order to get my bins past, it struggled in the stones, dragged sideways and dropped just over an inch from the thick pencil line that neighbour had drawn as a guide as to where it should be. The jockey wheel was changed on purchase as the original tyre was badly ripped, but they put an old one on. My feeling is that it is old and past its sell by date and I should buy a new one.

Sounds reasonable - but also take a look at the jockey wheel clamp. It could be it has become deformed over the years and is not gripping as well as it should.

The jockey wheel has two forms of movement. One is winding it up and down and the other is the whole tube being manually pulled up and down. When moving the van, the tube retaining clamp should be tight, so that it can't move up or down.

When it comes to hitching up, the hitch should be wound up so that it's above the towball and should then be wound down to 'click' into place on the towball. Once you believe the hitch is secure on the towball, wind the wheel down again and you should see the rear of the car move upward. That indicates the hitch is locked on. Once that's achieved you can dispense with the jockey wheel, making the wheel face rearwards, wind it up into the slots in the bottom of the tube and make sure the winding handle is tight. Once that's done you can slacked the tube clamp and pull the tube up so that the wheel nestles inside the hitch cover, facing rearwards. Then secure the tube in place by tightening the tube clamp tight.

I needed to replace my jockey wheel (badly damaged on purchase) and I ended up buying a twin wheel set up (made by Reich). It works really when in gravel, particularly with he motor mover - always turning rather than dragging - but is a pain when "parking" it for travel (I take off the inner wheel as it fouls the brake cable)

Another useful tip if you are not used to jockey wheels. When lowering ready for manoeuvring, make sure that the wheel has been wound down enough to drop out of the slots in the tube, otherwise the jockey wheel won't be able to steer. It should be obvious but you never know.

Reading CC's OP again I'm struck by his mention of the jockey wheel dropping initially and then that it dropped again when he moved the van. That's not an indication of a u/s jockey wheel, but more a sign that the locking clamp and/or its screw in handle are out of shape/not up to the job.

I agree with you. My neighbour returns tonight and will have a look, but something doesn't add up and as I'm so new to this am relying on more experienced people. Will likely buy a new jockey wheel, but that doesn't resolve the clamp if there is an issue. I want to feel confident that when it is tightened it stays secure.

Kartts are being heavily promoted at present by the CMC Club Shop (in association with Prima Leisure, the spares and accessory arm of Bailey.

lots of useful suggestions for you CCamper

I had similar problems to you on my 2016 Troll and ended up replacing my original one with a Kart - although I got it significantly cheaper on line than the CMC were selling it for.

It was simple for someone as technically useless and cak-handed to fit and it has been a revelation.

However I now pay a lot of attention to ensuring that the clamp is tight and ensuring that it is raised high enough to be out of the bottom slots that restrict the tyre from turning.

Deep, newly laid gravel & stones on hardstandings can be a pain as your tyre can sink into them. This recently happened on a pitch at the C & M C site at Meathop Fell but a pull on the handles to support the motor mover quickly moved it forward.

Good luck
MikeT

Got mine here https://www.wtltrailers.co.uk/product/ka...mm-smooth-tube/
Very quick delivery.
It is heavier than the original - but not overly so.
Thinking I may upgrade my clamp to 4 bolts - I've seen something about this somewhere.....

I changed it for a Kartt jockey wheel. It is obvious straight away that the quality and strength of the Kartt is far superior to the much smaller alko one. I use it for the first time tomorrow, but am much more confident of a successful outcome.