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Topic: power jockey wheel

sharkie73

04/2/2016 at 1:57pm
Location: north west
Outfit: Vango orchy 600swift challenger

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hi, im moving house soon and will be able to finally keep the van at home, the drive is very narrow and not wanting to go to the expense of a motor mover am thinking about a powered jockey wheel or a bigfoot< the drive is level and tarmac, just narrow, can anyone reccomend or know of any i can try in the northwest area? thanks

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" May the forks be with you"

LobeyDosser

04/2/2016 at 4:02pm
Location: Argyll Scotland
Outfit: 1997 Bailey Ranger 470 4

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I had a Big-Foot which I bought second hand. Fortunately when I sold it I got back what I had paid out.
Bloody hopeless bit of kit.
I have a half inch high step between the level ground outside my garage and its floor and the big-foot would not bump the van up that.

Also, it is only useful at home as you wouldn't want to lug it around anywhere.

We have since had 3 MM's which are as useful on sites as they are at home.

If you cannot afford a new MM, look for a second hand one.

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Lobey.

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Hairywol

04/2/2016 at 6:59pm
Location: Teesside
Outfit: Challenger Sport 524 + Volvo V90 D5

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If you could get a bit of kit that works as well as a motor mover costing hundreds for a few quid, nobody would bother with the motor mover.

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LobeyDosser

04/2/2016 at 7:10pm
Location: Argyll Scotland
Outfit: 1997 Bailey Ranger 470 4

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Well stated Hairywol.

One of the main disadvantages of the Bigfoot type unit, apart from their lack of power, is that you have to steer it from the hitch/jockey wheel position and therefore you are restricted as to what you can see.

Whereas with a motor mover, you can see everything and walk around the van while controlling it, to position it just where you want it.

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Lobey.

sharkie73

04/2/2016 at 7:51pm
Location: north west
Outfit: Vango orchy 600swift challenger

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i understand that, im not being big headed but i can pretty much put it where it needs to be on a site (with a few shunts) i just want something for home to assist me with squeezing it down the drive

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" May the forks be with you"

LobeyDosser

04/2/2016 at 9:46pm
Location: Argyll Scotland
Outfit: 1997 Bailey Ranger 470 4

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No one thinks you are being big headed Sharkie.
We can only go by our own experience and guiding a van in tight surroundings using a bigfoot or similar is very difficult as you cannot see where you are without stopping and checking all the time.
With a jockey wheel type mover, you will need someone standing at your side and able to see where the van is, so that you can guide it.

I did not believe that MMs were worth the expense until I bought a van where one came ready fitted.
Since then I would not consider being without one and if buying another van I would have to factor in the cost of an MM within what I would pay for the van.

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Lobey.

old chap

05/2/2016 at 4:39am
Location: Sitingbourne
Outfit: baily champaign

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having bought a mover similar bigfoot I can confirm all lobby has said regarding steerage , & traction . in most cases the mover will only have sufficient traction to move the van if used as a "pusher" & then you cannot see where you are going. I sold it within the year & bought a fixed motor mover

JTQU

05/2/2016 at 7:07am
Location: Hampshire
Outfit: Hymer Nova S

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Well, my experiences for many years with the original Mr Shifta were very different to the comments on other products discussed here.
For moving my 1100kg Castleton for 11 years up and down my 1:14 paving slab driveway and the precision I could place the van into its carport it was brilliant. There I had about 2" clearance each side.
Then on changing to a 1750 Kg Hymer it "worked" but stopping that van on the downhill leg in wet conditions could lead to a bit of skidding of the Mr Shifta; hauling up was not an issue.
The Achilles heel of all these tractor devices is they don't carry enough weight on their wheels so the frictional grip is low, relative to movers on the van's wheel that carry the bulk of the van's mass. The more so with increasing van weights where the noseweight has to be a smaller % of the van's weight simply to cater for cars limited towbar ratings. There was with the Mr Shifta never a lack of power just the ability to stop the heavier van when moving downhill; the precision was decidedly better than with the Reich or Powrtouch movers I have had in recent years. With a Mr Shifta you are stuck by the handle so can't see where the far corner out of sight is, but need to stop and go looksee.

As described by the OP if on the level and tarmac then a Mr Shifta is very capable of doing the job. These units were never originally cheap as they were beautifully made and came with a proper traction drive battery; second hand they are now very attractively priced. It of course does not impact your payload and can be left at home on a smart charger to be fully charged when needed, but obviously can't be used if needed on site.

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