Hi all I am thinking of getting a power wheel that fit in place of the jockey wheel can anyone tell me if they are any good I will only be using it at home to get the van in and out of the drive thanks peter.
power wheel
- Thread starter welderpeter
- Start date
- Mar 14, 2005
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Hello Peter,
Generically what you are considering is what I call an 'A' frame mover. These have their place but compared to the movers that use the main axle, they are limited, and under some circumstances can be dangerous.
If all you are doing is moving a caravan over flat hard ground, then the 'A' fame movers are a good solution, but as soon as the ground becomes a slope then there are things that you need to be lookout for.
In essence the mover may have lots of power, but it needs to be able to put the power on the ground to create traction. The amount of traction any wheel can produce is determined by the force (or weight) that pushes it against the ground. Most 'A' frame movers are no heavier than an adult, thus they will produce about the same traction as an adult. The same principal applies the main axle movers, but here they have roughly half the total weight on each wheel, with a correspondingly greater potential tractive effort.
Putting this into context, there is no problem on hard flat surfaces, but if you are working on an uneven surface, gravel or a slope then the limitations become clearer. It is not so much getting the caravan moving but it is as much about stopping it. Consider as slope. If you (as a fit adult) could not be certain of stopping a caravan from moving by your self without using the brakes, then the same concern must be levelled at an A frame mover. Also consider the situation when it is wet or icy or just damp leaves, or mud.
Another possible problem is that when operating the A frame mover. You are standing right by the unit, and you cannot see the rear corners of the caravan. That might be a problem in tight spaces. - With the main axle movers, the control is either wireless, or on a long umbilical cord.
If you leave it attached to the caravan, it is bigger than a normal jockeywheel, and it might cause problems when towing, not to mention the extra nose weight it will create. If you remove it, then you have to consider lifting to into the boot of the car to be ale to take it with you. Some need a separate battery.
The main axle movers are there when you need them, they are definitely more capable, and they are safer in difficult conditions.
I hope these points will help you to make your own mind up.
a slopeThe biggest concern is working on a slope. Basically if an able bodied person cannot push or stop the caravan on the slope, then it is highly likely that an 'A' frame mover would also have trouble. The problem is worse if the ground is not sold, for example gravel or even wet leaves etc.
Generically what you are considering is what I call an 'A' frame mover. These have their place but compared to the movers that use the main axle, they are limited, and under some circumstances can be dangerous.
If all you are doing is moving a caravan over flat hard ground, then the 'A' fame movers are a good solution, but as soon as the ground becomes a slope then there are things that you need to be lookout for.
In essence the mover may have lots of power, but it needs to be able to put the power on the ground to create traction. The amount of traction any wheel can produce is determined by the force (or weight) that pushes it against the ground. Most 'A' frame movers are no heavier than an adult, thus they will produce about the same traction as an adult. The same principal applies the main axle movers, but here they have roughly half the total weight on each wheel, with a correspondingly greater potential tractive effort.
Putting this into context, there is no problem on hard flat surfaces, but if you are working on an uneven surface, gravel or a slope then the limitations become clearer. It is not so much getting the caravan moving but it is as much about stopping it. Consider as slope. If you (as a fit adult) could not be certain of stopping a caravan from moving by your self without using the brakes, then the same concern must be levelled at an A frame mover. Also consider the situation when it is wet or icy or just damp leaves, or mud.
Another possible problem is that when operating the A frame mover. You are standing right by the unit, and you cannot see the rear corners of the caravan. That might be a problem in tight spaces. - With the main axle movers, the control is either wireless, or on a long umbilical cord.
If you leave it attached to the caravan, it is bigger than a normal jockeywheel, and it might cause problems when towing, not to mention the extra nose weight it will create. If you remove it, then you have to consider lifting to into the boot of the car to be ale to take it with you. Some need a separate battery.
The main axle movers are there when you need them, they are definitely more capable, and they are safer in difficult conditions.
I hope these points will help you to make your own mind up.
a slopeThe biggest concern is working on a slope. Basically if an able bodied person cannot push or stop the caravan on the slope, then it is highly likely that an 'A' frame mover would also have trouble. The problem is worse if the ground is not sold, for example gravel or even wet leaves etc.
Thanks for your advce John I think I will leave it and save up a bit more for one that goes on the axel peter.
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