Ark XO 500R Ratchet Jockey Dual Wheel

[Davo_f]

Hello all
Just wondering if anyone is using one of these jockey wheels. I see there are a few older posts about jockey wheels, but need to be able to manoeuvre our Tvan around better than the existing Ezy Lift jockey wheel.

Thanks... David

[robstevens]

I've fitted the Ark XO 500 jockey wheel to my TVan. (Not the ratcheting version however). Works well - and I have to turn the van around 90 degrees by hand in a tight garage space - no problems.

[Davo_f]

Great thanks Rob.  We have a 45º back-in slightly uphill with a tight turn at the end...a pain to move in and out by hand.  The 500 looks good- double wheels are a plus I reckon.
...DF

[luke]

Hey Davo,
  No experience with the ARK ratchet sorry, and can't even find a good video of it so take the below with a grain of salt. The ARK does sound good though with the '4 Functions: Forward, Reverse, Neutral & Stop/Lock'

Our MK4 TVAN came fitted (by request) with a AL-KO Ratchet jockey, as we had a small (to medium) incline we needed to reverse the trailer up. The ratchet itself worked well, and there's absolutely no way we could move the tvan by hand where we could with the ratchet.

The AL-KO ratchet only had two modes (Forward / Reverse). It was fantastic getting the tvan into the garage as we could ratchet it up, and if we slipped, the lock would hold it.  However when camping it was a pain in the ass as you needed to flip the switch whenever you changed direction. Sounds like ARK have fixed that though.

For what it's worth, we bent our Ark XO 500 after limited use (nothing strenuous) which stopped the heigh extension from working. We begrudgingly upgraded to the XO 750 and the added weight . . .

[Davo_f]

G'day Luke...I really want something that will cope with our back driveway, which isn't that long but has a few bumps and a bend, as well as a bit of an incline...it's a bugger to push the Tvan the last bit...therefore not that safe!!  If I want to drag it out to do something to the awning etc, moving it is a huge deterrent!!  The double wheels and 500kg rating attracted me, plus the 'stow-ability' and height adjustment functions.

And thanks for the heads up re the 500 bending.  I assume it was fully extended when it bent?

Cheers...DF

[luke]

And thanks for the heads up re the 500 bending.  I assume it was fully extended when it bent?

I can't recall to be honest, but it wasn't the cylindrical / extendable piece that bent, but the actual square section that gives you the additional height adjustment.

It still worked, just not quite 

[robstevens]

Ark XO 500 jockey wheel

Oops - just checked - I've got the Ark XO 750 jockey wheel...

[Davo_f]

Thanks for your info Luke and Rob...I've got an XO 500 with ratchet on order...

[Gobi1]

G'day all,
I fitted an XO500 to our Mk5 Zenith from new, but haven't really liked the way the tube angled when extended significantly. I recently fitted the XO750, which has a collar that keeps the extending tube much straighter.
One certainly doesn't need more than the XO500 for weight, as it has a 500kg capacity which I think is more than enough (empty weight on the wheel is around 200kg).
But XO750 tougher, so we went with that. Tare of the XO500 is a bit less than the XO750 however, if you're tight for ball weight.
Cheers,
Gobi One

[Davo_f]

Hey there Gobi One
Thanks for that...I liked the 750, but they don't do a ratchet drive in that size (that I could find at the time!!). I'm aware of the high setup risk, so need to keep the extension as low as possible- got chocks/levellers for that. 
We haven't used the Tvan since my last post, but from the manoeuvrability point of view it does what I want it to.  As you say, the capacity is fine for us (hitch weight approximately 180kg). Would definitely go with the 750 if I didn't need the ratchet system.
Cheers...DF