DIY Caravan/Boat mover

[W.olly]

Hi folks, a quick one i want to leave for you to ponder as i am off to bed, up at 2am for work

I am thinking on building myself one of them caravan mover gadgets but for moving a boat around 2500kg inc trailer.

Now i have no idea on this sort of thing as in what motor/electrics etc i need to get.

It will be used on hard standing with little slope.

NN

I`ll be back

Wolly

 

[Rig Pig]

I think the biggest issue would be making it submersible if you went for a wheel drive system, the other option is a powered jockey wheel but on a boat with most of the weight and the back traction might be limited.
I'm in the market for a mover for my caravan, I am keeping half an eye on eBay for something to turn up at the right price reasonably locally.

 

[addjunkie]

Why......a tow bar on a ford fiesta will move it round a yard. If trying to keep your car dry on a slip way, just use a piece of rope or a ratcht strap to extend your tow.

I have even seen a chain block used on a steep slipway to get a boat out, keeping the tow car off the slippy part below the high water mark, and it was a much bigger boat than yours.

 

[brightspark]

that's all i used to do launching and retrieve my speedboat on slipway. large tow strap round trailer hitch and looped over tow bar

 

[W.olly]

I read this as moving it around on a drive or other standing area - probably with not enough space to attach a car - rather than for launching...

If the slope is indeed very little then something like electric wheelchair motors would shift it about easily enough.

Good job i like driving init, home at last after a 500 mile 13hr day, bloody luvin it....i think.

Now then as above, yep it is for parking the boat when at home on the drive. Tight area to get it in and a car will not get in.

Very little slope, infact just the dropped kerb slope.

I will have a look at some wheelchairs, come to think, my brother is building a Toylander and he mite have one, i am sure he got two wheel chairs.

 

[W.olly]

OMG cant believe the cost of electric wheel chairs. If i go this route ( only idea have found thanks pdg ) i think a full wheel chair would be better to get as then i can use the wheels and electrics so would just need to make a frame etc.

By look most come with two separate motors and drive to the wheels. seems easy enough to fettle.

 

[CompoSimmonite]

What about a 12v winch to pull it into position ?
Mate had a 12v motor mover that replaced the jockey wheel.
You can get manual movers that replace the jockey wheel and are hand cranked. Replace crank with something that a cordless drill could be attached.
A ride on mower could be used as a mini tractor

 

[Woody.v8]

I was thinking something like this

 

[W.olly]

I was thinking something like thisView attachment 106521

exactly what i was thinking on

would one wheel be enough for my needs ?

 

[W.olly]

What about a 12v winch to pull it into position ?
Mate had a 12v motor mover that replaced the jockey wheel.
You can get manual movers that replace the jockey wheel and are hand cranked. Replace crank with something that a cordless drill could be attached.
A ride on mower could be used as a mini tractor

I have used winch`s in the past for cars which was bad enough but where it will be parked will be a reat pain in the **** that way.

Now i ride on mower or mini tractor would e good. hang on this is getting OTT now lol.

 

[Woody.v8]

exactly what i was thinking on

would one wheel be enough for my needs ?

How do you mean one wheel? As in drive?

 

[hazzabo]

OMG cant believe the cost of electric wheel chairs. If i go this route ( only idea have found thanks pdg ) i think a full wheel chair would be better to get as then i can use the wheels and electrics so would just need to make a frame etc.

By look most come with two separate motors and drive to the wheels. seems easy enough to fettle.

Hi W.olly, try a local shop selling elderly/mobility aids. I did and the owner had a lock up garage full off "spares or repairs". Got 2.5 wheelchairs for £120. The ones I got had 1 motor mounted on a diff/ gearbox type thing.

 

[octo0072000]

also you are going to have a problem with your trailer being twin axle trying to maneuver it in a tight space, you will need to lift it up enough to clear one axle off the floor to steer it
can you do this without the stern hitting the floor ?

 

[lexi]

I use an old haulamatic 12v winch that anchors at top of drive and pulls boats 10m up a steep incline. I also have an extra tow ball at the front of the old C5 Cit. It can push and guide a boat into tight spaces that my reversing skills can struggle with. Any means of achieving that without spending on fancy gear is the way to go.

 

[ukracer]

OMG cant believe the cost of electric wheel chairs. If i go this route ( only idea have found thanks pdg ) i think a full wheel chair would be better to get as then i can use the wheels and electrics so would just need to make a frame etc.

By look most come with two separate motors and drive to the wheels. seems easy enough to fettle.

How heavy is it? What about an electric scooter you can pick these up for peanuts. Fit a towball on the front as its easier to move.

 

[addjunkie]

Look for a faulty electric golf trollet motors are usually fine.

 

[W.olly]

How do you mean one wheel? As in drive?

Sorry my mistake, didnt look close enogh, i see now there is an axle on that one, not single wheel drive.

Hi W.olly, try a local shop selling elderly/mobility aids. I did and the owner had a lock up garage full off "spares or repairs". Got 2.5 wheelchairs for £120. The ones I got had 1 motor mounted on a diff/ gearbox type thing.

Good ida, there is a few aroud nere. If i have time i will pop in this weekend

If you mean one wheel in total, then no, it'll be a right pain in the arris trying to balance it - think unicycle, with a very very fat person, with no sense of balance, on stairs, in the dark, while drunk, holding onto you

One driven wheel and one coasting - maybe, but torque steer...

As reply to Woody`s question above kida, i thought it was weird but if it has been done and works i didnt question.

also you are going to have a problem with your trailer being twin axle trying to maneuver it in a tight space, you will need to lift it up enough to clear one axle off the floor to steer it
can you do this without the stern hitting the floor ?

I am thinking it will be ok ifi make the hitch high enough, the axles will be off center to the back. Maybe just a little weight of the front axle but i doubt it will gte full clearance.

I use an old haulamatic 12v winch that anchors at top of drive and pulls boats 10m up a steep incline. I also have an extra tow ball at the front of the old C5 Cit. It can push and guide a boat into tight spaces that my reversing skills can struggle with. Any means of achieving that without spending on fancy gear is the way to go.

Yes i have done similar, will not work here though without a reat faff about, and quicker and easier this way..

How heavy is it? What about an electric scooter you can pick these up for peanuts. Fit a towball on the front as its easier to move.

As said int he OP, i am guesstimating 2500kg GW of trailer and boat. I will be weighing it soon, well when i have finished fitting it out more and stuck the engine on to get a close as poss weight. I will use a few sand bags etc to make the battery weights up etc. guess the ballast aswell.

Worth looking at the electric scooter aswell. if the chair/scooter can take the nose weight i should it working ok.

Look for a faulty electric golf trollet motors are usually fine.

You think they will shift the 2500kg thoguh ?

 

[puffernutter]

I've got a spare "Motormover" for a relatively small amount if its any use? I'm in Westhoughton 8/9 April.

Built for the job and saves you making it - it replaces the jockey wheel.

Cheers

Peter

 

[W.olly]

I've got a spare "Motormover" for a relatively small amount if its any use? I'm in Westhoughton 8/9 April.

Built for the job and saves you making it - it replaces the jockey wheel.

Cheers

Peter

PM me details of what it is and price please kida. Need to work out how it works. The ones i see are bolted to the chassis on caravans. Is that the same ?

 

[octo0072000]

think puffernutter means one of these it replaces the jockey wheel

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/1920...=1007064&device=c&campaignid=738474636&crdt=0