Movers to avoid?

JTQ

May 7, 2005
4,102
1,827
20,935
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?
 
Jun 20, 2005
20,221
5,432
50,935
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.
 

JTQ

May 7, 2005
4,102
1,827
20,935
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.
 
Jun 20, 2005
20,221
5,432
50,935
Last edited:
Sep 4, 2011
650
403
19,135
All of the movers on that list are basically the same mover just rebranded. Had one of these a few years ago and support was nil. Therefore had Powrtouch ever since and first class no quibble service,and if you fit yourself they supply replacement parts FOC for 5 years.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Dustydog
Jan 3, 2012
11,167
2,621
40,935
it nice to know yours has been going strong for 19 years because my latest caravan came with a Powrtouch Evolution mover , But my previous caravan we had a Emove EM203 it came with easy wind system so both rollers can be engaged at the same time , but only five years parts and labour warranty we had that fitted by a caravan engineer that was okay ,but we only had two movers in forty years in caravanning .
 
Jul 23, 2021
1,095
1,036
5,435
Have you read this thread https://forums.practicalcaravan.com/threads/motor-mover-li-ion-battery-fail.71540/
May put you off that make?

I suspect 100% reliability is an important factor? You know Powrtouch customer support is now legendary. Peace of mind etc?

PCv did some tests
That was not a failure of the mover at all. Just an incompatibility (and very easily solved) between the mover and the battery. I suspect _any_ mover would complain at the same setup. We have a "magic mover" from Balsover caravans. It's about as cheap as mover as you can get. Was installed in 2016 with our new van. We have had to replaced the roller and bearings on each side in the last year at a cost of £115 fitted per side.
 
  • Like
Reactions: GUMPY
Dec 27, 2022
651
460
2,135
Just an incompatibility (and very easily solved) between the mover and the battery. I suspect _any_ mover would complain at the same setup.
Not solved as yet. I suspect it's a fault in the volt sensing circuit on the mover as I and others are using LifePo4 batteries with MM without any problems at all. In my case the mover appears to have more power, probably due to reduced volt drop from the LifePo4 battery.
 

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts