I'm presently awaiting a call from an engineer to arrange a day for fitting. Now I have a very old (antique, LOL!) caravan, it has a 75amp leisure battery which does nothing apart from power a couple of lights, no 12v pump or anything. The caravan weight is 640kg (more of a trailer tent size!) and the Enduro 2 they are fitting is 35kg. The max weight (I never load it to this!) is 700kg. Alko trailer.
The question is - will the present leisure battery move the caravan back on the drive (approx 14ft manoever up 6" bank, gradual) from the road? Do I need to get another leisure battery sited for this especially. I don't have a grey 12s car split thingy, but there is one on the caravan, although it would need a new end, and I don;t know if it works anyway.
A 75 amp battery should function ok for your comparatively light requirements. I should try it first and see how it performs before spending loads. Will probably need charging after use, wonder if the Double Dutch machine has on board charger and if you use ehu, all these things are relevant and wouldn't like to see you stuck half in and half out with a flat battery. If you don't use ehu and/or don't have on board charger then I would think you'll need something a little larger..........Mick
A 75 amp battery should function ok for your comparatively light requirements. I should try it first and see how it performs before spending loads. Will probably need charging after use, wonder if the Double Dutch machine has on board charger and if you use ehu, all these things are relevant and wouldn't like to see you stuck half in and half out with a flat battery. If you don't use ehu and/or don't have on board charger then I would think you'll need something a little larger..........Mick
A 75 amp battery should function ok for your comparatively light requirements. I should try it first and see how it performs before spending loads. Will probably need charging after use, wonder if the Double Dutch machine has on board charger and if you use ehu, all these things are relevant and wouldn't like to see you stuck half in and half out with a flat battery. If you don't use ehu and/or don't have on board charger then I would think you'll need something a little larger..........Mick
I hear you, Mickey! LOL!! thanks for the info, and thanks too to DaveC for your help. Think I'll wait and see what the engineer chap has to say. Not sure if I have an onboard charger, there is a grey plug on the caravan (which needs replacing) but I don't have anything but the tow bar black plug for lights on the car. Could always get it put right I suppose!
Yes I do have EHU and the leisure battery is only used when on non ehu sites for the lights, don't have a 12v water pump!
I have a 1450 kg caravan and a 85aH mover gets that up the hill and onto my driveway no problems. It even gets it out of the driveway and down the hill before I have a weekend with no EHU and then puts it back again.
I will confess that I recently bought a 120aH battery though so I can keep the 85aH as a spare as if the battery did let go half way onto the drive, I would be completely blocking the road and there's no way I could push the van onto the drive and there's not enough room to reverse it on either.
What mover have you got, Dave? It sounds like a good 'un!
Maybe with my van being so lightweight then, it will still be ok, but I was also thinking of having a spare leisure battery just for this purpose for the very same reason as you!
Or what about a split relay from car engine (???) to the boot so I can put the battery in there and charge up on the way home with the car whilst towing back?
I have a Powrtouch mover on mine. To be honest since changing my car I don't have twin electrics fitted but I do now have a 50 watt solar panel on the van roof.
I have a Powertouch mover, my van is 1500Kg and I have an 85Ah battery it doesn't charge up when driving, I have never had a problem and I need to use it a lot to get back up my drive and turn it through 360 degrees.
Thanks to you all for your advice. I'll suck it and see then! Although it's a lot to spend on an old caravan, I've a good feeling about this. Time to stop struggling!
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Topic: Question re powering a motor mover
