Twin axle manoeuvrability
Comments
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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.
With many 4 wheel ones, the fitted jacking points cannot be used.
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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.
With many 4 wheel ones, the fitted jacking points cannot be used.
Agree. Can't get the standard Alko jack anywhere near the jacking points on mine because of the motor-movers - hence my reliance on Lock 'n Level.
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The posts reference removing a pair of wheels will not work according to the caravan dealer as the control box will not let the wheels turn in opposite directions as on a single axle system. The reasurance that the mover control is very precise is reassuring
and what I need to hear. I must look again at the lock n level but I now know that with a bit of patience we will get it where I want it. Thanks0 -
The posts reference removing a pair of wheels will not work according to the caravan dealer as the control box will not let the wheels turn in opposite directions as on a single axle system. The reasurance that the mover control is very precise is reassuring
and what I need to hear. I must look again at the lock n level but I now know that with a bit of patience we will get it where I want it. ThanksWhen fitting the wheel locks, I can control the movement, literally, to within a fraction of an inch, ensuring perfect alignment. And, when coming around the corner of the garage, at the apex of the turn, the top of the van is less than a couple of inches
away from the guttering and I'm quite confident with that proximity because it's so controllable. It really is very easy once you've done it a couple of times. As for the L 'n L - I was hesitating about even buying a TA van having read of all the difficulties
of fitting the wheel locks, but when I saw the video of it in use, that decided it for me. I know they are expensive, but I think it's the best bit of kit I have.0 -
Or you could do what we do and have insurance that doesnt require Alko locks...... However with a 4 wheel mover on a T/A you cannot use a normal jack, simply isnt room. You may get away with a slim trolley jack between the wheels and under the chassis or
axles. We have gone for lock n level as the solution.0 -
There are two subjects getting mixed up on this thread.
Removing two wheels (and turning van by pushing with mover(s) disengaged) is a way to get out of a problem spot that the mover has got stuck in.
Jacking with a trolley jack between the wheels (load ballance point) is what I always advocate, and probably all one could sanely do anyway with four mover units on the chassis.
When my 'van stops on uneven ground I do wonder why I didn't get a four wheel mover and console myself with the weight I saved, but perhaps it was a wise decision for other reasons.
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Thank you all for the information posted on this discussion. The new van arrived today and I must say that after a practice run in a car park where I marked out the road and my gateway dimensions we found it quite easy once we knew were to start the turn Practice makes perfect now looking forward to getting a bit of touring done. AWD mover does the job. Thanks again..
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That is good to hear. We keep thinking about buying a twin axle but have concerns about manoevering
The thing that worries me......I've looked at lots of mover manufacturers stands at the NEC shows and they always have a little chassis mock-up to show how well their mover can turn and manage a single axle.
I've never seen any of them demonstrate a twin axle in the same way.......despite selling the virtues of their twin axle movers.
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The TA turns in a curve not like a SA which can turn in its own length. Once you get the knack away you go. The TA is much steadier when towing but you are best to have an AWD set up as working with a mover fitted to only one axle of the two restricts the manoeuvrability greatly. It is worth the extra money.
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I wrote a long reply, then lost it......
Ian, check payloads. The payload on the equivalent of our Searcher is only 170kg, which has to cover your battery, the mover (60kg if a 4 wheel one), water in the water heater and the toilet flush, before you start with your clothes, crockery, food etc........just not practical IMO.
only 10kg is allowed for gas in the MIRO.
It already weighs 1900kg, so if it can be up plated to give a more sensible payload, it will weigh almost as much as your XC90.
For this reason, amongst others, we will not be buying another UK van. Instead, if we want a new van, we will be looking at a German one where we can get a 300kg payload.
More likely, all being well, we will hang onto our current van as long as possible as it has a good payload and excellent shower room, much better than the new vans.
Time UK manufacturers got to grips with payloads.
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BTW...as said before, we only have the 2 wheel mover, a decision based on weight. We upgraded our MTPLm by 85kg which covers our air con, 30kg, Fiamma, 15kg, 2 wheel mover , 30kg, shocks and a few other extras.
No way could we tour for 3 months at a time with a 4 wheel mover and stay within our MTPLM.
We have not found having only a 2 wheel mover a huge disadvantage, with a little shuffling it is quite amazing the small spaces you can get the van in and out of.
Absolutely no problem on CC sites, but sites abroad can be more of a challenge! We have not however found a pitch yet that we cannot get onto.
This is not to say that a 4 wheel mover is not fantastic, just that you need to consider whether you really need one taking the weight penalty into account.
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You have a good point about the payload, when I ordered the van I requested to have it plated to its maximum which happily covered the twin movers. But British vans do have small payloads I would regularly weigh the outfit to keep an eye on the load but we still got a shock when we traded our old van in a few months ago and we boxed up the contents to put them in storage until the new van arrived. Not every thing went into the new van I made sure of that essentials only but you gradually get naughty. When you read the start of this discussion you appreciate that twin movers are a must.
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I sometimes wonder why we seem to want to take so much stuff to go away with as if we were going to the back of beyond where there are no shops to by food or drink. We now take less clothes as we never used to wear half the stuff we took and we carry enough food in the fridge for a couple of nights and then shop when we get to where we are going. As we only use 'hook up' pitches we have 1 lightweight gas cylinder for the oven/cooker and small TV and a couple of lightweight chairs. The awning and leveling planks etc go in the car together with a holdall of stuff so we keep the weight down in the Van. We had a twin axle up and till last year with AWD motor movers but now we have a smaller single axle so cut down on stuff in the Van. I found the AWD movers easy to get the van into tighter spaces as it was pretty movable being that the 1 side would go 1 way and the other went the other allowing the long van to come round a lot quicker. Also when on steeper inclines the movers had plenty of power to get up any slopes .
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We haven't made our mind up on what to do about the wheel lock situation on our new van due next month.
The workshop mnager has recommended a Purple Line KoJack and I've also heard good things about lock and level. I personally would prefer to stick with the Alko wheel locks you see.
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When I had a Lunar 640 twin axle I used 1 Alko lock and 1 Nemesis Ultra which meant I didn't need to jack the van up. These locks were accepted by the insurance company and I received a discount for them. I also had a Stronghold hitch lock fitted so if the thieves wanted to take the van then so be it. I certainly wouldn't want it back after and so had new for old insurance. The Alko lock was fitted to the rear axle and the Nemises was easy to fit on the front axle usually irrespective of where the special wheel bolt ended up. If I get another twin I will do the same.
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Thanks Ian.
You get so much conflicting advice don't you. Firstly I was told Trolley Jack, then you read people have problems accessing the chassis.
I was then told Kojack, but you read the reviews and although mostly good, you then hear: Don't use a bottle jack and Kojack's are prone to loose fluid.
Lock N Level seems to be the least problematic, but blooming expensive, if it doesn't work out as planned.
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Catherine - I have been using Lock 'n Level for the past two years - and we have been away for at least a week every month in that time - so it's had plenty of use. I agree, they are expensive, but it is probably the best bit of kit I have bought. In my experience, it is the simplest and safest way to jack a TA van - particularly on soft ground where other methods may present problems with jacks sinking in or toppling over - that's if you can even access the jacking points. I can't because there is also an AWD motor mover fitted which just doesn't allow you to get anywhere near them.
Although it seems a bit of a protracted process to begin with, I've now got it off to a fine art and can have both Alko locks fitted and the van levelled within less than ten minutes. I am not aware of anyone on here who has actually got one and been disappointed with it.
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Ian, hi,
Its not so bad as is seems, our first caravan was a twin axle, this what I did......
If the mover is not coming round tight enough, ignore the mover for the moment, wind the jockey wheel up to its max, this will release the weight on the one axle, then push it round, then wind down the jockey and go back to using the mover, you`ll be suprised how easy it is to push round, it does work. good luck
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Forgot to say that the mover will have to disengaged from the wheels whilst pushing, soz
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Are Alko lock receivers on both sides of the van? I've never looked at the offside!
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I do not think you need to worry, or adopt any extreme measures.
We have only the single twin axle mover, it is a dedicated twin axle mover.
If it needs help with turning we just lean on the van, not often required!
As our 2 wheel mover is fitted on the front wheels, if sensible we lower the nose to release load on the rear wheels.
We find the 2 wheel mover meets our needs while not taking up too much payload, but everyone needs to decide what their priorities are, and choose accordingly.
Ours does what we need, but may not suit others.
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