Motor mover quandary

Jen2thehen

Hi, we have decided to get a motor mover and have looked on previous discussion boards for advice.

My question is - what is the difference between manual and auto - the van is single axle and weighs 1350kg.  What would be the best one to go for in people's opinion?

Thanks

 

wye

I purchased the power touch classic a few months back after asking for recommendations on here , its manual , so far works a treat ...

s

Bob2112

We have had both and if I was getting another it would be manual.. The auto would very occasionally throw a moody but it always happened at the most inconvenient moment.

DSB

We've got a manual at the moment - you have to lever on the rollers to contact the wheels of the caravan.  For our next van we have ordered an automatic - where the rollers are electronically engaged with the caravan wheels by pressing the button on the handset.  Hope this helps to explain the difference between the two systems. 

David 

johnathome

I had a powrtouch evo manual mover fitted last year and think it's brilliant.

takes seconds to engage with wrench supplied and no locking on problems that occur with some power engage systems. 

They also come with a 5 year warranty for which powrtouch have a good name in response to any problems, I have not had to test this out (no probes so far).

Bod

Powrtouch have a brilliant aftersales service and 5 year warranty. We have auto engage at the moment but have decided to opt for the manual system on a new van. We have had a few issues with the auto one in awkward situations - but still recommend Powrtouch!

Trini

We had a Reich fitted to our first van in 2010 and had it changed onto a new van in 2014 and so far no problems at  all except for an error made by the dealers engineers when they changed it to the new van.

We contacted Reich who sent an engineer to our house and had it running again in 15 mins.

We use the van/mover throughtout the year usually 9 times a year and the auto engage is preferable for us to a manual.

moulesy

Another vote here for Powrtouch and the manual system. The only problem we've ever encountered was when we had new tyres fitted and the rollers wouldn't engage on the wheels properly. Simply solved by removing the cross actuation bar which just means we
now have to engage and then release each wheel separately - adds about 1 minute to the job! 

Bob2112

There you go then, the manuals have it and they are cheaper!

Tigi

We also have a manual powrtouch the wife enjoys the exercise.

Jen2thehen

Manual power touch it is! Thank you all

Bob2112

Good choice

wye

You won't be disappointed , good choice .

swift655

I had Truma auto single mover on Twin axle swift and never missed a beat in 7 years but took forever to turn 180 degrees as it shuffle's from side to side.Now replaced Swift caravan with Eldiss crusader twin axle(bad move) fitted with Power Touch 4 wheel
mover system which is a revelation, fantastic system what took 40 mins with singles now takes 14 mins but there's a lot of rubber left on the driveway.Did you know that Truma owns Powertouch !

Tinwheeler

Yes, good choice. The auto is paying extra for something that could well go wrong.

swift655

As I said had the swift 7 years also auto but no probs apart from gap adjustment  maybe once a year,the powertouch auto 1 year so far no probs. I am sure if somethings going to go wrong with something it will manual or auto.Both makes of mover were used
on a sandy beach every year the single mover I had to use ply boards under the wheels the 4 wheel i dont, worth every penny \i have to manoeuvre my 8m caravan inbetween 2 other continental  caravans on a sandy beach with just 1 meter overall  gap between.impossible
without the mover.

Mike Greenfield

I'm on my second powrtouch manual over a period of 15years. Only a change of van made me go from the first which was running fine. I had this fitted at my house which was a blessing.  Their after sales service was brilliant when my first had a board fault after 7 years of use. It was annoying because I only found out that it was faulty 2 days before I was due to go on holiday to France.  I phoned them and explained the problem.  As I'm fully capable of fitting one myself I said if need be I'd go to get one from their main stores as I couldn't get my van off my drive without it.  After asking my location (Newprt South Wales) they said they'd phone me back.  After about 20 mins they did just that and said there was an engineer in Llanelli that had one but as he was due to go away that day himself I would have to go and get it myself.  I agreed, and had it fitted by 3pm that afternoon.  All working fine.  I'd recommend Powtrtouch anytime.

Tinwheeler

As I said had the swift 7 years also auto but no probs apart from gap adjustment  maybe once a year,the powertouch auto 1 year so far no probs. I am sure if somethings going to go wrong with something it will manual or auto.Both makes of
mover were used on a sandy beach every year the single mover I had to use ply boards under the wheels the 4 wheel i dont, worth every penny \i have to manoeuvre my 8m caravan inbetween 2 other continental  caravans on a sandy beach with just 1 meter overall
 gap between.impossible without the mover.

I'm afraid that is far too simplistic, Swift. The auto engaging version has more electronics than the manual so, therefore, has greater potential to give trouble. We had an auto on our last van and the automatic activation gave trouble. If it fails to engage,
as mine did, you can be up the creek without a paddle. It was possible on mine to manually unwind the rollers if they stuck on but nothing could be done if they failed to engage. I asked Powr to put together a kit of the necessary pieces to convert it to manual
activation and they identified the parts at a cost of about £100. Instead I bought a MH but would have converted the mover if we had kept the cvan as I'd previously had a manual Powrtouch which performed superbly and I found Powr to be really on the ball with
their customer service.

Pippah45

I had to replace my mover recently and the mechanic would only fit Truma.  I was going to go for automatic but decided against for the reasons others give.  Even at my age with back trouble the manual poses no problems and unlike the old one I only need
to make one lever move to engage both wheels.  I haven't yet tried the turn on a sixpence I have been told it will perform not sure I can remember how!

swift655

Obviously tinwheeler you have had a bad experience in the past with auto ,I hav'ent and would not have anything else, both movers had/have manual release but never had to use it.

Pageantpete07

We have a Truma manual it is 9 years old on its 3rd van never given a moments problem, it would certainly be Truma for me.

 

Tinwheeler

Obviously tinwheeler you have had a bad experience in the past with auto ,I hav'ent and would not have anything else, both movers had/have manual release but never had to use it.

I'm pleased your experience has been trouble free, Swift, and long may it continue to be so. I am trying very hard here to point out possible pitfalls to others and most people agree that if something isn't fitted, it can't go wrong. Additional electronics
are something that can go wrong - note CAN, not WILL. Mine failed to activate (it did not fail to de-activate) and other people can see the common sense in avoiding the possibility of unnecessary problems. I hope your faith in automatic systems never lets
you down but my life experience of electronics and technical matters won't allow me to put a bet on that.

EmilysDad

I guess you're towing with the Land Rover from your avitar then TinW ie no electronics at all ..... no electrickery ignition ..... windows .... a/c etc etc ;-)

Tinwheeler

I guess you're towing with the Land Rover from your avitar then TinW ie no electronics at all ..... no electrickery ignition ..... windows .... a/c etc etc ;-)

I'm not towing at all these days, MM, and you know exactly what I mean - if it ain't fitted it can't go wrong.

JCB4X4

I guess you're towing with the Land Rover from your avitar then TinW ie no electronics at all ..... no electrickery ignition ..... windows .... a/c etc etc ;-)

"... if it ain't fitted it can't go wrong."

Then why fit a MM at all?

jennyc

As I said had the swift 7 years also auto but no probs apart from gap adjustment  maybe once a year,the powertouch auto 1 year so far no probs. I am sure if somethings going to go wrong with something it will manual or auto.Both makes of
mover were used on a sandy beach every year the single mover I had to use ply boards under the wheels the 4 wheel i dont, worth every penny \i have to manoeuvre my 8m caravan inbetween 2 other continental  caravans on a sandy beach with just 1 meter overall
 gap between.impossible without the mover.

I'm afraid that is far too simplistic, Swift. The auto engaging version has more electronics than the manual so, therefore, has greater potential to give trouble. We had an auto on our last van and the automatic activation gave trouble. If it fails to engage,
as mine did, you can be up the creek without a paddle. It was possible on mine to manually unwind the rollers if they stuck on but nothing could be done if they failed to engage. I asked Powr to put together a kit of the necessary pieces to convert it to manual
activation and they identified the parts at a cost of about £100. Instead I bought a MH but would have converted the mover if we had kept the cvan as I'd previously had a manual Powrtouch which performed superbly and I found Powr to be really on the ball with
their customer service.

Write your comments here...

Just to keep this thread 100% accurate, auto engaging Powertouch motor movers are supplied with a special tool to allow the MM to be engaged/ disengaged manually. In the event of an auto engaging/ disengaging failure you will still be able to use your mover,
albeit after a somewhat slower actuation than with the manual version. Glass half empty people may chose manual operation, glass half full people may favour auto actuation.

Tinwheeler

As I said had the swift 7 years also auto but no probs apart from gap adjustment  maybe once a year,the powertouch auto 1 year so far no probs. I am sure if somethings going to go wrong with something it will manual or auto.Both makes of
mover were used on a sandy beach every year the single mover I had to use ply boards under the wheels the 4 wheel i dont, worth every penny \i have to manoeuvre my 8m caravan inbetween 2 other continental  caravans on a sandy beach with just 1 meter overall
 gap between.impossible without the mover.

I'm afraid that is far too simplistic, Swift. The auto engaging version has more electronics than the manual so, therefore, has greater potential to give trouble. We had an auto on our last van and the automatic activation gave trouble. If it fails to engage,
as mine did, you can be up the creek without a paddle. It was possible on mine to manually unwind the rollers if they stuck on but nothing could be done if they failed to engage. I asked Powr to put together a kit of the necessary pieces to convert it to manual
activation and they identified the parts at a cost of about £100. Instead I bought a MH but would have converted the mover if we had kept the cvan as I'd previously had a manual Powrtouch which performed superbly and I found Powr to be really on the ball with
their customer service.

Write your comments here...

Just to keep this thread 100% accurate, auto engaging Powertouch motor movers are supplied with a special tool to allow the MM to be engaged/ disengaged manually. In the event of an auto engaging/ disengaging failure you will still be able to use your mover,
albeit after a somewhat slower actuation than with the manual version. Glass half empty people may chose manual operation, glass half full people may favour auto actuation.

Changed it recently, have they?

PS. My glass is always half full. I find being polite to people helps keep it that way.

Pippah45

My glass is always at least half full and when the Truma auto override system was explained to me it sounded far too complicated and requiring physical agility I no longer possess so on balanced consideration of all the facts I chose manual.  I am not averse
to saving myself the difference in the price either.  

jennyc

As I said had the swift 7 years also auto but no probs apart from gap adjustment  maybe once a year,the powertouch auto 1 year so far no probs. I am sure if somethings going to go wrong with something it will manual or auto.Both makes of
mover were used on a sandy beach every year the single mover I had to use ply boards under the wheels the 4 wheel i dont, worth every penny \i have to manoeuvre my 8m caravan inbetween 2 other continental  caravans on a sandy beach with just 1 meter overall
 gap between.impossible without the mover.

I'm afraid that is far too simplistic, Swift. The auto engaging version has more electronics than the manual so, therefore, has greater potential to give trouble. We had an auto on our last van and the automatic activation gave trouble. If it fails to engage,
as mine did, you can be up the creek without a paddle. It was possible on mine to manually unwind the rollers if they stuck on but nothing could be done if they failed to engage. I asked Powr to put together a kit of the necessary pieces to convert it to manual
activation and they identified the parts at a cost of about £100. Instead I bought a MH but would have converted the mover if we had kept the cvan as I'd previously had a manual Powrtouch which performed superbly and I found Powr to be really on the ball with
their customer service.

Write your comments here...

Just to keep this thread 100% accurate, auto engaging Powertouch motor movers are supplied with a special tool to allow the MM to be engaged/ disengaged manually. In the event of an auto engaging/ disengaging failure you will still be able to use your mover,
albeit after a somewhat slower actuation than with the manual version. Glass half empty people may chose manual operation, glass half full people may favour auto actuation.

Changed it recently, have they?

PS. My glass is always half full. I find being polite to people helps keep it that way.

Write your comments here...

I'm not sure how long the manual tool has been supplied, but our MM came with one three years ago, so it's not an entirely new feature.

Tinwheeler

It didn't exist 6 years ago so it's a pretty new addition.

swift655

correction Tinw I had one supplied (  its like a T wrench) with my truma auto which was fitted in March 2007 but I thought only to disengage not engage the mover.