Twin axle manoeuvrability
I have ordered my first twin axle caravan and we live on a narrow road and the gateway to the house is quite tight. So now that we have established that we have been foolish can you please help us with your views on the possibility of getting this into our
drive. We had a clubman which with the mover we were able to swing round in its own length and then up the drive. The new van is only about a meter shorter than the width of the road inc footpath. We have ordered all wheel drive but just how easily will it
turn etc. All views greatly appreciated.
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The footways here are 1.5m either side of a 5m road. Therefore 8 metres. Our shipping length is 7 metres. We go in nose first as that allows the juckey wheel to run onto the drop crossing outside our house and makes it easier as the rear can overhang the
opposite kerb. Onlya single axle with MM but I reckon if the van was (say) 300mm more we would still manage.0 -
Yes Easy T we had no problem with the single axle but I know the twin can't turn just as handy but just how handy?
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9 .5 feet and not able to widen by much due to electric pole.
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If I remember correctly, the turning circle of a twin axle with 4 wheel movers is around 11 metres for the newest movers.
Should make it through the gate without too much shuffling. It will get easier with practice!
i hope it is not a busy road?
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Yip it can be busy at times but we find even with the single axle people did not mind as they were fasinated watching a caravan move without a car. Looks like they will get more for their money when the new van arrives.
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I will only move our TA with the car!!! the wheel friction makes it difficult to do anything else.
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I missed the ability of a single axle van to turn on its own axis when I first got my TA. However you soon learn it's limitations and adapt to it. I am sure that you will be able to get your van to go where you want it to but might have to do a few 3 (or
more) point turns.0 -
We have a similar situation on what can be a busy narrow 'B' road however we are lucky insofar as our gate is set back from the kerb about 3.5m. Due to the layout of the shared courtyard we have to reverse our van in on the mover which on occasions upsets
those late for their own funerals. It will simply take practice and you will soon work out optimum positioning and manouevering sequence.0 -
I think I need to do a mock up of our drive in a quiet car park to get the pratice it would be horrible to get it stuck across the road holding all the traffic up.
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I have a twin axle with a mover fitted only to the front axle which will have less driving power than your double mover. What I notice when making a tight turn is that the tyre walls on the same side start to strain in opposite directions until the drive cog on the tread loses traction. On loose surfaces the non-driven tyre can skid round but on tarmac there is too much road grip hence the stall in movement. I overcome this by allowing the mover to drive straight forward or backwads for a couple of feet to take the pressure off the tyre walls and then I can resume the turn. It obviously slows down the turning process compared to a single axle but even within a confined space I can make the required turn. As mentioned above it can help to place more weight on one axle by raising or lowering the jockey wheel. In theory this is less relevant where a double mover is fitted but it might help the lighter axle to skid sideways thereby reducing the need to shunt backwards and forwards. We often assist our mover by leaning against a corner of the caravan to help it fight the strain building up during the turn. Movers do allow very accurate control so I have no problem moving along a walled area. It just helps if there are two of you to watch both sides.
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If it looks like you are stumped, take both wheels of one axle and voila! a single axle 'van!
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OP has a 4 wheel mover made for a twin axle, so he will achieve a tighter turn than those of us with 2 wheel movers.
There will be no advantage to him in taking weight off one axle.
Newer twin axle movers employ special electronics to help relieve the strain on the tyres.
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I certainly believe it to be do-able. I have a similar highway width but wider gateway and a single axle. My van appears to be the same size. I would love a twin axle but only if I had a longer van. Therein would lie my problem. When I swing in I suspect
that I have about 750 mm clearance from the wall opposite.0 -
..... Newer twin axle movers employ special electronics to help relieve the strain on the tyres.
My Powrtouch 4 wheel mover doesn't, the inner tyres just don't get driven. Not sure how new it actually is, but was already fitted to our 2013 caravan when we bought it
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Yes, the electronics to do that are built into the controller, but not all T/A movers had that originally.
We had it on our 2008 2 wheel T/A mover, I think it was quite new then.
I think they call it "pulsing", or something similar, the outer wheels move then all the wheels move a little to relieve the strain on the inner wheel tyres.
i presume it somewhat similar on a 4 wheel model?
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Another option to ease the strain on the tyres and help it spin easier is place some strong thick plastic sheeting (building DPM should be ok) on the ground before moving the van onto it. The lack of grip or friction will make it easier to spin the van. Dont forget with a four wheel mover you will need to think about jacking solutions and lining up the wheel locks - if you use the Alko locks.
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Yes I have been looking into the leveling and wheel lock problem I just hope the new van turns out to worth all the extra trouble. We might end up wishing we had kept the Clubman. But onwards and upwards. Thanks to all those who gave their views on this
subject.0 -
Is it a not a case of shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted ??
Sorry to be flippant but just curious
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I do have another option to keep the van. I would like it in the drive so therefore the information request. Any help on that is appreciated.
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There will be no advantage to him in taking weight off one axle.
It is not to get the weight off the axle, but to remove one set of tyres. This way the tyres do not have to scrub sideways. In fact, the van will then spin in its own length just like a single axle does.
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Dont forget with a four wheel mover you will need to think about jacking solutions and lining up the wheel locks - if you use the Alko locks.
Why? How does a four wheel mover make any difference to a two wheel mover?
Once first wheel is lined-up and lock fitted the mover(s) would be dis-engaged as normal and the other wheel jacked up to rotate and fit second lock.
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Since we don't have a 4 wheel mover, I cannot comment on how they work, but with our 2 wheel mover that would not happen, the controller is not set up to drive one side forward and the other in the opposite direction at the same time.
(in reply to your previous post)
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We have a 2015 TA Barcelona with AWD motor mover fitted. As previously said the mover does 'pulse' in a turn - going straight on for a few feet before restarting the turn to take the pressure off the tyres. We live on a modern housing development and the road outside the house, fortunately, is very quiet. It is also quite narrow (traffic calming?) and isn't sufficiently wide enough for two cars to pass alongside each other. I haven't measured it so I can't give you the exact dimensions, but I manage a right-angled turn on the road and bring it in, nose first over the service strip and onto the drive in front of the garage. As for fitting the wheel locks, I am a big fan of my Lock 'n Level which makes the process so easy and would thoroughly recommend it. Other than the issue about having to stop the traffic, I am sure you will be fine. The level of control you have with the handset is very precise and once you have done it a few times, you won't think twice about it again. Good luck!
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