Parkit 360 trailer mover.

Clarky 1 · Senior Member

Parkit 360 trailer mover.

Dougwe · Chief one feather

Have you had a peek at one of these little rippers at all. A 'Camper Trolley'. I have used on a couple of times and found so easy to use. Stand back with a remote and park away. Turns on a sixpence.

Clarky 1 · Senior Member

Hi Dougwe,

Thank you for your reply.

I did have a look on the website for the Camper Trolley and I must say that the little unit is quite impressive.
I liked the fact that the coupling for the unit had a wind up leg that could ease the weight off the front axle when turning and so reducing the load due to the wheels having to skid while turning.
My main concern was the cost of the unit if compared to the similar weight capacity of of the Parkit.360HD.
The other thought I had was with the lithium battery in the Camper Trolley being built into the unit with regard to the cost for replacement if required.

While having another look at the Parkit site it probably wouldnt be that difficult to fit the coupling with a longer tube to raise the height so as to take some weight off the front axle.

With the Parkit I have to use the tube coupling as opposed to the ball coupling as my caravan has a DO 35 hitch and the boat trailer has overide brakes.

I was hoping to talk with someone who actually had a Parkit 360 with hands on information either good or bad.

Cheers

-- Edited by Clarky 1 on Sunday 31st of January 2021 08:26:34 AM

Farmhat · Senior Member

Hi Clarky 1.

Sorry, I have an Optitec, not a Parkit, so I cannot comment on that one.

I would like to let you know, that in a tight situation, a mover with a remote is a great benefit, in that you can walk around during operation and see where the van is going.

I tried using a mover without a remote and in comparison it was a pain to continually have to stop and check clearances, as you can't always see from the towhitch.

I do like the big wheel on the Parkit.

Hope this is helpful information.

Joe.

Fred K · Veteran Member

Stu
I have a Parkit as you are looking at and have moved a tandem boat trailer near 2,000kg across a very spongy grass and turned it basically 90 degrees on the spot to point where I keep checking axles can take the stress

I also move a 3380kg tandem caravan up and down a reasonable slope on concrete and only need minimal turning

I have the optional width and tread pattern tyres and have added myself a brake controller to the handle so I plug it into van and fully functioning van electric brakes

Yes they are very expensive but they are the only ones that I would recommend without hesitation.

Depending on where you are, happy to have you look at ours or even try out as I am thinking of selling ours as have sold boat and can make other arrangements for van if I sold.

I am located near Berwick , Melbourne if interested.

Fred

vince56 · Senior Member

No experience with Parkit but have had one of these (www.ebay.com.au/itm/Motorised-Jockey-Wheel-GEN2-Electric-Mini-Mover-12v-550W-Caravan-Trailer-Boat-8/332060373761) for years for moving my 2.6t tandem van in and out of the garage and up a slight incline on the drive. Works well and I have never had a problem in over 4 years. Less than $400. It would not handle too much of an incline but for the dough if it is flattish ground they work fine.

Clarky 1 · Senior Member

Thanks fellas for your input, I take all info on board.

Joe,
I think your comment is good and quite relevant about the remote giving you the ability to move about from side to side and even to the rear and still be able to drive the unit.
The Optitec is certainly priced favourably compared to the Parkit unit but the wheel on the Optitec is a point of some concern. The videos on their site certainly go into detail of what to do if the wheel doesnt grip.
The tyre option on the Parkit appears to be good.

Fred,
thank you for your kind offer but I live in Qld. I have searched Gum Tree and Ebay and there is only one secondhand unit available but this is the lighter rated unit and even this one is 500 odd kilometers from me.
It is probably a good indication when very few units are available second hand.

Vince,
Those units are a quite attractive price wise and if using only on concrete I would i imagine that they would be good.
I did a bit of research on the various ebay units and most of them have a disclaimer on their site stating that they are not suitable for tandem axle vans.

The Optitec would be the simplest one to connect to both my van and boat as it just fits the jockey bracket.
If I go with the Parkit I would have to buy and extra bracket.
The Parkit has a facility for the drive battery to fit onto the unit which would be simple for both of my needs and the battery would add some weight for traction but this battery will add to the cost.
The Optitec requires wiring to van and boat batteries which is extra work when connecting, particular with the boat.

In my case the unit would only have to move the van probably twice a year, but it would get more use on the boat as my son would use the boat when we are out and about in the caravan. I would not bother to carry the unit as manoevering the van on van sites is not a problem for me.

Thanks for all your input, it is much appreciated.

Cheers

Bookleaf · Veteran Member

If you have concerns about moving the van over the grassed area and the possibility of less grip, place sheets of ply down for the wheels to run on. I do this with my camper-trailer and I can move it by hand quite easily. Very hard, but possible with lots of huff and puff, without the ply (Particularly the jockey wheel).

Clarky 1 · Senior Member

Hi Bookleaf, Kevin.

There are several videos on the Optitec site showing exactly how they use sheets of plywood to gain some grip.
There is one on there that by using short lengths of about 18 long and moving and overlapping them as they turn the operator managed to turn the van at 90 degrees on grass. Of course it was edited to make it look easy but Optitec claim that there is very little situations where, with a little ingenuity, the wheel will operate without slipping, spinning or getting bogged.

I am considering the permanent laying of those heavy duty plastic egg shell type tiles or similar to make a track for the mover to follow when moving over the lawn.
The tiles need to be laid on a solid base and once settled in you can grow grass which will fill in the gaps in the tiles but at the same time provide a solid base that they claim you can actually drive on. I saw these at Bunnings some time ago.
These would be better than concrete or pavers as I dont want to create a concrete jungle in the yard.

Cheers

Farmhat · Senior Member

Hi Stu again.

At times on grass where I have put strips of ply down as a track, the Optitec wheel shoots the ply out from under it, with the van going nowhere.

This problem is fixed mostly by using a larger sheet of ply, and or staking the ply strips to the grass.

Joe.

Clarky 1 · Senior Member

Hi Joe,

Thanks for that hint mate.

If the Optitec had a larger wheel it would be a no brainer. The price and the remote are making it very favourable.

I was on utube yesterday and came across the Trax brand of van mover. They are made in the USA I think but the first model they made had a very bad report.
The second model they have now made is the X2 Trax and it os very impressive.
It is a track type mover, similar to the one Dougwe mentioned above but it is a bigger unit.
I can not see that it is available in Australia unfortuneately.

Cheers

Dougwe · Chief one feather

Here's something else to add to the mix Stu. One is fitted to two or four wheels as a permanent fixture to van, you stand back with remote. Easy as.

I have never used it but seen it in action.

'Camec Caravan Mover Elite 2'

Clarky 1 · Senior Member

Thanks Dougwe,

They look similar to the Purpleline brand.

They would be great on a van but could not be used on a boat trailer unless you removed them for launching and retrieving.

Still another choice for caravanners.

Cheers

Dougwe · Chief one feather

Ooops, didn't think of that sorry Stu.

I'll put it down to a 'senior moment'

Farmhat · Senior Member

Clarky 1 wrote:
Hi Joe,

Thanks for that hint mate.

If the Optitec had a larger wheel it would be a no brainer. The price and the remote are making it very favourable.

I was on utube yesterday and came across the Trax brand of van mover. They are made in the USA I think but the first model they made had a very bad report.
The second model they have now made is the X2 Trax and it os very impressive.
It is a track type mover, similar to the one Dougwe mentioned above but it is a bigger unit.
I can not see that it is available in Australia unfortuneately.

Cheers

I must say Stu, that the strips of ply shooting out wouldn't be the fault of the Optitec.

I think that it just shows no grip between the plywood and grass.

Actually, perhaps it might even show that the Optitec wheel actually grabs.??

Just a few thoughts.

Joe.

Long Weekend · Guru

Then I just noticed this on Ebay - with the seller Caravans Plus here in Queanbeyan/Canberra:

www.ebay.com.au/itm/Trailer-Valet-Mover-XL/133092271585%3D111001%26algo%3DREC.SEED%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20160908105057%26meid%3D5a7616657aa148d9a49452ee2dbc8b85%26pid%3D100675%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D15%26mehot%3Dnone%26sd%3D264848303187%26itm%3D133092271585%26pmt%3D0%26noa%3D1%26pg%3D2380057&_trksid=p2380057.c100675.m4236&_trkparms=pageci%3A5d0b8958-6863-11eb-998c-a6bbe5552638%7Cparentrq%3A76d123b61770a12b7cb04683ffeef276%7Ciid%3A1

(If the link doesn't work then log onto Caravans Plus and look up the Trailer Valet Mover.)

I have bought from Caravans Plus for about five years now and have found them an excellent company. Based on that I believe this caravan mover would be good quality.

That said, the price seems a little steep to me compared to battery operated movers - after all, there is no electric motor, electronics or battery involved. A cordless drill can be used for those that find turning the crank handle difficult.

But the quoted caravan mass that can be moved is very high. They do note that it will not do tight turns with a tandem/dual axle set up.

Has anybody used one?

Murray

Phlipper · Senior Member

Seen these advertised, not cheap, but they do seem a smart design. worth considering