Trailer manoeuvring help!

[rpgk]

Hi all ,not sure if anyone can help...

I need to get hold of something that can help manoeuvre a race transporter4 around a small driveway. It is often loaded with spares so quite heavy to push around single handed.

I recently saw what I can only describe as an electric pallet loader that had been converted to have a tow bar attached and it looked excellent in the way it could push/turn a trailer in a small area. I have googled and phoned around but not had any luck in finding out whether they are a stock item or something someone made. If anyone knows what I am talking about could they tell me what they are called or if there is something else that could be used. Driveway is too tight to attach a car and manoeuvre into required space.

Thanks in advance

[Shaun_E]

Google "caravan movers". Looks like an electric motor with a friction drive to one of the trailer wheels.

[andrewcliffe]

Would a caravan mover work?

[theron]

You should search for 'Caravan Tug' or 'Powered Jockey Wheel'.

For a dirt cheap solution use a breaker bar on the wheel nuts. This will give you enough torque to turn the wheel and push the trailer into position half a wheel turn at a time. Just make sure you don't actually undo the nuts !

[rpgk]

Thanks for input, it seems there are two extremes, hugely industrial that can move a plane or small motorised wheel movers for caravans - drive is on a big of a slope so smaller ones may not have the muscle and bigger ones cost more than the trailer!!! I'll gave to keep looking...thanks

[DallaraV8]

Presumably a Brian James Race Transporter?

You really need '4wd' caravan movers i.e. 4 drive motors -1 for each wheel from Reich or PowerTouch these are specced for 4 wheel caravans with a higher weight than your trailer - don't believe people who tell you that a 2 motor system will work. If you need to make tightish turns you need the 4 wheels driven to overcome the drag as you turn - downside is that good quality systems are 2 grand!!

I'm about to buy an RT4 or PRG equivalent which is why I've investigated this - there may be a ground clearance problem with your trailer, I currently use one of the 'pallet truck' type movers, it is sort of ok but will just turn a 4 wheel BJ trailer with a loaded weight of about 1400kg - any more forget it.

I'll be interested to see how you get on.


PS - I can give you a contact for a supplier who fits these to race trailers as well as caravans - I have no connection to him but have found him to be very helpful

[rpgk]

Dallara - Yes it is a Brian James race transporter -Would you mind me asking where you got the pallet loader type tug? I would only ever be moving it when empty so hoping it may suffice?

[stevieturbo]

Something like this ?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Metal-Caravan-Trailer-Do...

Or some eejit selling plans to build a motorised version

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TRAILER-MOVER-PLANS-12V-...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mr-Shifta-2-Caravan-Trai...

Or jockey wheel version

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/MOTORISED-JOCKEY-WHEEL-S...

[BertBert]

DallaraV8 said:

You really need '4wd' caravan movers i.e. 4 drive motors -1 for each wheel from Reich or PowerTouch these are specced for 4 wheel caravans with a higher weight than your trailer - don't believe people who tell you that a 2 motor system will work. If you need to make tightish turns you need the 4 wheels driven to overcome the drag as you turn - downside is that good quality systems are 2 grand!!

Surely you raise the two front wheels off the ground with the jockey wheel anyway? A trailer on all 4 is impossible to turn.
Bert

[Keithyboy]

BertBert said:

Surely you raise the two front wheels off the ground with the jockey wheel anyway? A trailer on all 4 is impossible to turn.
Bert

That's not correct Bert providing you have an AWD mover on the trailer as I do on my ECO Tempo - the Powrtouch model which drives all 4 wheels will turn it almost on itself.

[onomatopoeia]

Borrowing this topic to ask if anyone knows if the movers like the powrtouch will fit on a Dastle? At 880kg unladen it's something of a struggle to move by hand on my own.

[FFMan]

I have a single axle Brian James Clubman and use one of these to move it about the yard:-

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mr-Shifta-2-Caravan-Trai...

It works well. You are supposed to have the correct bar for your hitch to stop it trying to wheelie but in reality I just keep a firm grip in the T bar handle and all is well.

Surprisingly powerful little machine.

[BertBert]

Keithyboy said:

BertBert said:

Surely you raise the two front wheels off the ground with the jockey wheel anyway? A trailer on all 4 is impossible to turn.
Bert

That's not correct Bert providing you have an AWD mover on the trailer as I do on my ECO Tempo - the Powrtouch model which drives all 4 wheels will turn it almost on itself.

Understood, but I guess my point (poorly made) is why do you need a 4 wheel system which has to work very hard versus a two wheel system with two wheels in the air?
Bert

[BertBert]

and utterly, utterly off topic in searching ebay for a live shifta 2 auction, one of the search results was this...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BABY-MAKING-MUSIC-VOL-2-...
At least I now know where babies come from!
Sorry.
Bert

[rpgk]

Thanks for all the input guys, have been searching around and this is the closest I could find to what i am looking for. http://www.1-rv.co.uk/parkit360-motor-mover-66 , not cheap but seems to be able to deal with the weight. I will give them a call in the week to discuss....
Cheers

[Redmax]

My experiment with Mr Shiftas was unsuccessful. They're ok pushing in a straight line on the flat, but when trying to turn it or up a slope they just didn't have enough traction.

[Jerry Can]

can you not use those 'coasters' that accident bodyshop's use to move dead cars around. You fit them under the wheels and then can push them around on a 360 if necessary.

I can't remember the proper name for them, maybe someone can help - I could do with them for my minno.

[Keithyboy]

Dolly . . . hello!

[BertBert]

I don't think they help. They have very small wheels and seen to make moving a car about quite hard. I have 4 that I don't use if anyone wants them!

[radical78]

plenty of things will move a bj trailer rideon mower/quad bike/gang of pikees