Tested: ARK XO 750

It was while bogged, deep, in two muddy wheeltracks on the Finke Track south of Alice Springs that I wished I had something like the ARK XO 750 jockey wheel.

We were travelling solo and our Toyota LandCruiser was beached to its door sills, but with a bit of spade work and the aid of our four MaxTrax, it could have driven out to dry ground, a tantalising 20 metres ahead – if we had unhitched.

The problem then would have been how to extract our 2500kg, tandem axle, off-road caravan with a snatch strap or a winch, as once off the coupling, the A-frame would have porpoised into the track, We were also confident that the van’s  standard jockey wheel would have collapsed under load if we used it to support the van’s nose under tow.

A regular off-season Outback traveller friend of ours has made up a free-wheeling hub that bolts to his A-frame and can be fitted with the van’s spare wheel in such circumstances. For the rest of us, there's the ARK XO range of off-road jockey wheels.

Dating back to 1979 when it began making tow balls, the 100 per cent Australian-owned ARK Corporation specialises in designing and manufacturing trailer parts, towing gear and 4WD accessories and claim that its Extreme Offroad Series (XO) jockey wheel is the toughest of its type available in Australia today.

Moreover, it’s also versatile, with four different height settings, a highly manoeuvrable trailing yoke design and five different yoke locking positions to stop its wheels from drooping when folded.

The ARK XO is available in two models with 500kg and 750kg load ratings. I went for the 750 model, as I wanted its sturdier construction in case I wanted to use it as a fifth (front) wheel on my caravan again. This meant 20kg on my A-frame, but I figured it was worth it for the solo trips my wife and I were planning.

What I also liked about the ARK was its simple DIY U-bolt (supplied) clamp mounting to my 150mm x 50mm A-frame, which meant there was no perforation of the original hot-dipped galvanised rust-proofing required. It can also fit 75mm x 100mm draw bars.

It can also be mounted on either side of the A-frame and the five optional lock-up positions for its signature dual wheels meant that it can co-exist with stone guards, toolboxes or jerry can holders on most caravans or camper trailers.

Another feature of the ARK XO 750 that I like is that it can be adjusted quickly for four different height positions in 250mm steps for different caravans and circumstances, minimising the amount of cranking you need to do to.

Although we haven’t yet put it to a severe salt water beach or mud test, I’m also reassured that its dual wheels running through four sealed bearings and its manufacturer’s claim that it has been salt spray tested for 600 hours, gives me every confidence that it will last a long time on my A-frame.

The unit’s magnetic, removable handle also ensures safe stowage and prevents damage in off-road situations.

The other thing I like is that the jockey wheel is always there when I need it, rather than having to be unpacked  and juggled into position one-handed, so that its clamps engage the shaft’s raised ribbed sections.

Of course there are some drawbacks.

Weight is one thing and its sturdy design means that the ARK XO 750 at 20kg is twice the weight of most circular shaft standard jockey wheels.

Also, mounting it on the outside of the A-frame can reduce the turning circle of your rig, depending on its tow car. Fitted to the extended A-frame of my Trakmaster and towed by my Land-Rover Discovery 3, this needs watching in extreme anti-clockwise articulation. You can lay some of the blame on the ‘Disco’ here, as it’s turning circle is tighter than most.

Would it have helped us out of the Finke track bog?

That’s yet to be proven, but there is every possibility. Its heavy duty square shaft and four-bolt pivot point not only increase its load carrying capacity, but also eliminates the likelihood of  it bending under load (as long as you drop it to the lower end of its travel), while the ARK’s dual wheels spread the load.

So, why don’t all off-road RV manufacturers fit the ARK as standard?

Well, cost for one. Its RRP is $349 but we’ve seen the 750 model online for less. However, that’s still a lot more than a caravan or camper trailer manufacturer would pay for an off-the-rack conventional jockey wheel from a mainstream industry supplier, like AL-KO.