MOTOR MOVER NEED-TO-KNOWS
MOTOR MOVERS ARE a brilliant addition to your caravan, and very popular – they make manoeuvring onto a pitch so much easier, and can help with security as well, because you can park up with the A-frame tucked safely away from the road. Here’s what you need to know if you want to have a motor mover fitted, or are looking at a used van that has one.
Is my battery up to the job? If you’re planning to get a motor mover fitted, you’ll need to check that your battery is up to the job. Motor movers require a lot of power, so a 110Ah leisure battery in good condition is a prerequisite for reliable operation. Check this larger battery will fit in your locker (especially if you are the owner of an older caravan). Keep the battery in good condition by regular or continuous trickle charging (with an intelligent charger), and bear in mind that a good-quality 110Ah battery can cost over £100.
How do I maintain my mover? Motor movers will require very little in the way of maintenance, barring some lubrication during the routine annual caravan service.
However, we’d recommend cleaning and greasing moving parts before your van goes into storage, and you should also consider activating the mover units, to minimise the chance of them seizing, each time you visit your tourer.
Can I tell if a motor mover has been professionally fitted? If you’re buying a used van with a motor mover, you need to know who fitted it. Look for the following signs of a pro job having been carried out: Protective trunking has been used to shield mover cables from damage where they pass through apertures in the caravan chassis The motor mover cables under the caravan are fixed neatly and securely to the underside and kept to similar lengths (to minimise power differences) Any holes in the floor have been filled with silicone sealant The electric control unit is tidily and securely fitted in a locker or cupboard, or underneath a settee A master switch has been fitted, usually in the battery locker The unit has sufficient ground clearance (minimum 150mm/6in). John Sootheran