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Hi Jim, “It doesn't get any easier, does it?” No unfortunately not.  The price paid for mover I could get 4 years storage, (if I could get storage). The big down side to a mover is the weight at 35 or 40kg is a fair amount off your pay load, so there is always going to be a trade off.  AL-KO looks to be addressing the weight issue with their integrated Mammut mover weighing in at 29kg, a good 6kg less than the average mover, though according to their specification sheet they will only fit chassis from 2010 with the pre set holes for the mover, the under slung fitted version  is still 36kg. My van has a Max weight of 900kg, with van empty it weighs 780kg then mover 40kg added, brings it up to 820kg, leaving me with a payload of 80kg, which is not a great payload, unfortunately that’s the price I have to pay, that is why I weigh all accessories, and use a spread sheet to keep an eye on load. The other disadvantages of a mover, if I have had to use it, I have to remember and have it switched off before connecting to EHU, and as it is under slung, have always got to be aware of speed bumps, uneven ground, pot holes. As said there is always a trade off.

If you're abusing the clutch you need a bigger car.  Or of course an automatic.  Let the torque converter handle it.

Most people who have movers seem to have them for parking at home. We used to have the van at home, and it was convenient in many ways, but you do have problems with parked cars, and the Police certainly seem to think it's a dangerous thing to do. Firstly, it's available to vandals, and secondly it does tell burglars when you're away from home.

The Police pointed that out to me following a local burglary, and we moved the van into storage immediately.  It just made so much sense.  For the cost involved, storage is a far better option. It's a great comfort to know the caravan is in a compound that's manned 24/7.

The staff bring it to the gate whenever you tell them you want it, and we just call them ten minutes before we get back. We leave it just inside the gate and they park it.  There's nothing easier.  The service is fantastic.

Im sure a twin axle mover would take at least 60Kg off my payload, and I'm just not prepared to haul that much dead weight about.

To each his own of course, but i seems an obvious solution to me. Why would I want to mess about trying to get the van behind my house at the end of a long drive back from my holiday destination?

To those who do struggle like that, I do suggest you give storage a try. If you're not spending money on a mover, plus fuel to drag it around, storage really isn't that expensive, and the peace of mind is wonderful.

Jim

Quote: Originally posted by alan29 on 31/7/2011

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When we downgraded from out TT to a caravan, I would only do it if we had a mover fitted. Its supposed to be a holiday, not an ironman contest.

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Quote: Originally posted by stephenn280575 on 31/7/2011

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Quote: Originally posted by alan29 on 31/7/2011When we downgraded from out TT to a caravan, I would only do it if we had a mover fitted. Its supposed to be a holiday, not an ironman contest.

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Hi Alan, just interested, why did you downgrade? We are starting from the bottom and looking to upgrade from our ranger soon.

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We've had a mover now for over 5 years - it has been fitted on 3 successive vans now. 

We very rarely use it.  However, hubby says it is like Dumbo's feather!  As long as he has it, he feels confident that its there in case things get difficult - but in fact he can almost always move the van just where he wants it with the car, plus a little people power. 

Sometimes, it has saved the car's clutch from unecessary strain and we wouldn't be able to occasionally bring the van to the house without it.  Normally the van is in storage and on a level concrete floor, so we only need the mover in storage if hubby is hitching the van up all by himself.

We've used it a few times for some awkward levelling - e.g. when there isn't room to have the car & van hitched.  It really does make it easy to inch the van up levelling wedges with a mover.

It's not the best thing ever, but a useful luxury in addition to manouevring skills.

Mrs U-M