Jockey wheel caravan mover

MALMEEK
MALMEEK Forum Participant Posts: 2
edited May 2016 in Caravans #1

Has anybody any experience of the above type of mover and if so could they recommend one.

Our caravan is a 1992 Compass Vantage 400-2.

Comments

  • Remus
    Remus Forum Participant Posts: 132
    edited May 2016 #2

    We had a Purpleline one once.  It was ok for short moves on solid fairly level surfaces but not very good on gravel.  Would I recommend one?  No, I don't think I would though others may disagree.  Besides, this was years ago and things may have improved.

  • DougS
    DougS Forum Participant Posts: 327
    edited May 2016 #3

    With a load of 100kg (say) at the jockey wheel, I fail to see how any device like this can move a heavy van on anything other than a smooth level surface. The idea of pulling the road wheels over even a tiny kerb is, I think, laughable.

    If I'm wrong, can someone point me to some You Tube evidence please ;-)

  • ocsid
    ocsid Forum Participant Posts: 1,395
    1000 Comments
    edited May 2016 #4

    I had a Mr Shifta, this is not a jockey wheel type but couples via the hitch; a two wheeled tractor with a towball on top.

    In the right application it was excellent, in the wrong it was a waste of space.

    By right, the van needs to be quite light, the terrain firm, the incline modest and things like dry or wet play a role.

    To better explain it was great with my 1100 kg single axle van on the hard paving, concrete and tarmac surfaces with  1:14 inclines. However with a change of van to a 1750 kg it was inadequate if things were wet, primarily in stopping the van as opposed to hauling it. A moving van could push the mover on. In dry conditions it just coped but clearly it was close to marginal. It would certainly not haul up our kerbs but then neither could its replacement a Powrtouch HD mover.

    The Mr Shifta is a different tool to the others in it carries a big battery increasing its mass and so its traction frictional "grip". A very good tool for the right job.

  • Chestrefeldian
    Chestrefeldian Forum Participant Posts: 53
    edited May 2016 #5

    We sold ours after a couple of trials,

  • ChrisWolverson
    ChrisWolverson Forum Participant Posts: 8
    edited June 2016 #6

    I've got one of these: http://www.campertrolley.co.uk/ which does the job I need it to pretty well.

    The job being to turn the van around once I've pulled it up the drive and stick it into a tight space alongside the garage, and then to get it out when needed.  I don't take it with me, it's purely for use at home on an uneven and slightly sloping driveway. 
    It's easy and accurate to use, you just need to remember to charge it every time.

  • MALMEEK
    MALMEEK Forum Participant Posts: 2
    edited June 2016 #7

    Hi all

    thanks for your comments especially from Chris as it sounds exactly what I would be using it for so I think I will take the plunge and buy one.

  • Brian1
    Brian1 Forum Participant Posts: 242
    100 Comments
    edited June 2016 #8

    Think about the fact that jockey-wheel movers only have 50-80kg of downforce to allow them to grip.  A normal mover will have ~750kg
    per wheel. 

    So if you're anywhere that requires more than just a light pull (eg any slope, or soft underfoot) the jocket wheel mover will not cope as well as the normal type and may well not cope at all !

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