Tracked trailer mover. - Page 2

Matt · 20 January 2022, 17:48

Quote:

Originally Posted by Limecc

Came across this photo by chance. Anyone recognise where taken?

I don’t know where taken, but there’s lots of them on the Isles of Scilly. For going ashore without a slip or pontoon, apparently they’re brilliant.

Matt · 20 January 2022, 18:58

Yeah, front hitch is a godsend for tight spaces.
I keep my boat down the side of the house and between the tight turn into the drive, missing the house, usually catching a bit of the hedge, it’d defo not be possible to get in without the front hitch. Or at least, technically possible but an absolute nightmare. I recommend for anyone that has a bit of tight manoeuvring to to.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Iankristy

What kind of vehicle do you use to tow? In a past life I installed static caravans and had a 4x4 with front mounted removable tow ball(I actually had 3 Left right and Center). Pushing(or pulling) from the front is vastly superior for manoeuvre ability. Occasionally having to unhitch and reposition vehicle. If it’s a possible option it’s a good one.

Steve509926 · 20 January 2022, 19:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gazzago

I already have a ride on mower. There isn’t room to use it to manoeuvre the trailer unfortunately. But I like your thinking [emoji1303].

Amazing how many people can't skim read!

Iankristy · 20 January 2022, 19:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve509926

Amazing how many people can't skim read!

You don’t sound like you have much experience of front mounted balls tbf

Matt · 20 January 2022, 19:51

It’s not that I can’t, it’s that I didn’t.

Anyway, to the OP, somewhere I have a design and instructions on how to build your own trailer mover. It runs off a cheap winch motor and is a fairly heavy duty setup with big tyres.

If interesting, I’ll have a look out for them for you. But not for Steve509926. He can buy his own.

Steve509926 · 20 January 2022, 20:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt

It’s not that I can’t, it’s that I didn’t.

Anyway, to the OP, somewhere I have a design and instructions on how to build your own trailer mover. It runs off a cheap winch motor and is a fairly heavy duty setup with big tyres.

If interesting, I’ll have a look out for them for you. But not for Steve509926. He can buy his own.

Nice one Matt

I actually do have a lot of experience of front mounted tow ball. Great on a Landy, sh1t on a Navara (mind you turning circle on a Nav is sh1t!)
But Gaz did say "not enough room for a sit on mower"

Matt · 20 January 2022, 20:03

Here you go - this is the heavy duty flavour. I have the instructions for the slightly smaller standard duty version too.

I decided against building this simply because I worked out my rig is a bit cumbersome for any of the hitch movers to work well.

Matt · 20 January 2022, 20:07

A front hitch means you can reverse push in at quite an angle - so mebbe front hitch on the ride on mower could actually be more interesting than expected.

Also agree re. turning circle. Really I could do with a 110 V8 Landrover, but I've stuck with the 90 just for maneuverability in the particularly tight space I keep my boat.

(And consequentially to seat kids in the rear with proper seats & seatbelts am just spending a fortune on the exmoor trim loc & fold setup)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve509926

I actually do have a lot of experience of front mounted tow ball. Great on a Landy, sh1t on a Navara (mind you turning circle on a Nav is sh1t!

Gazzago · 21 January 2022, 10:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt

Here you go - this is the heavy duty flavour. I have the instructions for the slightly smaller standard duty version too.

I decided against building this simply because I worked out my rig is a bit cumbersome for any of the hitch movers to work well.

Looks a handy bit of kit and ideal.

Not sure my fabrication skills are up to it.

They sell a similar version on eBay but they come from Australia. About£260 postage and then vat and import duty makes them a very expensive tool for the uk market but might be worth while in the long run 🤷🏼*♂️.

Gazzago · 21 January 2022, 10:29

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Heavy-Dut...154756-20017-0

Matt · 21 January 2022, 10:46

Yeah, looks similar design. Only 650AUD postage.

When I reviewed all this - as above, I eventually stumped for front hitch. Are you sure a front hitch on the lawn tractor wouldn't do the job - because you can slew sideways (or whatever the right terminology is) with a front hitch, so the final insertion doesn't require the tractor to be pointing in a straight line?

Of the stuff I could find in the UK, The biggest Mr Shifta stuff seems OK for 2 wheeled caravans on tarmac, but bigger stuff on a bad surface, they really didn't seem to cut the mustard. The tracked one you've found seemed the best available thing, short of going with the quad bike tyred ones above.

The built in trailer mover stuff - well reported as the best method, just not quite man enough for my 4-wheeled trailer rig. And I suspect in your case you trailer launch, and they't certainly not waterproof either! Although could be made fairly quick release - it had a permanently mounted beam, but each mover unit was only 2 bolts and a power lead. It was super cool to be driving the boat via radio control up and down the road. No I wasn't sitting at the helm of the boat making brrmming noises.

The other great thing was that for tight maneouvering, I could be standing at the back of the boat making sure it was lined up to the space properly, which was v. handy. From the front, I have a massive blind spot and end up running backwards and forwards many times to check clearance.

Steve509926 · 21 January 2022, 10:51

Hi Gaz, this might be worth considering

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-Trail...-127635-2958-0

Matt · 21 January 2022, 11:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve509926

Hi Gaz, this might be worth considering

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/New-Trail...-127635-2958-0

Limecc · 21 January 2022, 12:33

There's another on there now. Must be popular

Gazzago · 21 January 2022, 12:57

That’s the one I’ve been looking for. Wouldn’t mind at that price.

Limecc · 21 January 2022, 13:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gazzago

That’s the one I’ve been looking for. Wouldn’t mind at that price.

Better subscribe to Snipeswipe or Bidnapper then

Matt · 21 January 2022, 13:53

I suspect that in some cases people buy them, realise they're not man enough for the job they want (on uneven grass, or up a curb) and move them on. There always seemed to be a regular turnover of them, especially the Mr Shifta 3s I looked at too.

Limecc · 21 January 2022, 15:43

Quote:

Originally Posted by Matt

I suspect that in some cases people buy them, realise they're not man enough for the job they want (on uneven grass, or up a curb) and move them on. There always seemed to be a regular turnover of them, especially the Mr Shifta 3s I looked at too.

Yes better to be £500 disappointed than £1500 disappointed. At least it can go back on the market.

Been there with a Purpleline hitch mover.

Gazzago · 26 January 2022, 13:01

Managed to get a used tracked mover from eBay.

Seems to do the job brilliant on our compacted/loose hardcore/gravel area.

It does slip occasionally and when it does I just put my foot onto the draw bar to put some extra weight on it and it grips and keeps going.

I’ll update this thread when I’ve used it properly a few times [emoji1303].

Limecc · 26 January 2022, 13:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gazzago

Managed to get a used tracked mover from eBay.

Seems to do the job brilliant on our compacted/loose hardcore/gravel area.

It does slip occasionally and when it does I just put my foot onto the draw bar to put some extra weight on it and it grips and keeps going.

I’ll update this thread when I’ve used it properly a few times [emoji1303].

Which one was it? The £480 or £360 one?
Glad you're sorted!