Caravan motor movers - Overview & installation

In this video i give an overview of what a caravan motor mover is, how it works and the differences between the various models. I also film the installation of our new motor mover onto our new caravan. We decided to buy a PowrTouch Evolution Automatic motor and show how the professionals install the motor mover.
A huge thank you to Swindon for allowing me to film the installation and generally getting in the way.
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[@TicketyBoo.]

A quick word to the wise. I spent £2000+ last year fitting the AWD version of the Powrtouch to my Abbey Spectrum and can't fault it in any way. The Abbey is a real beast to try and move by hand so the mover was essential to us. I knew the Abbey was getting a bit old and that I would be updating it at some point but we decided we'd get the mover fitted then have it transferred if/when we changed vans, I even asked the fitter about the costs of doing so and it was very reasonable. The AWD system is essentially 2 of your motor movers (2 controllers and 4 motors) linked together. Alas I bought a new van and called the fitter to arrange the swap. I'm now told that as the controllers have been set up for AWD use they are now unsuitable for my new single axle van and that they can't be separated and reprogrammed. I am now left selling a caravan worth around £3000 with an 8 month old, £2000 motor mover thrown in. I'm not blaming anyone other than myself for the situation but hope to make buyers aware lest they consider doing something similar. I should also point out that the same is true in the other direction, you cannot simply by a second single axle system and fit it to a twin axle van. Expensive mistake!

[@snorttroll4379]

couldn't one hold one controller in each hand and operate like that? Also where can one get cheap second hand ones? I am looking to live on a huge parking lot and just move a little every day. I am looking to cut my living expenses.

[@neilphelps8618]

We’re having one installed on our Xplore 304. I cant’t expect my wife to help push and pull so I’ve decided to buy one and it’ll be ready for when we pick up the van on 18th Feb. Great video 👍🏻

[@hettysmotorhomeadventures4860]

Hi Dan, really good video, my top tip for a motor mover ( we had the manual powertouch) is to always keep a spare battery for the mover remote control, nothing worse then the remote failing mid manoeuvre 👍

[@johncooke2739]

Excellent tip and not something I had thought of. Thank you.

[@timlloyd5687]

I second that tip. Our battery failed while manoeuvring onto a pitch in the dark and cold. It was not immediately obvious what the problem was so I wasted a lot of time checking connections and turning everything off and on!

[@stevechurchman1824]

Very informative. I wouldn’t be without ours.

[@robertquinn3743]

Another excellent and informative video Dan !! we have just picked up our phoenix 640 fitted with the same mover and have to say very impressed. It will make life sooooo much easier on some of the pitches we use when we want the fornt of the van facing a view thats pointing away form the access road. Any chance of any videos about satellite TV sets and wiring compatibility / connecting / converting ?? Thanks Rob

[@YG811]

Very interesting video. Thank you

[@TheCaravanNut]

Nice informative vlog Dan, cheers Martin 👍

[@TheTrudgians]

Cheers Martin. 👍

[@johncooke2739]

Another interesting video Dan. We habe the PowrTouch movers (4 of the beggars) on our Buccaneer and I really prefer them. Although with having 4, I could not justify the ecpense of having the auto engage so mines manual.

[@Caravanningwiththehoopers]

Another excellent video Dan 👍

[@RailAdventUK]

Excellent video - thank you for sharing!

[@Vandemonium]

Excellent video. Holy crap, them things ain't cheap are they?!

[@TheTrudgians]

Sadly not. It’s even more expensive for twin axles too.

[@graemescarbrough7029]

Worth every penny. Has made such a difference to moving our caravan.

[@gbwildlifeuk8269]

Yes 1195 for a Powertouch is a bit pricey. You get them around 700 self fitting, (its not difficult) so I assume they have whacked a fair bit on for fitting. Ive had 3 types, 1 a manual E Go simple type around 500. My next van came with Powertouch electronic engage which is slow, they didnt seem as powerful and if they ever jam on, make sure you buy the tool to put in a drill to manually wind them off! Next came the expensive, supposed to be the top of the shop Reich electric engage I have now. Slow and again they seem to lack power despite a new battery. I wouldnt be without one but like most things most expensive doesnt mean the best and my original cheapo seemed to work the best, also easy to manually engage.

[@kiwigecko1]

Excellent video

[@davidcolley9239]

great video as they all are .I have taken the battery of my caravan for the winter but when i re connect it will i have to re set my moter mover remote

[@CampingtrendNl]

Hi Dan, Nice video! Maybe change the type of camera with you mention of the Canon M50. That is not a dslr camera. The 80d is. As you certainly know.

[@paulcameron1449]

Excellent video as always. Do you know the size of the carefully measured block of wood? My mover is slipping on the tyres. I have checked tyre pressures and just want to rule out whether the mover itself has moved.

[@sasojotanovic4232]

I simply love your videos. They are extreamlly helpfull for us beginners. I was wondering what do you thing about jockey wheel movers? Are they any good? Thanx for your answer and keep up the good work.

[@gospelsongscollectionbypau4620]

How do we minimise the risk of theft? One-way screws, damaging the thread on bolts, welding? I grew up in South Africa, so I'm inclined to be a bit paranoid about theft!

[@TheTrudgians]

If you are referring to theft of motor movers, you would have to be really in the market for doing so. it would take some serious effort and especially as the caravan will be on the floor, some bolts will be inaccessible. You're more likely to have the whole caravan stolen, then stripped. So, minimise the risk of theft with good hitch lock, wheel locks, axle locks and alarms / trackers. It wont stop them, it will slow them down.

[@gospelsongscollectionbypau4620]

@@TheTrudgians Thank you, appreciate your well-thought-out advice.

[@garydsouza2335]

Hi what's the maximum lengths of the wood screws for the P clips.. ( under flooring screws )

[@johnboycash3225]

Is it ok for the motor mover engaged ?, this is for extra security whilst on site

[@michaellooney1180]

Great informative video. We have a manual motor mover that when not attatched to wheel it turns but when attached to wheel it stops turning. Only happening on one side. Please could you advise what maybe wrong. Thanks

[@Lifeat39000ft]

Hi Dan hope your motor movers work better than ours. Picked our van today for a service got it home and the motor movers froze again once engaged! We got the same ones as you to Dan so beware!

[@gospelsongscollectionbypau4620]

Did the manufacturers honour the 5-year warranty?

[@denniscottom7742]

Thanks for help with m m dirty connection all sorted 👍

[@1122geoff]

Enjoy your videos , good one again , any ideas on pegging an awning down with a bad back ? Find it very difficult to bend down .

[@TheTrudgians]

That is an excellent question. Let me ponder this, and I’ll get back to you. Is it getting down & getting back up again ? But you’re ok to knock the pegs in?

[@1122geoff]

@@TheTrudgians yes can thread the awning but bending to knock the pegs in is a real struggle , the same then when trying to wrap the awning when packing up , thanks , so now dont bother putting it up , thinking seriously of just having a Fiamma canopy but a good one though

[@kevinm1455]

@@1122geoff just a thought and will probably get shot down in flames but how about some of those screw in pegs and a long extension of some sort between the cordless drill and the socket. Means you would be able to screw them in from a more upright stance.

[@CaravanningwiththeCoxs]

1122geoff you could try using a drill and screw pegs.

[@1122geoff]

@@CaravanningwiththeCoxs thanks for all your sugestions

[@mauricepearce4400]

Do they make a mover that can be used on a boat trailer and fully submersible????

[@TheTrudgians]

Not that im aware of, sorry.

[@Gaurangtaylor]

I install them every everyday in my workshop.

[@martinkitchin6204]

Hello Dan, Trust you are well. On 9 August, we're due to collect our new caravan with its Reich MotorMover. As the caravan won't be used off grid. am I right in thinking that the brand new battery should remain fully charged for a while if it's just powering up the MotorMover ? How long do you think a 'while' should be before it needs re-charging at home please? Incidentally, I've just purchased a Multi Meter. Thanks

[@chriscottage5849]

Hi I’ve got a power touch motor mover and only one side is engaging the other side has power as it jerks as if to move but will not move and engage onto the tyre any ideas

[@paultraynorbsc627]

What is the weight of mover Dan ?

[@snorttroll4379]

How are those caravan motor movers form alibaba? are they any good? they are a quarter of the price it seems.

[@iansmith5601]

What is the large polystyrene block attached to the underside of the caravan? You can see it clearly at 04:11...

[@TheTrudgians]

HI Ian, that box is the battery box. Bailey caravans hold their batteries under the floor, to assist with weight distribution which is great, the down side is you cannot easily route cables to the battery, hence the breakout terminals in the locker.

[@iansmith5601]

The Trudgians ah yes! Thank you!

[@billi996]

Unless you've forgot, you have already picked up your caravan lol

[@TheTrudgians]

This was filmed in September 😜

[@gospelsongscollectionbypau4620]

How viable is a jockey-wheel mover as an interim solution until we can afford the good stuff?

[@TheTrudgians]

Hi Paul, to be honest I wouldn't invest in a jockey wheel mover. They are great for manovering a caravan, but are heavy - need to be carried in the car / caravan, only offer a single point of traction. and you should be able to achieve the same results by simply pushing the caravan by hand. I would save the cash and let it go towards the "good stuff" - hope that helps.

[@gospelsongscollectionbypau4620]

@@TheTrudgians Thanks, great advice.

[@sthompson1000]

Reversing a caravan is not just a "handy skill". You should't take the thing on the road if you can't drive it properly.

[@ForTheLoveOfCaravans]

Excellent video. Another must have for when we eventually upgrade our van. Nice to see how movers are fitted. Thank Dan...

[@Venomator.]

Another informative vid Dan, thank you sir! It looks like the Motor Mover may impact ground clearance somewhat, does anyone have experience of this compromising clearance on, say, typical speed humps on sites and/or roads generally? ... 👍🏻 🤔 🐍

[@johncooke2739]

We have them snd do not have a problem. In fact the one occasion wr had a small bank to climb, it was the chassis and not the movers that collected grass.

[@garth2876]

We have them, they look really low, but I've never had them contact anything despite some rough roads, going over kerbs etc

[@frazzledstouringadventures3059]

Very interesting and informative. Nice to get an insight into the things we don't normally see 👍

[@CaravanningwiththeCoxs]

Great video Dan and very interesting. That was old footage from the lunar at exebridge lakeside 2016 Vlog with Tom even in it! When you talked about the main pieces of a mover, Truma movers have a socket fitted to the a frame and you insert the 13pin plug into it. Just thought I’d add this. Cheers Oliver

[@HereWeTow]

Factual, concise and yet again another great video. 👍 you can really see the time you have put into this. Thank you.

[@busterboy7505]

With a good battery you don’t need a tow car, just a really long holiday 😆 .

[@lesleyhodson9127]

I would like to know how to care for the motor mover. We were told that we need to brush and lubricate it every 6 months. Which part do we need to do this to please?

[@katcankan7129]

Excellent video 👍😊

[@mikewaller4141]

Nice one fella, useful info and great video.

[@BrasherN]

Evolution Vs Freedom?

[@TheTrudgians]

A freedom is the entry level mover. Its only available as a manual engage device and is suitable for caravans upto 1500Kgs An Evolution is the mid range, and can be used on single, twin axles as manual or auto engage. its also suitable for caravans upto 2000Kgs.

[@greglewis8843]

Nice vid Dan I have the same mover wouldn't have another Auto engage it's been a pain in The b#m intermittently won't Engage or dissengage lost Confidence in it got to keep the Manual tool handy 6 years old So out of warranty expect they Are better now Enjoy your new van

[@katcankan7129]

First😁

[@davidaddis8760]

Point from a past blog, don’t switch on the mover when connected to the mains electric points, believe it can do some damage, enjoyed the video

[@davidcutts2650]

Cool video. We use these on our Rambler & don’t know how people manage without a mover. 😎

[@malchall1029]

Another great video - thank you. Very interesting though I doubt if I need to fit them to my Freedom Sunseeker as it's so light anyway :)

[@paultraynorbsc627]

Thanks Dan much appreciated about to buy our first van 👍

[@ianlevey5536]

Great video. Any chance you could do a video on twin axle movers?

[@Ted...youtubee]

Nice. How does it work in with independent suspension systems?

[@paultraynorbsc627]

Excellent video and explanation 👍

[@tophat6696]

That was cool to see how it’s done 👍🏼

[@frd-kj5qu]

Excellent video with clear explanation. However, as you get mobility benefits with your movers, you are loosing precious ground clearance. This is specially critical depending of your camping spot. The roads leading to the campsite are not always paved and look like country lanes sometimes. Have you looked at Camper Trolley CT1500 in example ?

[@TheTrudgians]

Hi Frederic, thanks for the comment - the ground clearance isnt as much of an issue as you would think with this particular mover. The mover only comes halfway down the tyre, but i am aware that others are lower. The clearance on the car however, is far far less - so if the car can make it over a pothole, speed hump - the caravan certainly will. Ive not looked at the Camper Trolley you speak of - i will google it now and look further. Thanks again, speak soon. Dan

[@frd-kj5qu]

Thanks Dan for your prompt reply. Ground clearance is important for me as I will travel to Africa where roads could be bumpy. My car is equipped with air suspension . Car's ground clearance is almost 30 cm when air suspension is set to HIGH. I am looking for a practice mover solution where mover parts are protected against rocks, dust and sand. And the most important in my point of view, avoiding this cross bar to link left and right movers. When you drive in paths with ruts, it prevent you to touch ground in the middle of the caravan. Al-Ko has also a nice solution with model Mammut for M chassis where you don't loose any ground clearance and avoid this cross bar.

[@colinmew6695]

Hi Dan thought you already had the caravan. When are they fitting your inet box?

[@TheTrudgians]

This was filmed in September 😉

[@oloftempleman782]

Motor movers are great bit of kit. I have them fitted to my single axle caravan.The caravan is well within the max weight of the motor mover but they do slip easily if the (new) tyre is wet and there is modest resistance to the wheel turning like drainage gulley, slope or pot hole. Any ideas?

[@TheTrudgians]

Hmm, it does sound like it needs adjustment to make sure the rollers are pressing at correct pressure against tyres. Sorry I cannot offer more help.

[@MrTonio1962]

I have the Classic powrtouch and would also suggest having the roller alignment and spacing checked. On our van we used to have this issue so I now manually engage the rollers on both sides although I was told this wasn't necessary. Since having the rollers checked at last service and manually engaging on both sides it no longer happens. Touch wood!

[@oloftempleman782]

Thanks for the feedback. I'll definately have the roller/ tyre pressure check out

[@rogerjones624]

How much do these things weigh? Also if I purchase a twin axil will I need 4 of them?

[@TheTrudgians]

Hi Roger, 2 of them weigh in at around 30Kg,. as a complete system - this weight is taken away from your available payload. if you have a twin, its recommended to have 4 rollers, but some people can get away with just 2, however the second axle will tend to drag and dig in to the floor if the caravan is being turned on the spot.

[@kirstenfarr5071]

Any chance of speaking to your friends to weigh a complete set. The manufacturers quote 30kg, for single and 60kg, for quad, on manual, but we have found ours to be a lot heavier and when we queried it we were told a quad mover can weigh close to 100kg, because they don't include all the parts, like cross bars etc.

[@steveone9375]

should have fitted it yourself your more than capable and you would have saved £600