Which motor mover?

[LizziePope]

Hi everyone,

A reader has asked for advice about buying a motor mover, so I thought I'd see what you think. Which brand/model would you recommend? Would you buy new or used? Anything else?!

Thanks!

 

[Martin24]

We're perfectly happy with our Powrwheel AWD evolution. The easiest mover we've had on a twin axle. Very good customer service but worth shopping around for the best price. If fit and able then the evo is slight overkill especially a single axle model. Manual actuation would be fine in this instance. Look at mover in relation to jacking points as well.

 

[KeefySher]

We are very happy with the Powrtouch Classic on our heavy single axle Sterling Continental. Went for the manual activation on the basis of less to go wrong compared to the auto unit.

Use it to move off the drive across the road to hitch up, and almost exclusively on site. Long gone are the days of heave and shove at our age.

 

[Raywood]

We have had three different makes on the last three caravans and frankly there is nothing between them as far as performance is concerned and I would hate to suggest any over the others. All have worked perfectly over several years.
If you are at all unfit though I would suggest getting a mover fitted with auto actuation as the manual ones can be very stiff and need some effort to clamp on. The Purple Line though did have a winding handle to lock it on which was easier but could result in you not tightening enough if you were not careful. The others sprung on so this was not a problem.

 

[LizziePope]

Thanks for your replies!

 

[Dustydog]

Our Heavy Duty Powrtouch has worked successfully for 8 years now on our TA Senator Wyoming. In year one we had a new red on /off key, Year two a replacement disengaging wrench and year three both gearboxes were replaced. Apparently there had been a small faulty batch.
No quibble guarantee and the gearboxes were replaced at a date to suit me at our storage.
I'd have no hesitation buying Powrtouch again :cheer:

 

[ProfJohnL]

I would not presume to make a recommendation about which motor mover is the best, but I will point out that of the two generic types, i'e, jockey wheel replacement or A frame mover vs main wheel mover I strongly advise against the A frame type for reasons of safety.

The grip a mover has on the surface on which it runs is determined by the force with which it is pushed down to the ground. Effectively this will be limited to just about the nose load of the trailer, which is unlikely to be more than 100kg. This roughly the equivalent of an adult. If an adult feels they can't control the caravan, then the a frame mover will be having very similar issues. Its not so much the ability to get the caravan moving, but more teh ability to stop it once it is moving.

By comparison the main wheel movers have roughly half the weight of the caravan on each wheel and will as a consequence be far more sure footed.

As the difference between makes of movers. None of them very different in any way that is likely to make one make more reliable than another.

Don't base your decision only the apparent fact that one manufacturer has an outstanding after sales service - whilst that is possibly a comfort, it in no way necessarily means their product is superior, in fact i could mean their product is less reliable hence the need for such a good after sales system.

It could also be that other manufacturers are just as good but don't shout about it as much, Or it could mean that other manufacturers product don't fail as frequently.

Whilst I may appear to be critical of one manufacturer, i'm not - it is their level of service that others should aspire to.

 

[Trevormc]

Don't discount the A frame one altegether I bought a second hand one 16+ years ago never had a problem with it. It is used to get the van out onto the road between house and fence, then line up with hitch. Don't take it with us and don't use it very often to park the van behind house. There is a slight slope from front to back of house and the van takes itself we just have to guide it.

Trevor

 

[Dustydog]

Trevor don't forget most caravans today have automatic reversing brakes.
This means when reversing and a sudden emergency stop is required the handbrake may come up twice as far as normal and may reach its travel limit before the brakes operate.

 

[ProfJohnL]

Don't discount the A frame one altegether I bought a second hand one 16+ years ago never had a problem with it. It is used to get the van out onto the road between house and fence, then line up with hitch. Don't take it with us and don't use it very often to park the van behind house. There is a slight slope from front to back of house and the van takes itself we just have to guide it.

Trevor

Hello Trevor,

There is nothing wrong with the A frame type of mover provided the surface is basically horizontal and hard. But as soon as you encounter a significant slope there is a distinct danger the weight of the caravan will exceed the ability of the mover to stop the caravan. Its a matter of scientific principles. If all you want it for is to work on hard flat surfaces then yes they are a good solution.

I had the honor to know the inventor of the "Caravan Mover" He came to the conclusion A frame movers had very limited appeal becasue of their poor traction in relatively normal caravanning circumstances so he set about designing something better. Part of his reasoning for the invention was to enable those aging caravanners who were losing mobility or strength to maneuver a caravan by hand the means to continue to caravan for years to come.

He identified and explained the pitfalls of the a frame movers, one of which they often needed to be carried separately and refitted when ever you wanted to position or park a caravan with precision as you have found. Coupled to their inability to cope with hills and soft ground all of which made the permanently fitted mover a much better and safer product.

 

[otherclive]

In 2005 I had my first mover and it was the basic Reich Move Control, which was absolutely fine. Although when I first saw it fitted to the front of the wheels I thought that its ground clearance would be a problem, but it wasn't and speed humps, ferry ramps etc were all taken in their stride. Although departing a French Aire where I had been almost blocked in, the nearside mover hit and dislodged a large kerbstone, but its clearances didn't change one jot, which is more than I can say for the kerbstone. My Trigano had the automated Powertouch Evolution which worked okay, although it did stick on occasions. I always managed to free it but had it not been possible to retract or advance it electrically it would have been a manual job to turn it by hand via the gearing system. I think it was 48 turns on each mover side to fullly move the roller, so I rigged up an extension to my drill. On this latest van I have had the Powertouch Classic fitted which is quite precsie in its control, and no hassle to engage or retract. And its simple.

 

[Raywood]

I do agree with the Prof on the limitations of the jockey wheel mover. We have a fairly steep drive and I would never risk one on that. They are also vulnerable to theft which means putting them on and taking them off each time they are used so I do think they are of doubtful value.

 

[ProfJohnL]

..They are also vulnerable to theft which means putting them on and taking them off each time they are used so I do think they are of doubtful value.

That is another important point to consider both at home or away.

 

[Trevormc]

Prof I can see your point, but I only use it to get it onto the road and line it up to the ball. Our drive is concrete all the way with a small slope up to the road and for 35 yards it does the job. It is taken off when hitched up and put back into storage, never take it on sites and dont push and pull the van, (getting toooooo old for that) I always use the motor for that. I'm happy with using it to do what I need it for and it works fine.

Trevor

 

[Dustydog]

Trevor
Your points are all valid and helpful.
Just going back to the OP I suspect lizzie has been asked about a mover which can be used anytime any where.
Today's caravans are getting heavier. No way could four of me easily move my twin axle so a fixed mover is mandatory at all times and locations.

 

[ProfJohnL]

Prof I can see your point, but I only use it to get it onto the road and line it up to the ball. Our drive is concrete all the way with a small slope up to the road and for 35 yards it does the job. It is taken off when hitched up and put back into storage, never take it on sites and dont push and pull the van, (getting toooooo old for that) I always use the motor for that. I'm happy with using it to do what I need it for and it works fine.

Trevor

Hello Trever,

I was not being critical of you or your choice, I am really pleased it works for you.

 

[RayS]

I rate the on-board mover as one of the best innovations for caravans ever ( as a caravan addict for 50 years). With our combined years now somewhat in excess of 150 we would not be able to enjoy the lifestyle we do without one, spending some 140 nights each year in ours in UK and Europe preferring CL and a la ferme type sites when we can.
I was an early customer of Powrwheel and was impressed by both the engineerin and the service. Like quite a lot of basically mechanical engineering organisations some of the electrics would have benefitted from more experienced design but overall very good. I have now bought and fitted 4 units.
Since the change of ownership the service has not been quite as accessible or personal and the odd spare I needed is now charged for rather than sent with a compliments slip but this is still the one to beat