A jockey wheel or trailer jockey is an easy-to-use, self-contained device primarily designed for lowering and raising the coupling end of a trailer and for stablekeeping the trunk of the trailer while towing it to and from another vehicle. It really is used to reduce the strain on the trailer’s tow-line. A wheel jack is the device that raises and lowers the trailer, using a hydraulic system. A jockey wheel acts because the "punch" arm by raising and lowering the trailer with its crankshaft. The trailer is then moved along with the crankshaft of the trailer by the towing arm. Jockey wheels could be either directly or indirectly driven; the latter type of wheel is more regularly used.

There are jockey wheel clamp of jockey wheels, each suitable for particular circumstances. There are basically two types: straight shafts and counter-rotating shafts. They differ with regard to design, size, kind of material used and the way they are fitted. The most typical types of trailer jockey wheels are the straight shafts and the counter-rotating ones. The straight shafts include a single large counter-rotating arm that is placed in the center of the wheel, that includes a cross bar attached at another end.

These arms are connected by a large numbers of smaller arms which are fitted at the ends of the main body. All of the arms have a cross bar attached so that the upper surface of the wheel could be lifted by it easily. Alternatively, the counter-rotating ones feature an arched design with a number of vertically mounted clamp brackets round the outside of the arm. These are fitted on the trailer jockey wheels and engage the wheels at their ends. Clamp brackets may also be found in tandem with the jockey wheels to lock the trailer securely in place.

Mounting brackets, in turn, are made out of different materials. A number of them are made out of steel, while others are created out of aluminum or plastic. The former is more preferable as it is more durable and is light-weight; as the latter can be cast, but is comparatively expensive. It is important to decide on the mounting bracket that will work best with the trailer. However, all jockey wheels and mounting brackets are not too difficult to set up on trailers of any kind, irrespective of the kind of vehicle they are destined to be used on.

The next step entails mounting the wheel on the trailer, where it will engage the trailer’s winch system and the cable ties. At this time, installing windshield or roof shingles should come in to the picture. Next, the cable will run from the winch to a cable trimmer to the wind shield and lastly to a cable cutter to complete the job.

Once installed, it is advisable to practice driving the vehicle minus the load on it for a few days to ensure that these devices is in perfect working condition. On the other hand, when exceeding rough and uneven surfaces, it is important that you use pneumatic tires as they offer better traction on soft and muddy ground. Apart from using the appropriate jockey wheel on the trailer, additionally it is important to make use of a jack to raise the vehicle to a working level. Be sure that the vehicle is raised using the right method – usually utilizing an extension ladder – and is maintained properly in order not to cause damage to the automobile or its components when raising it. Finally, be sure to drive the vehicle slowly and cautiously on the rough surface, taking care not to step on the gas or the brake pedals.