Winch to pull caravan
Submitted: Saturday, Feb 09, 2008 at 14:23
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Graham and Diane
Hi,
I need to buy a winch to pull my caravan up my driveway. The caravan weighs about 1750 loaded, the driveway is quite steep, maybe 25 degrees. The winch also needs to be able to lower the caravan down the driveway.
Any suggestions would be great.
Thanks
Reply By: Crackles - Saturday, Feb 09, 2008 at 17:01
Saturday, Feb 09, 2008 at 17:01
If it's a short driveway then a Tirfor hand winch would do the job.
Duncs suggestion of Dyna bolting some plates to the floor & fitting pully's to winch off would be the simplist for a power installation or fit a 240Volt hoist in the back of the shed. Have seen a couple 2nd hand at machinery clearances or look at this one on
ebay . 22 m cable, plugs into 10amp socket although may need a slightly stronger unit depending on how steep the driveway is.
Cheers Craig.............
AnswerID:
286560
Reply By: PradOz - Saturday, Feb 09, 2008 at 21:52
Saturday, Feb 09, 2008 at 21:52
Hi - I have the same problem. I own the Swan for all the same reasons. Would love the Rapid but cannot get it in.
I wanted to
check my situation out so I put a huge cardboard box on the top of my van in a variety of
places and heights and took all my measurements after hooking the van up and reversing in/out of garage. You would have to have the hitch point very low if you are bringing it up in reverse to normal ie forwards. Rig up a mock A frame to the size of the rapid on the rear of your current van and see what happens as you reverse it in and to
check out how low the hitch point needs to be and also to measure if it actually lowers the height at front to get it in. I am not sure it actually will lower it enough to work (at least in my case anyway)
I was going to look at some of the power movers (see link), just not sure how powerful they are on an incline or if price justifies them.
van power movers
Take care using dynabolt theory, i would hate to see it sailing down the drive if they snapped or nut sheared off. Would be worthwhile checking with an engineer for advice first.
love to know how how you get on cheers mick
AnswerID:
286609
Follow Up By: Graham and Diane - Saturday, Feb 09, 2008 at 22:24
Saturday, Feb 09, 2008 at 22:24
Thanks, will let you know how I go, we have just about bought the van so will definitely find a way to get it in! The annoying part is I know the van fits in my garage but just need to get it in. Graham
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Follow Up By: Member - Ross S (QLD) - Saturday, Feb 09, 2008 at 23:50
Saturday, Feb 09, 2008 at 23:50
If doing this use Chemset bolts rather than Dynabolts.
These are similar but use a chemical reaction to bond the bolts into the concrete.
Approved for fixing sheds to slabs in cyclone areas and available in a large range of sizes.
FollowupID:
551821
Reply By: PradOz - Saturday, Feb 09, 2008 at 22:16
Saturday, Feb 09, 2008 at 22:16
Two other things that may help depending on your situation are -
1. using the low profile
parking wheels which are basically a solid low profile tyre/rim designed to lower your van. It does mean changing the wheels each time you want to park it in the garage. They often come up on ebay and i have seen them anywhere from $100 to $300 a pair.
2. reversing the axle so your van sits about 4" lower. Depends on if it is already done or not and it will also depend on if you need the van to sit higher for 4wdriving etc.
in conjunction they may assist. good luck
AnswerID:
286615
Follow Up By: Member - shane (SA) - Saturday, Feb 09, 2008 at 23:16
Saturday, Feb 09, 2008 at 23:16
you can also use a cheap boat winch to pull the
suspension down unto you get under the door.
FollowupID:
551814
Reply By: Jim from Best Off Road - Monday, Feb 11, 2008 at 18:55
Monday, Feb 11, 2008 at 18:55
How about this?
Get a good length of cable or decent rope.
Attach the cable to the van and then to the towbar, with appropriate shackles and pull the thing up the drive. When it is far enough up, apply the van
parking brake and chock the wheels.
Then reverse back and put the van on the towball.
We did this with boats on slimy boat ramps numerous times with great success.
Simple, yet effective.
Jim.
AnswerID:
286927
Follow Up By: Graham and Diane - Monday, Feb 11, 2008 at 20:37
Monday, Feb 11, 2008 at 20:37
A I like the idea but my driveway is only single width going into a double garage at the top so would have to start the car and van from the bottom but would not have anywhere to go with the car.
Graham
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