Well after 3 months with our new van I have finally bit the bullet and today ordered a motor mover! Although our ranger is very light we live in a tight cul-de-sac and its virtually impossible to reverse it in so we have to un hitch it and then push it. The final deciding vote was when we went to put the caravan back into storage last week and had a nightmare getting it in to the space. We use a local farm that has a compound and although cheap (£30 a month which for Berkshire is very very good!) they do squeeze them in and there is only about 18" either side of our van till the next one, couple this with a rough gravel surface and not a lot of room in front of the bay and you can see the problem we have had! Until last week the bay next door was never used so it wasn't a problem but this time it took us over 30mins to get it in there and the clutch didn't smell great at the end!
So after a lot of looking around the net, and checking on here, we have today ordered a Powrtouch HD directly from powrproducts. It should be delivered tomorrow and hopefully they will be coming to fit it on the 17th Oct when we get back from our final trip away next week. We opted for the HD version as although its more than we need for the ranger it was only £50 more and will be future proof if we move to a bigger van. The deciding factor was they offered us 6 months to pay it at 0%! Although it worked out £150 more than the enduro 2 we liked the idea of the 5 years parts and labour and powrtouch seems to have a good after care service. The other final factor was we only have an 85AH battery and most other makes asked for a minimum of 110AH in there min specs.
So I am now looking forward to no more pushing and been able to take and collect the van on my own without dragging the OH along to the storage yard with our 9 month baby!!
If anyone has any tips (do's and don't) for using the mover feel free to post........the wallet is a bit lighter as a result but I think my clutch and back will thank me!!
Excellent choice,we have a powrtouch on our 2 berth ranger,and although i don't use it all the time,it makes life alot easier when we do. Wouldn't have a van without one now. Enjoy...
We have a powrtouch and very happy with it. Manual engagement and I use a breaker bar to ease engagement. If you have a lot of motormoving to do you will find a 110 amp battery an asset.
We were lucky enough to be able to buy our van already with a motor mover and thank goodness we did. It is quite tight to get it back onto our drive. Life is much easier manoevering the van generally especially onto sites where they are particular where the van should be pitched etc.
A comical aside is watching the french people stand with open mouths watching our van moving seeming by itself while we are just 'wandering around'!! Definately the camp entertainment on both sides!
Quote: Originally posted by millermicm on 05/10/2011
We have a powrtouch and very happy with it. Manual engagement and I use a breaker bar to ease engagement. If you have a lot of motormoving to do you will find a 110 amp battery an asset.
same here,the 5 year warranty ( now past ) was as good as a warranty gets for me.any complaint dealt with within three days.would i buy another one? yes.even delivered a new remote overnight to the keswick site.
------------- the only silly question is the one you do not ask.
I have a rhyno and I have no idea how good or not their after sales service is as it has worked perfectly from day 1.
------------- Bill
For a licence dated 1997 or later you must add together the plated max weight of the caravan and trailer, if the total is 3500 or less you can tow it. You may even tow a caravan with a MAM greater than the cars unladen mass the restriction was removed in 2013
Whichever brand of Mover you have a top tip is to always carry a spare set of batteries for your handset, and not the cheap low powered ones either, better to go for the branded heavy duty type unless you want to be left stranded and fiddling around trying to change the batteries half way through a manouver.
We have learned our lesson the hard way with our Reich Mover, the original handset batteries lasted over a year, then we replaced them with a set bought from the Pound shop, yes they did work, they took the caravan onto the edge of the drive then gave up.
After much faffing and a call to the supplier, Robinsons of Chesterfield, we were finally persusded to change the batteries yet again, and indeed the mover sprang back into action once more. We are now running fine on some of those better quality batteries with the Copper coloured top, without further problems, and the cheapy ones can be kept for less important jobs like the TV remote lol!
Julia
------------- Just love to be out amoungst Nature and Wildlife
Celebrating 37 years of Caravanning in 2019, Recently Considered Retiring, but Totally Addicted for Life!
Thanks Julia and a good point! I think the powrtouch one comes with a back up lead that you can plug directly into the remote for situations like this ........but cant be 100% on this as we havent had it fitted yet!
Hi, sorry but we aren't getting it fitted till the 17th Oct so I can't comment for sure on this. Their website states that one end plugs in to the remote control but I am not sure where the other end goes..........I am sure someone on here will be able to comment though!
Quote: Originally posted by adandemsmom on 06/10/2011
Can I ask what the lead looks like and where you plug it?
I only ask because we've just bought a van with a mover fitted and have found a black lead in the van. Not sure what it's for?
Thanks
when the batteries go in your hand set you can take them out and plug in the lead.the lead,one end plugs into the hand set and the other goes through the window and plugs into the black box under the seat.you must remove the batteries first.
------------- the only silly question is the one you do not ask.
Quote: Originally posted by adandemsmom on 06/10/2011
Can I ask what the lead looks like and where you plug it?
I only ask because we've just bought a van with a mover fitted and have found a black lead in the van. Not sure what it's for?
Thanks
The one for my rhyno is a long black lead with a 3.5mm jack plug on each end.
------------- Bill
For a licence dated 1997 or later you must add together the plated max weight of the caravan and trailer, if the total is 3500 or less you can tow it. You may even tow a caravan with a MAM greater than the cars unladen mass the restriction was removed in 2013
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: Thats it I have ordered a motor mover!!
