12v Electric Jockey Wheel

RoyBoy · Newbie

12v Electric Jockey Wheel

Davemate · Veteran Member

I would recommend Optitec who advertises on this site.
Cheers.
David.

Dickodownunder · Guru

This one may suit, I dont have one but they look reasonable

thegreynomads.activeboard.com/t64190016/caravan-mover-for-sale/

There is a link to the manufacturer there with a video of the unit working.

-- Edited by Dickodownunder on Wednesday 13th of December 2017 11:20:42 AM

toglhot · Senior Member

I would recommend the cheapest one you can get away with, I paid $280 for mine and am very happy with it. It is a single wheel type with tiller steering.

The single wheel, tiller steering types are ideal if the surface to traverse is flat and solid, such as a driveway. If the area has a very slight incline of no more than a few degrees this type should suffice. they are also available with a remote but that adds about $2k to something that is essentially the same. I have a tiller steer type and it works fine but will not negotiated steps of more than 10-20mm and inclines of more than a few degrees.

If you have grassy or otherwise softish ground to traverse with an incline of more than a few degrees then you will need something with more than one wheel and then you can add thousands.

Any mover that attaches to the A frame is at a distinct disadvantage due to the limited downforce put onto the movers wheels. The effectiveness of this type mover is limited by hitch weight to van weight, if your van weighs 2000kgs and has a hitch weight of 200kgs, the single wheeler wont work that well on inclines, steps and soft ground. If on the other hand your 2000kg van has a hitch weight of 1000kgs, it should work a whole lot better. simply getting the wife to stand on the A frame rarely supplies enough downforce.

These movers have wheels of around 200mm in diameter and around 80mm wide, you don't have to be a rocket fuel scientist to see it will be off limited use in less than ideal conditions - flat and hard, or thereabouts!

-- Edited by toglhot on Wednesday 13th of December 2017 11:48:29 AM

Dougwe · Chief one feather

Welcome to the gang RoyBoy, enjoy here and out in the playground.

I have used one of these getting my aluminium tent in a tight spot off the Princes Hwy, Hwy #1 with the greatest of eze. Remote controlled, just stand back and watch for something spectacular to occur smile Price is on the higher end of the prices you mentioned though but if needed one of these beasts on a regular basis, worth the $$$$.

-- Edited by Dougwe on Wednesday 13th of December 2017 01:21:07 PM

vince56 · Senior Member

HI, I have a 12v Jockey wheel off ebay, around $300, works fine and I have wired it with an Andersen plug to the van battery.
My van is 2600kg, it moves it easily (flat ground)

aussietraveller · Guru

Gday Roy boy we welcome you to the forum, in answer to your question I have been using an Aussie wheel (made in WA) a very strong quality unit with tiller steering to move a 2.7 ton van I have now changed my storage for the van and no longer need the mover so its up for sale for $750 if anyone is interested PM me, Pick up will be from Glenbrook NSW.

hako · Guru

We hace a dual wheel Maco Mule which is solidly made but like all jockey wheel movers it is totally useless on grass or any incline. If I had some spare cash I go for the caravan movers that clamp on each wheel and are permanently fitted - come with a remote control. Purple line make them for under $2K...link be4low

www.ebay.com.au/itm/Purpleline-E-GO-PLATINUM-CARAVAN-MOVER-Single-Axle-2-Motors-EGO200-single/112677376666

-- Edited by hako on Thursday 14th of December 2017 11:51:16 AM

ShortNorth · Senior Member

Two years ago, my wife slipped over and broke her arm - she no longer has the strength to help me push the Aliner into storage. We have a minor uphill slope on our driveway, and I just wasn't able to push the van into storage on my own. Many would say just reverse it into place, BUT, I park it with the drawbar facing AWAY from the road and chain the van up through part of the building structure at the back of the carport, so I can't back it in. The carport is not high enough to open up the folding roof, so I had a concrete slab built perpendicular to our driveway - the van gets moved out onto the slab for pre and post trip provisioning and cleaning before storage.

We got a set of Purpleline Platinum movers supplied and installed for $1.8k. Not only is it a great help at home, I can move the van in /out by remote control to and from storage to the slab whenever I want to without effort. And, in many cases it is also great for positioning the van accurately just where we want in caravan parks - just pull up on the park driveway, uncouple the van, wind the movers on with a cordless drill and hex-head socket with extension, and walk it into place by remote control. Easy - peasy - the only downside is I'm getting lazy and starting to get a little rusty with my backing skills.

Another advantage is the movers are always there ready to use whenever you want - and, you don't have to find storage space in the tug or van locker for a big heavy bulky powered jockey wheel.

Purpleline - we are now so used to it, I don't know how we got by without it. Makes life so much easier when in your 70's or older. Well worth the cost !

Brian

-- Edited by ShortNorth on Thursday 14th of December 2017 11:53:17 PM

mustangdude · Member

I recently saw a bloke in NZ trying to back his 22' tandem axle van slightly up hill on wet grass with the mover type that drives the caravan wheels.
It didn't have a chance. The dogs slipped on the tyres.

This bloke nosed the drawbar downhill right up to a retaining wall so the car wasn't able to hook on, we all helped push it out.

They'd only be OK in a dry situation and I'm not sure about how much slope they can handle.