What the jockey wheel does for levelling
A caravan's jockey wheel is mounted at the front of the A-frame — the triangular chassis member that connects to the tow ball. Its primary job is to support the van's nose weight when unhitched and to allow you to manoeuvre the van manually when necessary.
For levelling, the jockey wheel serves a second purpose: it controls the nose height, which directly determines the van's pitch — the front-to-back angle. Wind it up and the nose rises. Wind it down and the nose drops. Done after unhitching, this is how you correct the van's pitch to achieve a level front-to-back reading.
Roll (side-to-side lean) is a completely separate problem, corrected by driving the axle wheels up onto ramps before unhitching. The jockey wheel cannot help with roll at all. This is why the levelling sequence matters: ramps for roll while hitched, then unhitch, then jockey wheel for pitch.
Up or down — understanding nose pitch
This is where many caravanners get confused, so let's be precise about the terminology OzLevel Caravan uses.
OzLevel describes pitch in two states: nose-down means the front of the van (the A-frame end) is lower than the rear, so the van slopes from rear to front. Nose-up means the front is higher than the rear.
| OzLevel reading | What it means | Jockey wheel action |
|---|---|---|
| Nose-down | Front is lower than rear | Wind UP — raise the nose |
| Nose-up | Front is higher than rear | Wind DOWN — lower the nose |
| Level | Within 0.5° — done | No action needed |
The logic is straightforward once you visualise it. The jockey wheel is at the nose — winding it up raises the nose, correcting a nose-down lean. Winding it down lowers the nose, correcting a nose-up lean.
How much to wind — the calculation
This is where OzLevel earns its keep. The amount of jockey wheel travel required depends on two things: your current pitch angle in degrees, and the distance from your axle to your hitch coupling (the axle-to-hitch distance).
The formula is: travel (mm) = tan(pitch angle°) × axle-to-hitch distance (mm).
For a typical Australian caravan with a 5,500mm axle-to-hitch distance:
| Pitch angle | Jockey wheel travel needed |
|---|---|
| 1° | ~96mm |
| 2° | ~192mm |
| 3° | ~288mm |
| 4° | ~384mm |
| 5° | ~481mm |
OzLevel Caravan calculates this automatically using your axle-to-hitch distance from settings and the live pitch reading. You never need to do this maths at the campsite — just read the number and wind.
Step by step — adjusting pitch with OzLevel
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1
Complete side levelling and unhitch first
Side level is done while hitched. Only after you've driven onto ramps (or confirmed roll is within 0.5°) and then unhitched should you attempt pitch correction. The jockey wheel pitch adjustment happens in step 4 of the OzLevel Caravan wizard — after the Unhitch screen.
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2
Read the OzLevel pitch screen
OzLevel Caravan shows you the current pitch angle, the direction (nose-up or nose-down), and the exact millimetres of jockey wheel travel required. Note the number and direction. For example: "Nose-down — wind UP 192mm."
⭐ Pro: enable audio assist before starting — the tone frequency increases as you approach level so you can keep both hands on the crank -
3
Release the clamp and wind
Release the jockey wheel clamp lever (or undo the thumb bolt, depending on your jockey wheel type). Begin winding in the correct direction — clockwise to wind up, counterclockwise to wind down on most jockey wheels, though this varies by manufacturer. Check your van's manual if unsure. Wind slowly in steady increments — the van moves more than it looks like it should from a small amount of crank rotation.
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4
Check the app reading as you go
Glance at OzLevel every 50mm or so to track your progress. The pitch reading will update in real time. Stop when the pitch reads within 0.5° on the app. If you've overshot slightly, wind back a fraction — small corrections from here are quick.
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5
Tighten the clamp
When OzLevel confirms you're within 0.5° pitch, lock the jockey wheel clamp firmly. Proceed to the Stabilise phase — lower corner steadies to firm contact, chock the remaining wheels, and you're done.
Tips for accurate jockey wheel adjustment
Wind slowly near the target
Each full turn of a standard jockey wheel moves the caravan nose approximately 5–8mm depending on the thread pitch. Close to your target, slow down and check frequently. Overshooting by 20mm is easy to do — and means winding back the other way, which takes time you didn't need to spend.
Check on a stable surface
The jockey wheel foot needs a firm surface. On soft ground, the foot can sink as you wind, which changes your reading. Place a small rubber pad or board under the jockey wheel foot if the ground is soft. OzLevel Caravan's Calibrate function zeroes out any remaining offset once you're finished adjusting, but preventing unnecessary drift gives you a more reliable result.
What if the jockey wheel runs out of travel?
Most jockey wheels have 200–350mm of usable travel. If your pitch requires more than that, you have two options: shorten the jockey wheel leg as far as it goes and see how close you are to level, or reposition the van slightly to reduce the inherent pitch of the site. OzLevel Caravan will flag when your calculated pitch correction is approaching typical jockey wheel limits.
Frequently asked questions
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Do I wind the jockey wheel up or down to level my caravan?
It depends on which way the nose is leaning. Nose-down (front lower than rear) → wind UP to raise the nose. Nose-up (front higher than rear) → wind DOWN. OzLevel Caravan tells you both the direction and the exact millimetres required.
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Can I use the jockey wheel while still hitched?
No — winding the jockey wheel while hitched has no effect on the van's pitch. The hitch coupling holds the nose at a fixed height relative to the tow ball. Jockey wheel pitch adjustment only works after unhitching.
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How much travel does the jockey wheel need?
Travel (mm) = tan(pitch angle°) × axle-to-hitch distance (mm). OzLevel Caravan calculates this automatically. A 2° pitch on a 5500mm axle-to-hitch van needs approximately 192mm of jockey wheel travel — within the range of most standard jockey wheels.
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What is axle-to-hitch distance and how do I measure it?
It's the distance from the centre of your axle (or the midpoint between axles for tandem) to the centre of your hitch coupling. Measure it along the van's length. Enter it once in OzLevel Caravan settings and it's used for all pitch calculations from that point on.