caravan mover - what power rating for small caravan

ottg · Veteran Member

caravan mover - what power rating for small caravan

Whenarewethere · Guru

Over 5% you should use a proper caravan mover that clamps onto the wheels. That's what relatives in Europe use. Their caravan is small due to small car. You just won't get enough traction. Simply from a safety point of view, you don't want the caravan starting to running away from you. The proper wheel clamp movers are a brake on the wheels where the mass is.

ottg · Veteran Member

@whenarewethere Thank you for the reply. Those movers are very expensive as I said this is a small caravan. Hope someone has suggestions for the 550W model. Cheers

Ineedabiggerboat · Senior Member

I used a PurpleLine on my New Age van. Slight slope less than 5 degrees. It worked well but I was always nervous about a runaway. Pay more, cry once.

Whenarewethere · Guru

A few reasons why my brother in-law got the the proper mover. They don't have a slope as such but due to wet weather they get a slippery driveway & it is a cobblestone texture.

Also my brother in-law had 2 hip replacements & thought it best to play it safe. His wife, my actual sister in-law, manoeuvres the caravan most if the time. I've seen her "driving" the caravan many times. Formula One stuff through complex caravan camping ground chicanes.

If you have even been to Europe, so many caravans have movers, & they are in general not the second rate ones sold in Australia.

When I first saw caravans been remotely controlled decades ago it was an eye opener. We are so much in the stone age in Australia.

To me, worth every cent to do it properly once. I learnt that decades ago.

Ineedabiggerboat · Senior Member

The wireless remote control on the Purpleline allowed you to move around and see where it was going. Great product.

Whenarewethere · Guru

Agree with remote control, so you can place yourself in key positions for manoeuvring.

Even I have had a go manoeuvring the caravan, & it is clear that all these things make things so much easier.

All you need is a Land Rover to raise & lower the tow ball instead of this silly antiquated fluffing around with a manual winding stick.

jade007 · Veteran Member

The cheap one around $500 are usuless even on a concrete driveway. The Optitec one work but all up around $2000 and are so heavy 22kg that they are impractical to use unless your a ironman. The Purpleline ones that work on the caravan wheels are the only way to go. I have had all 3 and Purple line is by far the best. What you pay will be forgotten ounce you enjoy using it.

ottg · Veteran Member

jade007 Thx for the feedback. That makes it clear that the smaller wattage doesn't cut it. Back to plan B and parking the caravan elsewhere were its easier to use the 4x4. Thx

Whenarewethere · Guru

It's not low wattage. You can have the smallest of motors on the wheels of the caravan. But due to mass & gearing that is where the traction is. Only slower with less wattage, but you will move & with safety.

A traction wheel on the tow bar wheel will be a screaming scalded lab mouse at best. A short life for both you & hardware.

It's basic physics.

It's hard not to see a caravan in Europe without a proper traction tyre installation. Like Lake Como in Italy for one example.

Down under we are in the stone age... at best!

Whenarewethere · Guru

& I saw all this over a decade ago.