Motor Mover's--- Again--- Sorry Folks

[Gagakev]

Looking at my first ever mover and looking just in this technical section both the Truma and Powrtouch both have problems!!!!!
So which is the best???
The dealer has recommended the powrtouch (Prob more commission)
Are there any thoughts on the others; i;e Purpleline, Euro etc etc
The van is (Hopefully on Thurs) single wheel at 1700kgs.
Thanks
Kev

 

[Damian]

I expect the dealer has advised Powrtouch as the backup for a full 5 years is second to none.
Any problems and all it needs is a phone call to Powrtouch and the problem is taken care of, wherever you are in the country.

 

[brightmore]

Here-here to that...I've had my powrtouch almost 5 years.....two faults, one of which was of my own doing and they put matters right almost straight away...obviously at no cost and in my own driveway............HIGHLY RECOMMEND THEM

 

[Philspadders]

the eago is quite good. i know a few vanners that have them and swear by them. They are manual engagement but apparantly very reliable.

Have you tried MotorGlide , made in the UK, all of it, and located in Ashborne.

 

[mullsy1]

We had the Powrtouch fitted about a year ago and I have to say the customer service is wonderful and of course as is the mover - not the fastest by all accounts but who cares about that.

 

[Gagakev]

Thanks for the replies,
Looking on the Powrtouch web site they are stating the weight as 1500kg for the heavey duty model, on a 1 in 4 slope but 2500kg max permissable so will just have to clarify the 1700kg weight.
Kev

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello Kev,

I couldn't presume to tell you which mover is best of the ones you mention, and realistically very few people will have had experiences of more than one make.

Sadly just looking at a forum like PC to see which movers are good bad or ugly will not yield very reliable results, because people only tend to write on a forum when something goes wrong - its human nature, so forums will always tend to be negatively biased.

You cannot draw any firm conclusions about the reliability of different makes by looking at the numbers of reported problems, because you don't know how many units they have sold thus you cannot calculate the percentage failure rates.

About the only conclusion you can draw, is that one manufacturer has an enviable record for good customer service. That might be very important, But equally it could point to their products being less reliable than others so they need a good service back up team.

There are some excellent products out there.

 

[Damian]

Quote "
I couldn't presume to tell you which mover is best of the ones you mention, and realistically very few people will have had experiences of more than one make."

Factually I have had dealings with most makes and without doubt Powrtouch have the very best after sales package going.
They sell vast numbers in relation to other movers so there are bound to be more reported problems, BUT, unlike most other makes, they do not insist on the owner sending bits back for checking , at the owners cost, before issuing a new part.
Also, as I have said previously, ANY problem with ANY part of the mover is fully covered for a full 5 years, unlike some who exclude things like the rollers, and all that is required is a phone call to get it sorted out, even if on holiday on site.

 

[Surfer]

Factually I have had dealings with most makes and without doubt Powrtouch have the very best after sales package going.

Are you saying that they have a high number of breakdowns in relation to the number they sell so in order to keep their ground they have a good after sales package? Perhaps we do not know about other manufacturers after sales packages because those motor movers don't break down.
How do you know they are the most popular? Have other manufacturers supplied you with their sales figures? If so, are you allowed to publish them? Thanks.

 

[Damian]

Quote "
Are you saying that they have a high number of breakdowns in relation to the number they sell so in order to keep their ground they have a good after sales package? Perhaps we do not know about other manufacturers after sales packages because those motor movers don't break down.
How do you know they are the most popular? Have other manufacturers supplied you with their sales figures? If so, are you allowed to publish them? Thanks."

In relation to the numbers sold and the reported problems, of course there will be more instances, but that is still very few, and on forums one only sees the problems,one does not see the hundreds of satisfied customers with no problems.
They have a brilliant after sales network of engineers because they realise that is what the customer needs, help as quickly as possible in the event of problem, not be told,bring it in or send this bit to us etc.

All movers have some kind of problem at some point, just within 5 years with Powrtouch it will cost you nothing but a phone call to fix.
It is not just malfunctions, there is also the accidental damage such as hitting the unit on a high kerb, as one customer did last season and ripped the left hand motor assembly off the van,,,,,,whole left hand side assembly replaced on site one day later.(In the pouring rain and I got soaked through doing it)

How do I know they are the most popular,simple , look around any site and see for yourself.

I do know sales figures but there is no way I would publish them, that is not my job to do so.

 

[colin-yorkshire1]

hi kev
Damian and others are certainly right about Power touch reading from the posts made on the forum over time and if bought new undoubtedly has the best service just dont discount all the others off hand,
Some are very good in fact excelent, we only hear about problems on the forum and not if they never break down so in that relationship the Ego and Rhyno could be a good bet.
My own mover is of the old Truma SE type and has never "touch wood" ever given any problems that despite being quite old and bought second hand for £50 and DIY fitted works faultlessly every time. I am however on my third remote due to my own fault one was lost after leaving on the a frame (easy to do) first trip out with it fitted and the second was run over by the car after pitching up in the dark.
movers are a good bit of kit and I believe the biggest killer of them is neglect some are fitted and then forgotten about untill something goes wrong regular servicing and cleaning will keep the rollers turning for a very long time well after the 5 year warranty has run out.

colin

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello Damian,

GagaKev has rightly raised concerns about two of the major manufacturers of Motor Movers. He is concerned about the fact that both manufacturers have recently had threads on the forum about problems with their products, and this has raised questions in his mind about their reliability.

It seems that Powertouch has earned a reputation for excellence for the aftersales care of their customer, a very laudable achievement, and it has been a very successful publicity gambit, however is Powertouch's status the result of their products or their after sales?

The answer is not clear, and I don't think that a prospective customer can obtain a fully balanced view of the products by simply reading forums like PC, in fact they will get a very biased view.

I hope that Kev, is now aware that if he needs to get an unbiased view, he needs to look elsewhere.

 

[Damian]

Quote "The answer is not clear, and I don't think that a prospective customer can obtain a fully balanced view of the products by simply reading forums like PC, in fact they will get a very biased view"

Which can be said of anything people buy, from cars to washing machines to toys to socks.
BUT,,,,a main thing to be looking for with anything is what is the backup like in the event of problems.
Are spares readily available? How long will it take to get fixed?
How much do I, as the customer, have to do to get it fixed?

I base my findings purely on actual hands on experiences and, for example, my Powrtouch mover is now 7 years old and I have never had a single thing go wrong with it, but you dont get those kind of stories on forums usually.
It is (not) surprising that many reported "faults" with a lot of caravan related items is down to user error, or more simply put,,they dont read the instructions !
Many a time I have been to a caravan with a so called mover defect only to find it is the battery at fault but the owner had not checked that before calling, so nothing wrong with the mover.

 

[xtrailman]

powertouch are constantly being praised for there excellent back up.
There are numerous posts about the mover breaking down, when it was actually needed.
Not exactly what i am looking for with a mover.

On the other hand my 7 years old (this may) Reich has yet to fail.
It does have a dodgy button on the handset, which requires a firm press, but thats it.
I am having it transfered to my new caravan, also having the grit rollers replaced with alloy ones while were at it.

I admit that i may have been better of having a new one, but considering how often we use the mover why bother.

By the way the PT HD model is reported to be very slow. Due to the gearing being reduced.

 

[Gagakev]

Thanks for all the replies folks, some interesting points raised on the differant types, back up service, speed etc,
Looking at the price ranges there can be some major differances, but I wont go for the cheapest and certainly wont go for the most expensive £1400.00 + (ouch)
Think I will keep gathering info and may even decide after I get the van and have it fitted at a later date, (I can still reverse at the moment).
Thanks again

Kev

 

[sheila_374397204]

We also have a Reich which is now on it's third caravan and about 10 years old, touchwood it has not broken down but we are replacing the grit rollers with aluminum ones next week. We have had a problem with the remote with the wires to the battery becoming detached but we have soldered them back together.

 

[xtrailman]

I am being offered the new rollers for £235 fitted.
How does that compare to your quote?
I wouldn't ask but i think its a little expensive?