Motormover

armourer
armourer Forum Participant Posts: 218
edited March 2021 in Parts & Accessories #1

on a twin axle caravan if you can only afford a motor mover for 1 axle  which one does it go on

front or rear ?  im thinking rear as that way its not adding to the nose weight ?

whats your thoughts ?

Comments

  • heddlo
    heddlo Forum Participant Posts: 872 ✭✭
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    edited March 2021 #2

    We have a Powrtouch twin on our twin axle. You do have to have a motor mover that does twin axles. It’s fitted on the front two wheels so it doesn’t cause fouling to the jacking point which is just behind the rear wheels. It has always worked very well getting in and out of our storage compound and on a tight site pitch, maybe a little more to-ing and fro-ing than a four wheel mover but that has never caused us any issue.

  • armourer
    armourer Forum Participant Posts: 218
    edited March 2021 #3

    so are you saying that if you fit an awd motor mover it blocks

    the jacking point at the rear wheel 

    i have seen plenty twin axle's have awd

  • heddlo
    heddlo Forum Participant Posts: 872 ✭✭
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    edited March 2021 #4

    Yes it does.  I assume with the 4 wheel movers the owners use a different jack.  We use the (pretty awful) Alko Jack so we need the correct jacking point.  Jacking systems, such as the A&P one, would be compatible I believe.

  • richardandros
    richardandros Club Member Posts: 2,681 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2021 #5

    I have an AWD motor mover fitted to our caravan - as we did with the last TA van.  You can't get at the jacking points, but Lock 'n Level sorts that problem out easily and safely.  Much better, IMO, than using a jack anyway. If, heddlo means E&P hydraulic jacking system, I have that fitted to the present van and is the ultimate solution to levelling and fitting twin wheel locks - but it's expensive.

    One of the advantages of having an AWD system is that, during a turn, it automatically straightens the turn out slightly, every few seconds to release the pressure on the tyres.

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited March 2021 #6

     ... One of the advantages of having an AWD system is that, during a turn, it automatically straightens the turn out slightly, every few seconds to release the pressure on the tyres

    My Powrtouch awd movers don't 🙄

  • richardandros
    richardandros Club Member Posts: 2,681 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2021 #7

    Well mine does - and it's a Powrtouch! Plus, when the it was fitted on our last van the technician demonstrated it and explained that was how it worked.  It's so brief, every few seconds on a tight turn, that you might not notice it - but watch the jockey wheel and it momentarily straightens up out of the turn before going back to it - just enough to take some of the pressure off the tyres.

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited March 2021 #8

    I don't know what model number etc they are, but I can get quite an impressive amount of scrub on the tyres on a tight turn ... the jockey wheel doesn't straighten up. My movers were already on the caravan when we bought it but must've been fitted around 2003 ... so maybe an older variation than yours 🤷‍♂️ 

  • richardandros
    richardandros Club Member Posts: 2,681 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2021 #9

    That probably accounts for it ED.  First one was 2015 and the one on the present van was fitted December 2018, just before we took delivery.

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited March 2021 #10

    Ooops! Typo .... should've been 2013 🙄

  • KjellNN
    KjellNN Club Member Posts: 8,667 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2021 #11

    We have a 2 wheel Truma TE on our twin axle, it is fitted in front of the front wheels so that it does not get so much dirt sprayed on it from the tyres.  We can also lower the front of the van to give the front wheels more traction.

    It is a dedicated TA mover and is programmed to do the straightening out when turning to reduce the tyre scrub.  This means it does not turn as fast as a 4 wheel one, but it does what we need it to do.

    We also did not want the weight of a 4 wheel one.

  • kingfisher999
    kingfisher999 Forum Participant Posts: 4
    edited May 2021 #12

    I have ordered a new Buccaneer Bermuda (max looaded 2000kg) and plan to put a motor mover on. Currently I am undecided whether to go for the Powr Touch twin axle mover (single axle motors) or the AWD (motors fitted to both axles). Clearly, AWD will give best manoeuvrability but is the single axle system plenty man enough for the job with some adjustments to the manoeuvres? Can anyone with a constructive input add bullet points regarding the pros and cons of both please. I have read the 10 posts above so have an idea of SOME of the potential issues.

    The most demanding moves will be at my home where I cannot use my car - I am the last house in a cul-de-sac without a bowl at the end - I do not have the room to turn my car around to manoeuvre caravan attached to the car and get it onto my drive, unless I reverse down the whole length and that would be dependant on there being no cars parked at the end. My drive is slightly inclined. Getting the van on involves pushing the van (frontwards) using the mover from the kirbside 90 deg up the drop ramp kirb onto my drive. Getting it off involves turning van 360 deg and driving off forwards. My (slightly inclined) drive is wide enough for the jockey wheel and wheels to sit across the drive with about 2m spare, so not too tight. I normally turn it 90 deg then move it forward to move away from one edge of the drive and then turn it the final 90 deg driving the opposite wheel than the one I used for the first turn.

    Ideally, I would like a list of brief pros and cons so I can make my mind up. Clearly cost  and weight are factors. If there are any important points please add them too.

    Thanks

     

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
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    edited May 2021 #13

    I also live in a cup de sac. When I owned a caravan, it was often a bit touch and go backing the van off the drive and having enough space to hook up the car without blocking the road. Having a Moho has taken all that hassle away. As Chief Brodie didn't say "You're gonna need a smaller van"

  • KjellNN
    KjellNN Club Member Posts: 8,667 ✭✭✭
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    edited May 2021 #14

    I can add to the above as follows......

    Our TA weighs in at 1900kg, and is 7.95m long.  

    We live in a pretty standard width residential road.  I need to move our van off the road hitch first onto the drive through 90degrees.

    Our drive is 8m long and 10m wide, it has a 10% slope.

    With about 3 or 4 forward and back shuffles, I can easily park it at one side.

    I know nothing about Powrtouch, as we have a Truma, but I do know that Truma own Powrtouch.

    What  you propose sounds doable, there may be some info on the required turning circle online, but shuffling means a van can be put into some very tight spaces, I have the T shirt!

  • kingfisher999
    kingfisher999 Forum Participant Posts: 4
    edited May 2021 #15

    I have a single axle Swift Challenger at present with a Powr Touch auto engage. I have had quite a few problems with it (3 new control boxes within the warranty period) and am challenging them whether the last one should be under warranty. I am waiting to see if they redeem themselves before committing to a new Powr Touch.

    Has your Trauma unit been reliable? Originally I was sold on the ease of auto engage, but mine has been problematic and am considering a manual engage type.

     

  • KjellNN
    KjellNN Club Member Posts: 8,667 ✭✭✭
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    edited May 2021 #16

    We have not had any problems with the automatic engagement, or anything else, on the mover, think we have had it for 7 years now