Motor mover for twin axle
Hi all. We have a twin axle Swift and we are thinking of having a motor mover. The dilema is should we fit to just one axle or both. I have seen both arrangements used. Obviously just one axle would be cheaper and less added weight, but would this put undue
stress on the axles and chassis? Anyone one else had any problems or success using just one axle?
Andy
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Hi Andy,
We have a single axle Powrtouch Evolution Twin mover on a Lunar twin axle and it does the job perfectly well most of the time. At our storage location there is no need for sharp turns and on site the radius of curve that we can achieve is no limitation
with an occasional bit of fore and aft shunting. On one occasion in two years there has been a bit of wheel sliding on wet grass but nothing of significance. It helps to lower the nose (if the mover is on the front axle, to retain the Alko jacking point)
to put more weight on the front wheels. As you say, there is a 30kg weight saving with a single axle model and this could be significant.0 -
This is a question I have pondered before, as we keep contemplating a twin axle caravan.
I've looked at several mover manufacturer's stands at the NEC and the thing that strikes me is that they
never have a demonstrator of a twin mover (or even a single mover) on a twin axle). All they have is a little single axle trailer that they can turn in circles to impress people. It seems to me that they have little confidence in their twin
axle movers.However, to give an indication of turning ability, when turning a caravan into a pitch from a typical, quite narrow site road, which requires a fairly sharp 90 degree turn - can anyone with a twin axle say how well their mover performs this action?
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We have a Truma single mover on our 1900kg Sterling T/A. The van is now 8 years old and we have had no problems with stress on the axle/chassis.
We fitted only a single to keep the weight down. It does what we need it to do as we don't need tight turns, and, as above, a few shuffles will get the van into impossible looking places.
There is no doubt a double mover will perform better, turn tighter, so if you need a tight turn you need a double mover.
Somewhere, there is a Truma video of the different turning circles of the 2 types, I watched it a couple of years back, it is possibly on their German website.
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Thanks all for tour input.
Yes Dianne t they are easier to manoeuvre. Ive spent several years on artics lol. Its mainly manoeuvrability at the storage compound when im alone as it involves an s manoeuvre to get in.
All in all its looking like a single axle option will suffice for me.
Once again thanks all
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OrOMZ3ovr8this may be the video I saw
Shows the different turning circles
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This is a question I have pondered before, as we keep contemplating a twin axle caravan.
I've looked at several mover manufacturer's stands at the NEC and the thing that strikes me is that they
never have a demonstrator of a twin mover (or even a single mover) on a twin axle). All they have is a little single axle trailer that they can turn in circles to impress people. It seems to me that they have little confidence in their twin
axle movers.However, to give an indication of turning ability, when turning a caravan into a pitch from a typical, quite narrow site road, which requires a fairly sharp 90 degree turn - can anyone with a twin axle say how well their mover performs this action?
Watch the video Ian and see what you think.
I usually reverse onto the pitch initially, if possible, just to get the van out of the way as quickly as possible, then unhitch and manoeuvre into the required position with the mover while OH takes the car out of the way. If the site road is too narrow
or there are obstructions, I unhitch and do i all with the mover.At home, we have to park the van nose first on the RHS of our driveway, which has a 10% slope and is only 5cm longer than the van, but is about 10m wide, block paved.
Our road is a reasonable width, normal housing estate type width. To get the van in position usually takes about 4 forward/reverse shuffles.
If weight is a problem, you can often get a weight upgrade, we went from the original 1815kg to 1900kg to be able to fit the mover, air con and Fiamma without losing any of our payload.
An upgrade normally costs about £50, but if requested when you order the van is usually free.
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I have a single mover on a t\a and it works satisfactorily - here are a few tips which might help. You should not expect a t/a to rotate on a tight turn like a single axle as the tyres on the same side start to strain in opposite directions. If you are on
soft ground the none-mover axle will skid and allow the driving wheels to make the turn. On tarmac /hardstanding usually the resistance overcomes the mover but a double mover obviously has more power. It helps a lot to set the height of the jockey wheel to
put most of the weight on the axle with the mover. In my case with the front wheels being driven I lower the jockey so as to raise the rear wheels. It certainly helps the rear wheels to 'skid to the side' to help the turn. With a t\a using the mover in a turn
often involves a series of shunts backwards and forwards whilst turning. Just a couple of feet in either direction takes the strain off the tyre walls and you can continue the turn. I would definitely not have a t\a without a mover as there are many sites
where the limited width of road and caravans/awnings etc opposite make it impossible to reverse a long unit into position and you certainly won't man handle one!0 -
A T/A needs a properly controlled T/A system, not just an ordinary mover fitted to one set of wheels.
On ours the outer wheels of the turn move while the inner wheels stand still, then the inner wheels pulse to relieve the side strain on the inner wheel tyres.
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A T/A needs a properly controlled T/A system, not just an ordinary mover fitted to one set of wheels.
On ours the outer wheels of the turn move while the inner wheels stand still, then the inner wheels pulse to relieve the side strain on the inner wheel tyres.
Write your comments here... Could you explain how it 'pulses' as surely it is the weight on the wheels which keep them pressed to the surface and build up resistance to turning.
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It turns a bit then goes forward a few cms then repeats. The inner wheels of the turn get a short burst of power every few seconds, the makers call it a "pulse", to move them forward very slightly to allow the sideways strain on the tyres to be relieved.
Works very well even on tarmac/block paving etc.
Take a look at the video I posted a link to.
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It turns a bit then goes forward a few cms then repeats. The inner wheels of the turn get a short burst of power every few seconds, the makers call it a "pulse", to move them forward very slightly to allow the sideways strain on the tyres to be relieved.
Works very well even on tarmac/block paving etc.
Take a look at the video I posted a link to.
Write your comments here...
Many thanks - sounds a good mover- with a sophisticated method of managing what I have to do manually by occasionally moving straight ahead or back for a couple of feet to overcome the strain on the tyre walls.
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