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Which mover for which caravan?

No longer existing brands

Movers? Quality and reliability make the difference!

Lots of modern caravans have a chassis that doesn't allow the fitting of just any mover. Therefore it's important to select the most optimal mover for your caravan. In our advice we take into consideration essential topics like: ground clearance, guarantee and optimal positioning. This is done to ensure maximum durability. We also take into account that the mover should be able to climb a wedge with a 25% upward slope. The choice of which mover, brand and model you would like to use is not only dependent on the price, ease of use and design but also on technical restrictions. Below we will give you more information about movers so that you have a good foundation to make a thoughtful decision.

Modern movers

Caravan movers have been on the market since 1998 . During this time manufacturers acquired a lot of know-how. The modern movers we sell have a built-in brake. So if you forget to disconnect the mover from the wheels and try to drive away, the car and caravan will not move. An important safety feature is that the caravan will also stand still on a pitch or slope. This is achieved by the use of a worm gear or as with Truma XT by means of a built-in brake. Modern movers have more powerful engines so that bigger rollers can be used which have better grip and less wear. By means of an optimized transmission these systems achieve better economy. In recent years we sell modern movers only.

Fully-automatic or semi-automatic

We make a distinction between two types of movers; semi- or fully-automatic. The difference is explained by the way the rollers are brought to the tires. Fully-automatic: just press a button on the remote control handset. Semi-automatic: place the rollers manually on the tires.

Semi-automatic movers

Semi-automatic movers

There are two variants of semi-automatic movers. Truma and PowrMover use a system with a lever, actually a rod, that needs to be pivoted. While making the turn, the mover is pressed against the tires. This activity requires some force. The easiest way to do this is with the Truma SX mover for it delivers the right pressure on the tires straight away. However, this means that adjustments might need to be made when changing to another set of tires.
The second variant is a crank system that brings the mover to the tires by rotating the lever. Just like turning the paw of the caravan. Thanks to the gearing system, rotating the lever doesn't require much force. When an optimal fitting is possible we prefer to advise a semi-automatic mover.

Fully automatic movers

We distinguish two variants of fully-automatic setup systems. The cheapest ones in the market use a little electrical motor to assist with the rotation. The engine runs until the end of the axle is reached. More expensive movers have a built-in intelligence to ensure the right pressure of the rolls on the tires. Theoretically , fully-automatic movers have a greater chance of malfunctioning but this chance is negligible with movers with an intelligent setup system. The pricing of a mover indicates whether it is an intelligent one. In this brochure we only mention intelligent movers.

Ease of use

Two kinds of controls are distinguished. Standard control and comfort control. Until a few years ago , every mover used standard control. Precise movement of the caravan was only possible by stopping it at intervals. With comfort control it is possible to adjust a bit to the left or right while moving the caravan to its place. The comfort control is used with the PowrMover, AL-KO Mammut, Truma XT, Truma SX and the Reich Easydriver.

Weight, measuring is knowing

Getting overloaded is a big problem with lots of caravans. The average weight of a mover amounts to 33 kg. Our best sold battery set, set 2 with the Optima 55Ah battery, weighs 20 kg. To save on weight it is common to look only at the battery. However, to really save weight one should look at the actual weight of the mover. Don't trust too much on advertisements and don't forget the mounting plates. Caravans with an AL-KO Vario chassis need a mounting plate of 5 kg, except for the AL-KO Mammut. The weight difference between movers can go up to more than 16 kg. If you really want to save on weight, you need to be objectively well-i nformed.

Mover Tests

It is always worth bearing in mind that each magazine which tests caravan movers has its own preferences and these preferences, in general, dictate test results. In a 2008 Camping and Caravan Champion test the Reich MoveControl Economy caravan mover achieved a satisfactory score. In a special feature in the German magazine Caravaning in 2008 a test was done with caravan movers from Truma, Reich and PowrMover. This test declared the Reich Economy caravan mover to be the Best Buy. In a test in 2011 in Germany the Reich caravan mover was stated to be one of the best caravan movers. However, in a KCK test in 2012 the Reich caravan mover was used on a heavily overloaded trailer which overloaded the mover's electric motors.

• Caravan mover tests

Fitting is customization

A caravan is mounted on a chassis. However, it is not always clear which chassis is fitted. A mover can be fitted in front or behind the wheels of a caravan according to the specifications of the manufacturer . A mover stays cleaner when it is mounted in front of the wheels, because of this it will lasts longer. It isn't always possible to place a mover in an optimal position in front of the wheels. This is dependent on the chassis, the ground clearance and other restrictions, like a lower entry or a heating tube. Also, there needs to be enough space between the shock absorber and the tire. Usually the fitting is done with clamping plates.


To attach a clamping plate correctly the chassis has to be made out of one piece and needs to have a relatively straight design. This is what we call a standard chassis


When a mover is fitted, a caravan loses ground clearance, this is the space between the ground and the chassis. With the movers that we sell you will lose 5 -6 cm. This is no problem with a caravan that has enough clearance. Modern caravans are constructed in such a way that two chassis parts are joined together exactly on the spot where the mover needs to be fitted. If the letter M is punched i n the AL-KO chassis, it will be possible to fit a AL-KO Mammut mover without loss of ground clearance. All other movers will require a mounting plate that will cost an extra centimeter ground clearance.



There are many other types of chassis. An Eriba Touring has a very different chassis which limits the choice of an optimal mover drastically. Newer caravans with a BPW chassis allow the fitting of a Reich BPW mover with minimal loss of ground clearance. It is not necessary that you investigate personally which chassis your caravan has and which mover will be optimal. When fitting a mover we always check if it fits optimally. We have everything in stock. Even when fitting at your home we bring all the materials to guarantee an optimal result.

Fitting

After the mover is selected it must be fitted. Before our fitter starts the installation he will show you the location of the battery and other accessories. The fitters have a lot of knowledge and experience and will advise you about where to install the battery, charger and control box. The right placement improves the weight distribution and ease of use. The lifespan of a mover is dependent on the quality of the fitting. During the fitting we will place an impact-resistant, flexible tube around the cabling under the caravan.

Fitting can be done at one of our 6 branches in NL-Groningen, NL-Oude-Tonge, NL-Lelystad, NL-Veenendaal, DE-Huefingen and ES-Málaga. We are specialized in fitting on location, for instance at your home or at a campsite. During the installation our mechanic brings along all necessary tools and accessories making sure the quality of fitting is the same as in our workshop. This service is offered in The Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, South of Spain and the North of France. The mover will be assembled completely and delivered fully working. After the fitting you will get all the instructions on how to operate the mover. Together with the mechanic you will learn how to maneuver the caravan and get familiar with it, so you can travel with confidence.

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