Still looking for a power mover / trailer dolly

[Bill]

I've finally decided that I need a powered trailer dolly. Either 12VDC (battery) or 120VAC (extension cord) would work. I'm not considering a hand-crank or drill-power unit. Somewhat limited power would be OK - I have a good situation for moving. Pick up in New England preferred, but shipping can be considered. What do you have?

Bill

[Larryjb]

I've been really happy with my Powermover AC5. I did make one modification though. If I recall correctly, I took the 12V from the Bargmann instead of from alligator clips that would have to be connected to a second battery. This does mean you have to have a battery connected in the trailer though, but this has been very handy doing it this way.

If you have to store your TM in a garage with the battery disconnected, this may not be a good modification, although I suppose you could have a secondary battery connection at the tongue end. This would at least eliminate a set of dangling wires whilst moving the trailer around.

I also put labels FWD, REV, and STOP. My AC5 doesn't have those labels and I have to use trial and error the first few times.

[Artist1]

There is a trailer mover for sale on Facebook from Eagle WI. The price is $600. I used to have one just like it, but took it apart because I didn't have the room to store it. I should have sold it. But I do have the forward and reversing electric motor with has a gear ratio of 1750 to 30. It's a tough little motor, and it is for sale for $200. I am sure most handy people could weld one up pretty easily. I thought my unit was just put together by some handy welder, till I saw the same unit on Facebook, buy and sell. Who knows maybe the guy from Eagle, WI would ship it to you. I would ship the motor with the proper paperwork, and payment.

[Bill]

Larry -

It appears that the Power Mover must be connected to the trailer via some sort of "coupler" that is bolted onto to the bottom of the trailer frame, rather than connecting the Power Mover directly to the trailer hitch. Tell me about this - where did you put the coupler?

I took the 12V from the Bargmann instead of from alligator clips that would have to be connected to a second battery... If you have to store your TM in a garage with the battery disconnected, this may not be a good modification, although I suppose you could have a secondary battery connection at the tongue end.

During garage storage, I keep a Battery Tender connected to the Bargman full-time. It is enough to take care of the parasitic loads, and keep the battery up. I could easily make a second Bargman plug cord with alligator clips - or permanently attach it to the mover.

Or get an AC-driven Power Mover and drag an extension cord around.

Thanks

Bill

[Larryjb]

The Powermover AC5 does need 120V for the motor, so you will need an extension cord. You also need to connect the Bargman to the trailer anyway so in order to operate the brake. I think what I did was to rewire the Bargman so that I could take the 12V (nomally the charging 12V), feed it through to the brake switch inside the AC5. This way I am able to operate the trailer brake from its own battery instead of a secondary battery.

[Bill]

I get it. The Power Mover does not have its own brake. Instead, it basically puts a switch in parallel with the trailer's break-away switch, and uses the trailer's battery and trailer's brakes to control things. Clever.

Bill

[Thebone]

I found this on YouTube maybe this will help."How We Did It" Purple Line Quattro Trailer Mover Trailmanor Install
Its on The Critter and The Butterfly channel

Ron

[Shane826]

Matt Carver (the Critter) is good stuff. He’s on the TrailManor Fans group on Facebook.

[Kidkraz]

I have the Enduro 4445 mover on my camper and its been great. You can check out the pictures in my albums. It works well, but the wrench they included to engage the motor was useless with the Trailmanor. It has a bend, but it wasn't deep enough to enable easy engagement with the camper closed up. I use a 20" HF breaker bar with 6" extension with socket to engage or disengage the motor. It connects to the battery, and has a on/off disconnect with removable key. It's not fast, but it works very well. There is a 6degree incline limit. I normally back the trailer up my driveway, disconnect it and the use the motors to position the camper in its parking place. When using both motors it has a very short turn radius. One other member had these installed on his 2417KS. The toilet drain may be an issue, it was on mine. It may not be with the 2720 models.

[Bill]

All are a bit pricey for my circumstances. I'm hoping to find one that is no longer needed by its owner. Perhaps someone selling their TM, or upgrading their mover? Anyone?

Bill