Can we manage without a Mover?

I cannot get my caravan on/off the pitch at the storage site without the aid of the motor mover, there is insufficient space to swing the caravan in and avoid hitting the a frame of the van parked opposite. The Van is too heavy to manhandle due to the soft surface

As a recent caravan owner (3 months) fast approaching my seventies, I do not think I would have considered caravaning without a mover. Living on a hill I would not dare releasing the handbrake. With the parked cars on the road there is no way I could park it using the tow bar which is a good thing as I don't go on the manoeuvering course until February. So, David I sincerely hope my mover keeps working ok as all my neighbours are in the same geriactric condition as me!!! Like Spannerdo I have just put my caravan into storage needing a 15 point turn to fit the space. It now sits comfortably in the trough made by previous users, and my mind boggles when I think of getting it out. Hence my discussion on charging batteries during storage.

I was going to say my car should have been considered for the towcar awards. Being a Peugeot 307cc 2 litre Diesel it met all the criteria for pulling my caravan, with the added bonus of being able to lower the roof and enjoy the sun, fresh air and countryside sounds.What more could you want? Well on the way back from my third trip, the clutch assembly went and it cost £800 to repair. It has now been replaced by a 4x4 which hopefully will not suffer the same issue.

So for anyone left reading my ramblings have a very merry Christmas and the Happiest of New Years.

remebering back quite a few years we used to push our Cheltenham Puka 4 up our drive & then slue it round gradulary round unitl it was round the back of our house,(we were younger then) now our Coachman 560 Pastiche has a mover which is the best thing we have bought since we started caravaning in 1974 never to push our van again

Happy New year to all 

I don't have age against me quite as much as some here, however, when I bought my first caravan in October, a motor mover was top of my accessory list.  At 1585kg I didn't fancy man handling my 'van around storage or touring sites.  Most effective item purchased to date, could do with one with quicker rollers though to help alleviate my impatience ;o)

I agree that movers are essential. Although I store my caravan on a superb flat hard standing CASSOA gold site, when loading at home, I have to place it in my drive down hill and nose first. The mover allows me to position the van perfectly, and in most cases reverse it out of the drive.

Here is the rub: with my first caravan, 6 years ago, I had a Reich mover fitted with resin coated rollers. When taking the van to a local dealer to trade in cor my current van these stripped leaving me half up the slope with no drive at all. I did with help,manage to pull/push the van out. Also the Reich, like other movers sits below the chassis. This tends to be OK in the UK, but in France, where kerbs are considerably higher, I found that they can contact these, smashing the plastic cover. fortunately I was only travelling slowly, so the mover itself was not damaged.

New caravan purchased in Feb 2012 fitted with Alco Mammut mover. This is purpase built to bolt laterally on the chassis, and so does no extend below it, and cannot normally be seen from the side. It may cost a bit more, and I get some wierd looks on site from other members because they cannot see it, but in my view it is well worth it, and moves my Serling Opal Elite up my sloping drive without any problem