Caravan movers - worthwhile investments?
Chris Hogan, 10th March 2015, Caravan
After a while, many people who buy a caravan mover wonder how they did without it. But if you haven't taken the plunge yet, what are the different types and what are the pros and cons?
Image courtesy ALKO - an AL-KO AMS Mammut system in use.
If you have already got a mover, or used to, do please read through this and if you have any insights, let us know by email - we're interested to hear your experiences, good or bad.
Why would you want one?
Caravan movers are electric motors used to manoeuvre your caravan over short distances at low speed.
They are useful for getting a 'van into a tight storage space, in and out of a tricky driveway or in position on a site once you've unhitched. They are great if you need to move a caravan around but there isn't enough room to hitch up your towcar or it's too heavy to move easily by hand.
Different types
Broadly speaking there are two main types of movers on the market:
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Axle-mounted, driving the 'van wheels individually, permanently attached.
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Hitch mounted, moving it from the front, usually only attached when in use.
Axle-mounted
These are the most expensive but the easiest to use and the most effective. The motor is attached to the chassis and connects to the caravan wheels via a spindle and rollers that connect with the face of each tyre. A remote control is used so that you can stand back to see where you're going and avoid obstructions.
The motor can then move each wheel independently in both directions - meaning the caravan can effectively spin on the spot as well as go backward and forward. The main differences between different products on offer, apart from quality, fit and finish are:
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Rollers that grip the tyre - can be alloy faced with a rough surface or milled steel that lasts longer.
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Soft start and stop facility - prevents jerking the caravan and stressing the chassis.
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Manual or electric engagement and disengagement of the rollers on the tyres.
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Ground clearance - an axle-mounted mover will always reduce your ground clearance, by a minimum of around 30mm, often more.
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Weight - you must subtract the weight of the mower from your payload so you can't carry as much stuff in your 'van as before, so obviously the lighter the better unless it means the motor just isn't up to the job. Movers usually weigh between 25 and 40kg.
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Battery - you may have to uprate your leisure batteries to cater for the mover.
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Single-sided engagement (called 'cross-actuation' in the trade) - allows you to disconnect the rollers from the tyres from one side of the 'van, invaluable when you have to park against a wall.
You should also be aware of the restrictions when fitting an axle-mounted mover. As caravans are so different we can't really advise here so you'll need to talk to a fitter before making your choice. You'll need to make sure the mover doesn't foul jacking points, spare wheel mountings, shock absorbers and anything else that's under there.
They can usually be mounted either in front or behind the axle so there are some options to try out. With some caravan chassis - BPW and AL-KO spring to mind - you aren't allowed to drill into the chassis so a mover must be clamped on instead. AL-KO sells its own system ("Mammut") but other manufacturers have suitable products too.
Twin axles
The situation is a bit trickier (and unfortunately more expensive) with twin axle units. You can fit motors to one axle but you then have to raise it on the jockey wheel so that the weight is on that axle.
Fitting motors to both axles makes it easier but of course will cost more and weigh more. Be aware that you'll never get the same manoeuvrability as a single axle as the 'van will move naturally in an arc rather than spinning within it's length.
Hitch-mounted movers
These are generally cheaper but less versatile. They are usually mounted on a separate trolley and attach to the hitch or jockey wheel then use their own wheels (sometimes small caterpillar tracks) to push or pull the 'van. Some have their own battery but others will connect to your leisure battery.
You then guide the mover and caravan from the front, usually using a long handle attached to the mover. This means you can't stand back and see where you're going, so you'll either need an assistant or keep stopping to check where you're going. If you only need a mover at home then you save the weight too.
Drawbacks
They are also more prone to slipping and can't handle gradients as steep as axle-mounted movers, because the wheels are smaller than caravan wheels. They can also start to tip over if you try and turn too sharply, so care is needed.
Looking at the forums it seems that a lot of people who buy a hitch-mounted mover do it to save money, then after a while go and buy an axle-mounted mover anyway. But if you have a simple situation, like having to get a 'van on and off a driveway where you don't have the access to hitch up your car, they are cheaper than axle-mounted ones.
Half-way house
There are also compact standalone movers that go behind the hitch to fit into a special mount that's permanently installed on the A-frame.
These usually have caterpillar tracks so they offer better traction than a traditional hitch-mounted mower but still have the advantage that they can be removed and left behind. Or if you need it at both ends, it's light enough to be lifted into the towcar's boot.
What's your experience? Let us know
If you've used either type of mower then please let us know how you've got on. Have we assessed movers accurately or do you have a different opinion?
If we get enough responses we can write a follow-up article to help caravanners who are thinking of getting one, but haven't yet taken the plunge.
Either way, it looks like there are signs of spring on the way and we wish you good caravanning for the coming season.
