Motor Movers advice please

[TonyH1]

Hi folks. I'm looking for some advice regarding motor movers. I'm considering fitting them to my Bailey California Series 6 (M.T.P.L.M 1495kg), which is single axle, so as I see it most if not all of the leading brands would be suitable. Self fit is well within my capabilities.

What I'm hoping you can help me with is personal experience of reliability and, conversely, weaknesses or unreliability issues. I'm seeing some units priced from around £500 whilst others may be double that and then some so apart from the cheaper being manual engagement, what extra do you get. It seems the norm now for a 5 year warranty so I'd be interested to know if you've had to use this and how easy/difficult the process was.

Thank you in anticipation of your help.

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello Tony

As you correctly write, most single axle movers will suite your caravan, Before purchasing check the manufacturers web sites for suitability.

As regards which manufacturer, it is very difficult to identify which if any manufacturers products are more reliable than an others, as no reliability figures are published. If you review the forums you will only get a distorted view of the situation because it's human nature to write about something that gone wrong, rather than when it's working as expected, so you will always see more faults than praise.

However, when things do go wrong you want confidence that it will be repaired quickly, Now here you will see that one company has earned a lot of praise for the way it supports its customers. Thats great news for owners of their products, but just take one step back and ask yourself why do they need such an effective after sales service?

it's my take on the subject that as most manufacturers use very similar mechanical motors and gearboxes, on a percentage failure rate there probably is much difference. But what this means is the manufacture with the biggest sales will by simple proportionality have more reported problems.

 

[TonyH1]

Hello Prof, thanks for your reply. I was thinking along the same lines as yourself that it's human nature to shout the loudest when things go wrong so I was hoping my post may encourage people to speak up in recommendation as well. Particularly as most manufacturers claim to have new improved models on the market. Searching through the forum isn't really a fair representation as comments could well be directed to models not even on sale now.

So I guess I'm trying to not only build up a picture of which company has the best customer support but also which has let the customer down along with comments on models that are currently on sale.

 

[chrisbee1]

You will no doubt get many recommendations for Powrwheel products, a lot extolling their after sales service. As the Prof says, make your own conclusions as to why that is. I have a cheap old Ego which is a manual wind on, a doddle with a cheap battery drill. I fitted it myself and it's now on it's 2nd (twin axle) 'van. I can't comment on the after sales service, never having had to use it. To be honest, I think movers are much the same nowadays.

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello Tony,
You make a very valid point about the available reports don't necessarily relate to the newest models.

I met the inventor of the original caravan mover (John Carver of Carver & Co [Engineers] Ltd,) on a number of occasions and his explained his vision was for a device that was rugged, and could if need be fitted or repaired by the local "blacksmith", making the point it shouldn't need precision engineering, because it was going to be exposed to lots of road muck.

That I think was broadly true of the early models from most manufacturers, but as time has gone by customers have wanted more features, and I think to some extent the inventors insight to the operating conditions has been lost as we now see some moderately complex engineering solutions being introduced.

A comment that Chrisbee just made about a 'wind on' model. The only manually wound model I can recall is effectively a replacement jockey-wheel solution. These and other electric versions that drive the caravan from the "A"frame are absolutely fine on hard level surfaces, like dealers yards, but their abilities are little better than a single adult manhandling the caravan by themselves. Ok on flat surfaces, but as soon as you begin to encounter slopes or uneven ground their ability to grip and stop (being able to stop is more important than being able to start!) and hold the caravan from moving is their Achilles heel.

The ability of any wheel to grip the surface its on is controlled by the amount of downforce acting through the tyre, At the A frame its limited to something akin to the nose load, whereas each of the main wheels have almost half the caravans total weight, and that is vitally important when the surface may be gravel or have been compromised for example by wet leaves, mud or snow.

So for the movers with the best abilities only look at those that drive the caravans main wheels.

 

[Thingy]

My first Motor Mover was a Reich. It came fitted to a second hand caravan I bought, and looked quite elderly. However, it was subsequently fitted to two more caravans and never gave a days trouble. I now have a Powrwheel mover and can honestly say its every bit as good. The only advice i would offer is that if you decide to go for one that is not electrically applied, at least go for cross actuation, which means you can apply both rollers from either side of the van. I have occasionally with the old Reich been close to a kerb and found it difficult to operate the bar with enough travel. Being able to apply from the other side would have been so much easier.

 

[chrisbee1]

Hello Tony,

.

A comment that Chrisbee just made about a 'wind on' model. The only manually wound model I can recall is effectively a replacement jockey-wheel solution.

So for the movers with the best abilities only look at those that drive the caravans main wheels.

Perhaps I didn't explain myself clearly enough. By "wind on" I was referring to the method of engaging the rollers with the wheels as opposed to lever or electric application.

As has been said by others, cross actuation is a must.

 

[Mike_S]

Hi Tony
We have a 2009 S6 California too but unlike must owners have had two movers fitted to it in the six years we've owned it.
When bought new in 2009 I had the 7 yr old Carver mover transferred to the Bailey from our previous (lighter) Swift. The Carver always struggled a bit and the grit covered rollers (about 35mm diameter) often slipped in wet conditions. About three years ago I decided to splash out on a Powrtouch Evolution with auto engagement. What a difference!! No roller slippage, no bending down and grappling with a wrench to engage rollers and no jerky starting and stopping.
I fitted it myself with the help of my younger (and more flexible!) nephew with no problems. Although one person could fit the mover, it's a lot easier with two, partly due to the weight but also when adjusting the roller to tyre clearance. I found that as the chassis clamps were tightened the gap changed slightly so a bit of tweaking was required as the job went on. I mounted the main on/off key switch in the battery box just under the mains inlet socket - this means that you cannot use the mover when the mains is connected which is no bad thing. The control box itself is mounted under the fixed bed adjacent to the battery box.
A pricey mover - yes - but worth every penny in my opinion.
Mike

 

[Dustydog]

Call me a cynical old dog but isn't this another case of fantastic British Engineering that suffocated and a "foreigner " took it to the best stage? Truma made numerous electronic and physical improvements. Their latest offering at £2k for a TA caravan is a lot of money but it does a grand job.
My Super Power touch TA is fine but very slow and right on the edge of its stated performance. I think the later models allow counter rotation electronics to help turn a TA. Mine doesn't. At 8 years old it does the job but not with ease.
Engagement is via a big wrench and physical body weight. Once engaged the chunky rollers will actually spin the driven wheel when the jockey wheel digs in.
I understand Truma have a major shareholding in Powrwheel. So to the rest of the market at half the price. Mucky pup had an ego which quietly did its job with no complaint.
I can say with qualification both Truma and Power touch guarantees are brilliant. I don't know about the others.

 

[ajbyorkshireman]

We had a Reich Eco line fitted to our first then 4 yeas ago and never had any trouble except when dealer switched it to our new van last July.
One side would not engage correctly despite several attempts by them until they said the mother board was the fault.
Contacted Reich and engineer came to my home and switched 2 wires around and good as new.
We have the autoengage model.

 

[TonyH1]

Many thanks for all your comments and advice so far. I'm leaning towards going for the Reich Eco at the moment but am curious to know a little more about the brand the everyone says has a great after sales/service reputation. I would like to know if it's one fault which is common or is it a case of just frequent different problems.

Thank you.

 

[Dustydog]

Hi Tony
FIL Truma lost a main roller somewhere in the Scottish Highlands .A phone call to the dealer Broad Lanes resulted in Truma ringing us.Turnrd out the roller had been fitted at the factory without a retaining circlip.
Next day by special delivery a new roller and circlip arrived on site at Ullapool.
Excellent.
My own Power touch was "grinding" under load.
With no quibble Power touch sent an independent mobile engineer to myhome by mutual time arrangement. He changed both gearboxes. 7 years on all works perfectly.

 

[TonyH1]

Thanks Dustydog, that's just the sort of info I wanted.