Power Touch motor mover

[Silverfox]

Our van is very heavy with a MTPLM of 1830kgs so for me having a motor mover is so essential. I have been driving lorries & fire trucks for years but don't think it necessary to show off like I see some caravanners who have a point to prove how good at reversing they are.

I always when I can use the motor mover. I will put the caravan onto the pitch, let wifey move the car whilst I tidy up exactly where we want the van positioned. Sounds like a fair trade off to me.
Recently the mover has struggled somewhat to move the van where I want it. I know it is not the battery but think that one of the rollers on the all wheel drive system is not connecting properly to the tyre. I have contacted Powrtouch so will see if their service is as good as they claim. Has anyone else had such a problem?

Patrick the 'Silverfox'

[Kezzbum11]

No, don't have this problem as we don't have a motormover........will reverse caravan into pitch where we can or we use the good old method of un-hitching and pushing/pulling the caravan to where we want it.  Our caravan isn't very heavy as our MTPLM is 1425kgs 


So sorry can't help you on this one Patrick

[jan69c]

I am going to get a mover, when my finances improve.  Our pitch at Camping Pong wasn't the easiest to access, and the ground was uneven. Took 6 of us to push the van on.  Towsure are selling movers for £499, that would be adequate for our van.

[Iain]

No direct experience of Powertouch, but we've just had new rollers (aluminium ones) on our Reich mover and I certainly noticed the difference.  No more rollers skidding and it seemed to move more quickly.  To be fair the old rollers were five years old so had served us well.

Movers should be fitted as standard to every 'van - I know some folk get all superior about being able to place their 'van on a sixpence using their reversing skills, but I say get over yourself and get a mover.  They are also a lot of fun!

[WVM]

I don't think it necessary to show off like I see some caravanners who have a point to prove how good at reversing they are.

I know some folk get all superior about being able to place their 'van on a sixpence using their reversing skills, but I say get over yourself and get a mover.  They are also a lot of fun!

 

I am affraid I disagree. If I can reverse the caravan onto the pitch I will. I think if someone can tow a caravan forwards they should then be able to go backwards too. A Car is a motor mover after all. I tend to think that using the motor mover is showing off. Horses for courses. Dont get me wrong, I have a motor mover too, but that was mainly to get the twin axle I used to have to get it in and out the garden easier. I need to get through the gate way that is about 2 inches spare either side of the van. I can reverse it in but if it starts to go wrong it is very hard to un do, so I bought a motor mover. It is actually harder to tow the caravan out!!! I have only ever had 2 accidents with the caravan and both have been when I was using the motormover into the garden! 

My motor mover currently goes faster on 1 wheel than the other on my single axle van, but that is down the roller shifting o the chassis after a numb nut left the hand brake on. doh. Cant think who that was! lol It also slips on the wheel if the van stops between 2 patio slabs. I have a gap between each slab as I didnt have enough!!!

Motor movers are good fun as Iain says but I persoanlly think they are to compliment someones driving, not to remove the need to learn to do slow speed positioning.

[Iain]

Didn't say I couldn't reverse.

Just find it easier to use the mover as it causes less friction with the old Ange.

[jan69c]

I can reverse, just can't push a fully loaded van over uneven ground when access is limited.

[WVM]

I wasnt saying you cant reverse Iain, just some people buy them as they cant and dont want too learn.

I can reverse, just can't push a fully loaded van over uneven ground when access is limited.

This is what motor movers were designed for and I agree with thier use for this. It is when there is a very simple manouvre and people dont try and just call on the mover. I know people who cant reverse and will use thier mover for everything. One day thier battery will become flat and get stuck accross a road for example.

[Chris Sklav]

I can reverse really well but dont do it as my clutch does not like it at all!!!!

So for the sake of another grand bill on my clutch (which when gone you have to have the flywheel changed too which is more expensive than the clutch- also found out that since I had it done they have done a conversion kit to get yourself an old fashioned single mass flywheel in stead of this dual mass bollox that causes loads of probs)

So no reversing for me - just use the mover as much as possible - and when I do reverse on the occasion I get the clutch right up before accelerating

Our mover is a purpleline

[Chris Sklav]

oh yeah and in terms of contact with tyres - I decide how much as It is a manual system - so If I get any slipping in wet I just crank it tighter against the tyes

[jan69c]

Watch this space, i think i am getting a nine month old purple line for £400 fitted 

[Shaggy]

Lol Jimmy, here's the reason why Jimmy can reverse his van so well..............  


Years of practice!  

[WVM]

I do admit I did spend hours as a kid going backwards around the patio and Dad set up courses with buckets and bricks that got harder and harder.

Even so, there are courses by the caravan club etc for towing caravans for those who havent been as sad as me and are just starting out with caravanning and want to learn.

I would just like to point out that I still have that caravan, it did have a jockey wheel and pretend stabiliser, no break away cable though, and I did go everywhere with it! lol. even into the utility room and did a gazillion point turn and back out before my parents realised! 

[k80poo]

Our van is also a big twinny (Avondale 650) and so it is too long to tip onto the back axle as we did with a smaller twinny we had.  Also too heavy to push on your own, but OK with help (I know this after hitching it up regularly on my own when Nora goes away).

Our motormover is blue.  It is called a Shogun.  I don't feel that I have been blessed with an amazing skill, feel I need to prove a point (I do that by towing rather than being the wifey) and actually I'm more of an "old school" brought up with caravanning since being a twinkle in my parents eyes.  My dad always had the attitude of "If you can't stick the van where it needs to be with the car or pushing it, then it shouldn't need to be there".  I don't feel the need for one, and if we did have to put it in a tight spot like Jimmy, then yes, we would probably get one.

Horses for courses I would say.  We were all about getting one last year, but actually we don't need one. 

Showing off reversing???  You wouldn't drive a car without knowing how to reverse it! 
Motor movers - I think they are rather flash and not really needed when you can reverse onto a pitch, so they are showing off as the bloke stands there and reverses the caravan in.

What happens if it fails?  What would you do then?  What happens when you need to turn the van or reverse out of a narrow lane (like in the dark which we have had to do!)?  You can't always rely on your mover, so it is a good skill to be able to reverse, even if you don't feel the need to use it.

[Silverfox]

Gosh!!!! I seemed to have caused a real topic of discussion on this one. Firstly, let me say that in my limited time as a caravanner I have seen & heard other caravanners make comments on people using motor movers. What is the problem if you do or don't? If your vehicle is fitted with an anti-lock braking system & an electronic stability program, is it because you cannot drive without such gadgets.............................. NO!!! Ofcourse you can still drive but with the added confidence of extra safety features.

I have been a Large Goods Vehicle (LGV) Examiner (DSA) since 2001 & would like to think I am very profficient in the art of reversing large vehicles but if there is an aid that makes life easier then use it. After a long journey, with other people queing to get onto a pitch, the use of a motor mover works well for me. As for 'wifey,' she has also tried reversing the caravan before when not under pressure or feeling that people are watching.

WE ALL HAVE CHOICES!!!!

Patrick the 'Silverfox'