Choosing a Motor Mover - Alleged problems- Real or Fiction

[ChrisE]

Having looked at motor movers for our new Bailey Ranger 460/2 I have been told by each manufacturer that theirs is most obviously the best and they have given me various reasons why each of the others is less good.

If I list the difficulties they suggested perhaps owners could comment.

1. A manufacturer who does not offer a cross bar engager(engage/access from one side)suggested that the torsional loads on them were horrible and that they would cause problems. He would not offer one as they were an awful idea. We need one as we only have access to one side when in storage. Do they work OK?

2. Does the Reich unit suffer from gravel being picked up by the tyre & lodging between the roller and the channel in which it fits. I have looked & there does not appear much clearance but is it a problem? We have a gravel drive.

3. Does anyone have a SimPark? Any thoughts?

4. The manufacturer who does not offer a cross bar suggested leaving the mover engaged permanantly when in store. This does not sound like it will do the tyre any good but I welcome your experience.

5. Do I need a 110ah leisure battery or will a lighter smaller battery suffice?

6. What are the relative merits of the metal v "abrasive" type rollers.

Thanks

Chris

 

[san]

hi, i got a power touch mover last year

 

[rob_jax]

Hi ChrisE

A good set of questions, and maybe I can answer some of them:

1. Cross bar to engage other motor. We've had no problems on our Reich - the winding process to engage the mover is low geared, so very little effort is required - just spin the winder, and on the Reich they work fine.

2. We store our caravan right at the bottom of our garden, with a right angled turn to "hide" it behind some garden sheds and a home office. It stands on a gravel drive (1/2" to 3/4" gravel) and the gravel doesn't pick up on the tyres.

3. SimPark - no idea

4. Never leave the mover tight against the tyre - this will destroy the tyre in short order.

5. We use a standard 65AH battery to move our Eriba Triton (MTPLM = 1200 kg), and we've taken the Triton for walkies - so if the battery is fully charged I can't see any issues. From our storage location to the road is about 150 metres (uphill) - and that's no problem

6. Our Reich has the "grit" surface roller and eventually this will wear away - so we'll replace with the Reich aluminium channel roller

Robert

 

[Saladdodger]

Hello Chris E

I have had a Powertouch fitted on a twin axle since the first time I tried to manouver it outside my house.

It has the crossbar as standard and presents no problems at all.

It has gritted rollers which seem to give great grip to the caravan wheels, only on one very muddy pitch did the rollers slip against the tyres when attempting a turn.

As for leaving the rollers engauged against the tyres for a long time, I was told to do this for no longer that a few days. I did it once when parked on a slope to aid the brakes but only for 2 nights.

I have a 110A/h battery so cannot comment on a smaller battery.

A problem happenned once when I was moving the van to clean it and it parked so that the battery box (which houses the master battery switch) was very close to a wall, if the mover is not used for a while, the control unit "times out" and for safety, switches itself off. Then you have to reset the system by opereting the master switch off and then on again but I coundn't open the battery box flap, so I had to give it a push. On this occasion it was on level ground so was easy to do but worth bearing in mind for the future.

Hope these ramblings are of use to you.

Dodger.....now where is that burger????

 

[graham_5040474]

We've had a Reich mover for 4 years now, without problems of any kind. We don't have a cross actuation kit because we don't need one. No problems with gravel in the rollers (which are still the original ones).

To suggest leaving a roller permanently on a tyre is sheer lunacy, and the salesman concerned must be desperate! Have you seen the pressure these things apply?

We use an 85 a/h battery, which again is the original and, to be boring, again no problems. However, ours is a light van by modern standards. You could try an 85 and see how you get on.

I hope this helps. Beware of snake-oil salesmen.

Graham

 

[clivea]

Hi,

I have a Reich Mover fitted to a Bailey Pageant. It was fitted 12 months ago by R&L Draper and the installation was carried out really well, with good pre and post fitting follow-up from Drapers. We have used it extensively and on gravel have had no problem with pick up. It is easy enough to see if there is anything likley to interfere prior to winding it on. The cross actuator bar works well and we have a Elecsol 100amp hr carbon fibre battery which is more compact than ordinary lead acid. It is fitted in front of the wheels although there isa kit that allows it to be fitted behind the wheeels and still retain any Alko sidelift jacking points. Howver it was not possible to keep jacking points and spare wheel carrier and fit the Reich behind the wheel. Saying that there is a new jack advertised in Practical Caravan that might allow both as it uses the Alko chassis jacking flange holes but with a hydraulic scissor jack coming directly under the points. Howver we hav ehad no problems with grounding on ferries or road humps. I will be fitting a pneumatic jockey wheel as with 100kg nosewight the satndard Bailey wheel can dig into soft ground or gravel. Up to now I have overcome this by just nipping into the van and siting a full Aquaroll towards the back end. But it slows down the pitching by having to shoot off and fill the Aquaroll. The other option of having my wife walk gently towards the back of the van is equally sucessful but not favoured.

Other Clive

 

[john_5040735]

Totally agree with all Reich owners above - now on second Reich mover with cross activation. superb! Would recommend minimum 85ah battery.

john

 

[JTQ]

Had a Reich with cross connecting screwed shaft for 3 years. In all respects a very good unit.

Van single axle 1700kg, I use a portable 65 Ah "traction" battery when at home and the vans 90 Ah Gel when away. Both completely adequate for the job.

I have had experience at one or two Caravan Club sites of pieces of the hard standing gravel [crushed limestone] sticking to the tyres after a weeks stay. Only on the bit of the tyre that was against the ground during the stay.

This can graunch into the rollers with consequential damage, but this is a potential problem to be alert to with all these types of drives, irrespective of maker or design. I just make sure I knock off any stones that are adhering before they get to the rollers. I have not had any such problems rolling over gravel only when stood on it for a while.

 

[mikeE]

This does not answer any of your questions but is a problem I encountered. Check that your wheel clamp will fit between the tyre and the mover roller. I had to hurtle out and purchase a new one to stay within the requirements of my insurers.

 

[Lord Braykewynde]

I have a Truma and last July I needed parts for it because one of the fittings was broken. The caravan engineer told me no problems, it would only take a couple of days. He had a fax back from Truma saying the factory was closed for one week for stock taking, no parts went in or out. We had to cancel our week away at Bognor and re-book it. What a good time to close the factory at the height of the season. From the many topics on movers in this forum Powr Touch have had rave reviews.

 

[Chris_374224489]

Thank you all for the information.

I couldn't see leaving the rollers on the tyre was a good idea but the manufacturer was adamant............... I won't be doing it so guess which I won't be buying.

I seem to be left with a choice between the Reich & Powrtouch. This is the much rehearsed choice on this forum.

Other than which the local caravan dealer specified what made you decide which to buy?

I have been considering an inflatable jockey wheel & will be getting one if I find one necessary - which it most probably will be!

Thanks again

Chris

 

[Lord Braykewynde]

Chris, re-reading your post we had an actuation bar fitted so that you could engage the rollers from one side. Not a good idea, infact it was awful. That was one of the reasons a part fractured and broke on our Truma. It was always hard to apply the rollers, even from new. When the engineer repaired ours we asked him to take the bar off and what a difference now, so easy. The reason we had the bar fitted was our van is parked close to a wall but now I leave enough room to get alongside.

I must add the actuation of the rollers on the Truma model I have is spring loaded, not the wind up type like Reich seem to have. The latest Truma's might be different but I wouldn't have another simply on their after sales care or lack of.

 

[BeemerMal]

We had a problem with our 2005 T/axle Truma mover, after less than One season. It was a snapped rod that prevented one side engaging. We also have an actuation bar fitted. Our dealer replaced this under guarantee....but I think it is a very poor design because the rod itself is only about a 1/4 inch in diameter and it is drilled through the centre to take a split pin through it which makes it a very weak point.

NB: There are a number of comments regarding Motor Movers on the Technical Thread. It might be worthwhile reading these as well...Mal

 

[clivea]

Hi,

re wheel clamps I have had no problems witha Reich in front of the wheel and use a Bulldog Titan and Bulldog QD44 (for touring)

Other Clive

 

[JohnI.Stephen]

We are really delighted with our Reich; it has transformed the stress when hitching and pitching. No grit at all remained on the Reich roller. It's a very powerful beast and works well from our 85ah battery.

Our was also fitted by R&L Draper and we were delighted with the support and after sales responses to queries.

John

 

[Pelyma1]

Big thumbs up to Reich from me. I use a 110 Ahr battery, never had trouble with gravel

 

[Chris_374224489]

Thanks again guys. Sounds like the Reich has it.

Now just to wait until the NEC show to get a good price.

Chris

 

[Stephen_374237964]

Thanks again guys. Sounds like the Reich has it.

Now just to wait until the NEC show to get a good price.

Chris

bad news for you Chris, I went to the gmex show, there were no special deals on reich, powertouch yes.

Steve