The Caravan Owners Club

[mickymorris]

Hi, We are thinking of buying a hitchdrive for our Hobby 540. Does anyone out there have one fitted or any positive/negative experiences with one. I have been told it would be ideal for our size caravan?

Thanks.........Micky

[mac]

Hi, We are thinking of buying a hitchdrive for our Hobby 540. Does anyone out there have one fitted or any positive/negative experiences with one. I have been told it would be ideal for our size caravan?

Thanks.........Micky

Hi Mickey
I am also looking at fitting one of these, did you go ahead with your idea & if so I'd like to know how you rate it ?

Regards
Mac

[Paul Styant]

Hi,

I have a purpleline hitchdrive attached to me Hobby 440 SB and they are useless unless you intend to use it to move your van on a flat tarmac surface with no rut holes or bumps. I have tried on firm grass and also even moving on tarmac to get wheels over ting 1/2 inch drop kerb. I have also read og many people taking these back to the shop they purchased them at as they are not fit for purpose. The nive little promo video clips on the hitchdrive site shows some bloke doing nice little turns on a billard top type concrete surface - yes it works fine for that and for most hard and they key work FLAT surfaces. I have the MK I version without the tractor type tyres as the new 2005 model has a standard. This also comes with a foot plate to put more nose weight onto the wheel for traction. They have taken peoples comments into account and made chages to the design but from what i have read the upgraded bits are just as bad (traction problems) even with the cunky tyres. The foot plate and extended handle are useless because when you stand on the footplate and want to turn the handle to move your body is in the way of turning and if you get off the wheel loses traction again not very helpful if you are reversing up a steep hill. Also I have tried to get the upgrade pack for mine but there are limited outlets that still have them and they want to charge me £50 for it because there product dont work!.

I am saving my money for a proper motor mover that will do grass hills of 25% and small drop kerbs. my van weighs approx 1300k and pushing on my own to get van in position on wet uneven grass is not an option. Please save your money and buy something else. Some people like the mr shift's and powerwheels but again traction is still an issue.

It depends on what you requirements are. Mine are above and the hitchdrive doesn't do it for me . Some people have from road to front door step not grass not kerb to speak of a perfectly flat tarmac drive and they have no problem with them.

The hitch drive website states that it will work on firm grass with a noseweight of about 40 - 50kg - yes it will if the ground it like a bowls green. How many site are like that ?

Sorry must sound like a right old winge bag but am really fed up wth it. Take a look on ebay and you can always find them for sale wonder why? I might even just do that myself.

Cheers Paul

[mac]

Many thanks for the info, I have been tempted by the advert a few times being in the same boat as yourself & needing some "leverage" when parkling the van up. You are also quite right about ebay, they are always there on offer, upgrade kits as well sometimes. It seems that I will need to pay out a bit more, still at least it wont be money wasted

Cheers

Mac

[Pearl]

Hi All,
I purchased a Purpleline Hitchdrive MK2 £240.00 (colour Gray) in March 2005 for our hobby 460UFe 1300kgs was told by the seller it had a safe working load of 2000kgs olso this was written on the top of the hitchdriver, and it was useless, ended up complaining to the company got nowhere, later they were putting in their advert only suitable upto 1200kgs, ended up in April selling it on ebay at a loss for £140.00, I'll never understand how the company still manages to sell these hitchdrives. Have now purchased a soft touch mover from Rhyno movers £699.00 + £99.00 fitting, brilliant machine, couldn't now live without.

[BentAxle4x4]

Have heard while on site , other caravanners commending the carver/truma or Rhyno which operate on the caravan wheels.
Have not had any recommendations, in fact owners always have been negative for any of the one which operate on the hitch. Another problem where do you carry it while towing, and store it white on site? also weight of combined unit + battery is a problem.

bentaxle
540 Ufe
Hyundai Terracan 4x4 (nicknamed in Australia as ( " The Jerrycan")