Identifying Motor Mover & Roller Wear
Hi All,
We bought our caravan earlier this year second hand from a dealer and I'm trying to identify the mover that was installed as there's no documentation with the caravan. I haven't gone back to the dealer because I doubt they'll know either so I'm hoping there might be a expert keen eye on here that has seen this one before.
The reason I want to know the make is to check what spacing is required when it's disengaged.
We were out last weekend, when it wouldn't pull the van up a levelling ramp and just kept slipping. It looks as though the rollers are worn and that maybe all that's needed to restore to useful life again. (I'd be interested to know the life span of the rollers because the van is only 7 years old, of course the mover could have been second hand when it was installed in the first place.) Mover works on the flat ok, struggle when the tyres are wet so friction clearly isn't there.
I've notice it pulls to one side when reversing backwards so we have to shuffle into the storage space, luckily we have plenty of room either side.
I've attached a couple of pics for opinions and guidance is very welcome.
Thanks, Dave
Comments
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Certainly looks an older one. Rollers look fine. From experience the level of inflation affects the tyre diameter. The more inflated the smaller the tyre circumference strange a it might seem. I suspect that the clearance might need adjustment though.
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A previous owner might have been as stupid as me and driven off with it engaged which certainly didn't do the rollers any good.
I now put the tool where I can't possibly forget it - on my seat or the dashboard! Also it could have been transferred to that caravan from an older one so it could be older than the caravan.
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With the Manual car I knew straight away! The engine stalled! Embarrassed to say with the automatic it was a lot further - I was starting on a slope and it was hill all the way out of the site - I remember thinking the car was being a bit pathetic! About a mile up the road I was stopped by a kind motorist -
luckily my French was good enough to understand the word "fume". I can only think that was an old mover with partially worn rollers when I messed up - as I have no chance of doing it with this mover. 
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What is the current spacing when disengaged?
I would measure how far the roller moves when engaged with the spanner (is it a lot of turns or an "over centre" mechanism)
Whilst you appear to need more pressure (i.e. less clearance) you don't want too much force on the rollers which would cause damage and need to retain some clearance to prevent any risk of contact when towing.
If nothing else comes up, I think you need to start with say 5 mm compression of the tyre when engaged then see how that goes and increase until you get the appropriate grip.
Are you sure your battery is OK, each side is moving and gripping by the same amount, each motor is doing the same amount of work (no poor connections which would make one motor go slower than the other)
Sorry I don't recognise the make but it's not 2010 Truma and they give 20 mm gap when disengaged (it is an over centre mechanism so no control over the amount the roller moves to engage on the tyre)
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Thanks for all the ideas.
After searching images on the net I think it could be a Rhyno mover so have emailed the pic to them for confirmation.
Instruction manual I found for a Rhyno is 22mm gap but will wait until I hear back from the manufacturer.
It won't do any harm to check the connections so will take a look, the battery was new this year but again worth checking the voltage.
Thanks, Dave
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The mover mechanism (not the rollers) looks like mine!! and that is a 2003 Truma Euro-mover made by Carver. The gap needs to be 20mm for a single axle fit. The rollers are of the grit-covered type and I replaced them after 8 years or so, at a cost of £70 (don't know the current price). It took approximately 1 hour after 'soaking' the bolts in WD40.
ps. the mover is currently being moved onto the 4th 'van....
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It certainly made a racket. 
