Movers to avoid?

[JTQ]

My 19 year old Powrtouch HD has given up.
Its shredded an idler, this as overall the gear wear its so great some teeth simply wore too thin they sheared off. Whilst replacement gear sets are available I can't remove the frozen on drivers and driven wheels, plus everything mechanical is on its last legs.
Now I am not complaining, its had a very hard extensively used life lugging our 1900kg SA in and out of a carport involving up and down through a dip. I realistically don't think these would be designed for what it has done for so long & frequently, so have to accept its done well.

Now my issue; we are halfway through our eighties with health challenges and any additional year(s) caravanning will be a bonus. So expenditure-wise there is an innate reticence to do the right thing and buy something new and modern, I don't want to dump the van in what has to be the short term, with a mover worth more than the rest of the kit.

The electrics and wiring are fine, so not planning changing these, all I need is to replace the mechanical units, wanting to buy just those bits either refurbished or good used condition. I am hearing my units are long obsolete therefore a simple direct like for like replacement is unlikely.

There is a lot of new kit available as complete systems and the price range tends to imply they are far from all created equal, but all I want is soundly engineered units.
I have no particular need for auto engage nor seek any thing because its cool or pretty, just rock solid soundly engineered for taking on my rather heavy duty use.

Any views on particular units I ought not be looking at?

 

[Dustydog]

I’m surprised parts are not available🤔. Two years ago my 17 year old Powrtouch Heavy duty bearings collapsed . I purchased new bearings and all the gear wheels direct from Powrtouch .
My problem was I couldn’t get the old bearing off the main shaft. A local precision engineering firm did it for me and pressed the new bearing s etc into place £55.
I still have the other spare set of gear wheels for another day.

Have you spoken to Powrtouch? They are very customer focused.

 

[birdman101]

There are Powrtouch parts available direct from Powrtouch and also on EBay.

 

[JTQ]

Yes, spare gears were obtained, as could have been the bearing. Though with the original gears seized solidly on their respective shafts, that using heavy duty pullers failed to move, it was not possible to replace these. Clearly I could myself or get others to undertake more extensive workshop facilities, burning or grinding etc, just IMO its not worth the effort let alone the cost given the general state of these units.
I have discussed the options with Powrtouch, other than buy new whole system I got the same response try picking up a used unit.

There are other cheaper brands, some look somewhat under engineered. Therefore, I was seeking any experiences with these, though accept the duty cycle, van weight climbing etc in our application is placing greater demands on movers than many face.