Mr Shifta 3 or powrtouch mover ???

[craig_374227538]

Hello again,

We have just purchased a Twin Axle Elddis Scirrocco 2006,and are needing to fit a Motor Mover,due to the lenghth of our driveway.But we have had several discussions on which one would be good,Has anyone used either product and do they actually work???? We have also been told that the reich with 4 motors is proberbly the best one,(but the dearest out of them).SO PLEASE HELP !!!!!!!!!!!!!! Many Thanks In Advance..

 

[Val & Frank]

Hi Craig

We have the Truma TE fitted to a Bessacarr Cameo which has a MTPLM of 1854 kg. I have found the movers to work well. They don't turn the van around on a sixpence !!!, but they do a good job of moving the van to the car to hitch up or vice a versa.

Val & Frank

 

[Danny_5134221]

I bought the Big foot motor mover and it pushes my caravan up our drive and even over the gravel at the top of the drive. My caravan is a Ranger 550/6 and the drive is on a gradual slope made of gravel. I laid paving slabs up the middle for the wheel to grip on but where it levels out the big foot pushes the van quite easily on the gravel.

Hope this helps Craig

 

[chrissie2]

If you can afford the Powrtouch, I would certainly recommend going for it, rather than the Mr Shifta. We bought a secondhand Mr Shifta, which is fine on hard ground, but pretty useless on grass. We are currently saving up for a Powrtouch! Need I say more?

 

[Guest]

Just remember any fixed motor mover will 'swallow' around 30-40kg of your payload. If you can 'afford' it, they are excellent devices, but if load factors are tight it may not be the best option.

 

[Nidge1]

Hi Craig,

We have a powrtouch fitted to a 1700kg Hymer and can honestly say it is a brilliant piece of kit. Also the after sales service is fantastic and go as far to say that it would be very hard to beat!!

Regards Nidge

 

[BigAl1]

Hi Craig,

We have a powrtouch fitted to a 1700kg Hymer and can honestly say it is a brilliant piece of kit. Also the after sales service is fantastic and go as far to say that it would be very hard to beat!!

Regards Nidge

Totally agree, the Powertouch was a great investment to our twin axle Compass. Never had any trouble with it and have got perfectly pitched on many smaller roreign pitches.

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello Craig,

Twin axle caravans are always difficult to manoeuvre by hand as you probably know. The use of a motorised unit to help is usually very welcome, but as you point out in your question there are two generic types, the hitch and chassis mounted units.

It is a physical fact that the maximum pulling or pushing force (drawbar) any wheel driven mover can develop is equal to the force pushing the driven wheel to the ground, and the friction developed with the ground.

Hitch-mounted movers only have their own weight plus the nose weight of the caravan, which may be up to 150Kg Max. This is the maximum drawbar force the unit can apply.

Alternatively Chassis-mounted drives have approximately half the weight of the caravan on each driven wheel, so assuming a 1 tonne van, you will have about 500Kg down force on each wheel, and potentially that much drawbar power from each wheel.

The limited drawbar effect of the hitch-mounted devices can become a problem on inclines, where the weight of the caravan can quickly exceed the grip of the mover, and the caravan can run away. As a simple guide, if you could not stop the caravan on you own, there is a fair chance that the mover would also loose control. The problem is even worse when the surface becomes slippy.

You have a much greater margin of safety with a chassis mounted mover, plus the larger diameter of the driven wheel allows it to negotiate rougher terrain, or loose surfaces (Gravel) better

A hitch-mounted mover may be perfectly adequate with the ground conditions at home, but what happens when you are away? There greater capability of the chassis mounted unit can give you confidence. Also it is always ready to be used, where as a hitch-mounted unit usually has to be removed whilst travelling.

By far the majority of correspondents to this forum indicate that chassis mounted movers are preferred to hitch-mounted units. In many case owner of hitch-mounted units report replacing them with chassis mounted drives. When you consider that majority of caravans are single axle, then the challenges with a twin are somewhat bigger.

 

[Earlybird]

Craig I fitted a reich mover on my senator louisiana it has been very easy to shift the caravan with it and can turn sharpley to park in a pitch

 

[PeterT]

Craig

I fully agree with the comments of both "John L" and "Scotch Lad" and I have owned both models. The Mr Shifta coped with my 'van on level tarmac, but was very difficult to move in tight corners because you must allow for the operating handle being about a metre or so longer than the caravan. The Powrtouch needs no more room than the caravan itself, at the tightest point I can stand between the A-frame and a wall as I use the 'soft-start' facility to inch the 'van while I watch the roof pass a rain gutter I must miss. Also, a side effect, if I want to, I can use it when on a site, without having to hump the heavy Mr Shifta into the car. Also, must mention, impeccable service. I have had my unit transferred between three 'vans, the odd fault has rapid response repair and the five year guarantee is always honoured. All the best.

Peter T

 

[GeorgeB]

Craig,

Although I'm not that old (stop sniggering Euro!) we have just bought a new Bailey Senator Indiana & had a Powrtouch chassis mounted mover fitted and have only used it 4 times and I must say ITS THE BEST BIT OF KIT I EVER BOUGHT FOR A CARAVAN!!!!

how we ever managed without it I really don't know, yes I know it eats into the payload, but I'm now firmly of the opinion its a price well worth paying.

GeorgeB