Mr Shifta Mk1 - Any good?

[audicab26]

Hi all,

Have been looking for a Caravan Mover for my Pathfinder Folding Camper.

I have been offered a Mr Shifta Mk1 for around £200 - are they any good?

I will need it to move my FC (1000KGS) around my concrete drive which is fairly tight and is on a slight slope.

At the moment I have to involve my neighbours and a back specialist!!

Has anyone used one of these?

Many thanks for any advice you can offer.

 

[JTQ]

I had a Mr Shifta MK1 when I had a 1100kg caravan.

It was an excellent product for manoeuvring that van on my 1:14 sloping drive.

When I changed to a 1700kg van it was inadequate in that it would not stop the van once it was rolling down the slope when the surface was wet.

Make sure that the overall length of your FC and coupled Mr Shifta will not be an issue. In restricted locations the extra length with the Shifta can be a problem.

All in all a very good product; better than its direct competitors in that the traction battery is in the unit adding to the weight on the driving wheels a major factor in achieving grip. It is this grip between the drive tyres and the surface that limits hitch drive units ability not the power of the motors. The more weight of those wheels the better.

 

[JTQ]

I had a Mr Shifta MK1 when I had a 1100kg caravan.

It was an excellent product for manoeuvring that van on my 1:14 sloping drive.

When I changed to a 1700kg van it was inadequate in that it would not stop the van once it was rolling down the slope when the surface was wet.

Make sure that the overall length of your FC and coupled Mr Shifta will not be an issue. In restricted locations the extra length with the Shifta can be a problem.

All in all a very good product; better than its direct competitors in that the traction battery is in the unit adding to the weight on the driving wheels a major factor in achieving grip. It is this grip between the drive tyres and the surface that limits hitch drive units ability not the power of the motors. The more weight of those wheels the better.

 

[audicab26]

Thanks for the reply & your advice.

Have been watching some of the later Mr Shifta's on E-Bay - they seem to go for

 

[JTQ]

Derek,

Controlling the FC reversing, forwards or turning with great precision , up or downhill is something the Shifta excels at.

The "van" is always under control; It was the ability to brake on the incline that was so impressive to me. When manhandling it was the difficulty of stopping it once rolling downhill that we dreaded each outing; the Shifta completely mastered that.

It has a fitting to inhibit the vans over-run brake; make sure yours comes with that bit. [ this bit needs adjusting just the once to suit your hitch]

A criticism of all these types of device relative to a main wheel drive movers is that you cant stand at the rear corner and move. You have to stop walk to the back make a judgement of what's needed and go to the front to do it, but you can do it inch by inch if its critical.

At

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello Derek,

It sounds as though the SHIFTA may well do the job at home, and if that's all you need it for then seems a good option.

If you think you need it whilst on site, then don't forget you would need to carry it somehow, and the limitations of its performance others have mentioned may be relevant.