MySwag.org The Off-road Camper Trailer Forum
General => General Discussion => Topic started by: Kenneth23763 on December 16, 2018, 10:32:13 AM
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Guys
Tight driveway. 1:10 fall of approx. 1.5 m from street level.
Street is very busy and not conducive to setting up to reverse trailer.
Used to drive up and manhandle but too difficult.
Is the slope too difficult for an electric wheel thingymejig>
Will a trailer valet do the job.
What about a simple ratchet jockey wheel?
I had thought about a boat winch (electric or manual) to the garage pillar
Any suggestions?
Hopefully pickming up the Cub Supamatic mid week.
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Reverse the trailer up there?
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A winch is going to be much less conducive to death. Trailers, hills, jockey wheels = dodgy.
I’d be fixing to the slab rather than a brick pier though. If it must be the pier it would be through it to a strong back plate behind.
Best way looks to be building a turn in on the right up the top of the drive and a powered jockey wheel along the relative flat back into the garage?
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Guys
If I had my way I'd knock out the right hand wall of the drive and level it all off and I would have no issues and plenty of parking to boot!
I can reverse but it is really tight, only 15cm leeway each side. You need to be lined up perfectly and unfortunately the road is very busy making it difficult to line up.
Winch off pillar seems easiest. May even use old 4wd winch.
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Reverse the trailer up there?
Yep, the easiest way is going to be getting good at reversing, 15cm each side is enough, maybe go and practice in some empty carparks and use the lines as a guide.
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If I had my way I'd knock out the right hand wall of the drive and level it all off and I would have no issues and plenty of parking to boot!
sounds like a good idea
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Put a tow bar on the front of the 4by and drive it up . cheers Ron.
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A winch is going to be much less conducive to death. Trailers, hills, jockey wheels = dodgy.
I’d be fixing to the slab rather than a brick pier though. If it must be the pier it would be through it to a strong back plate behind.
Best way looks to be building a turn in on the right up the top of the drive and a powered jockey wheel along the relative flat back into the garage?
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Agree, anchor on slab would be best.
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I had thought about a boat winch (electric or manual) to the garage pillar
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Danger Will Robinson!!
Do not attach to the brickwork. As others have suggested, it's the slab or nothing.
:cheers:
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I reckon a ratchet jockey wheel would be testing it....and any other mover for that matter....and I don’t think I would trust it on that much of a grading.
I reckon the hitch on the front of the vehicle is the best option....but even that may not be practical depending on the vehicle ?
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Danger Will Robinson!!
Do not attach to the brickwork. As others have suggested, it's the slab or nothing.
:cheers:
And a reminder of why not,
https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/real-life/news-life/perth-man-dies-after-brick-pillar-collapses-and-crushes-hammock-holding-him-and-girlfriend/news-story/5be861d8681233ad8770704f342a1852 (https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/real-life/news-life/perth-man-dies-after-brick-pillar-collapses-and-crushes-hammock-holding-him-and-girlfriend/news-story/5be861d8681233ad8770704f342a1852)
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Definitely dynabolt to the slab.
We had an eye bolt to the pillar on the front of the shed that the horse would occasionally get tied to.
The brickwork pillar was around 6 bricks wide and 1.5 deep, tied to the trusses and with roller doors bolted to it, so a fair lump.
Anyway, horse was tied to it and decided it didn't want to be there any more and pulled back. The whole pillar moved 6" with a 600kg horse just leaning back on the rope. 1500kg of trailer going for a short roll and pulling tight on the winch will rip the bricks out and leave the house bowing in the middle.
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I reckon a ratchet jockey wheel would be testing it....and any other mover for that matter....and I don’t think I would trust it on that much of a grading.
I reckon the hitch on the front of the vehicle is the best option....but even that may not be practical depending on the vehicle ?
Even if a ratchet wheel did work, I reckon it would be painfully slow. Even if you had to reposition several times while reversing (until you become really good at it, which you wil, with practice), that would still be quicker.
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I reckon a ratchet jockey wheel would be testing it....and any other mover for that matter....and I don’t think I would trust it on that much of a grading.
dont think Id wanna be on the downhill side of a ratchet jockey wheel going up that hill and having to 'reposition'...
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Yep, the easiest way is going to be getting good at reversing, 15cm each side is enough, maybe go and practice in some empty carparks and use the lines as a guide.
x 1000. I drive semis and B-doubles for a living and some places we have to back the trucks into are a pain in the arse. Go and practice as suggested. When it comes time to put it up the driveway, put your hazards on and get to work. Most, not all, people will wait while you get it done. You won't be holding them up for very long at all.
Cheers, Mike.
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Excavator?
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Can you drive up into 1 garage unhitch and push trailer into 2nd garage.
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Excavator?
na hes too old to help push.
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put your hazards on and get to work. Most, not all, people will wait while you get it done. You won't be holding them up for very long at all.
This. At the end of the day it's the easiest solution. For about 5 years, every year I had to reverse my wife's Nans 17ft caravan up her very narrow driveway (and narrow gate) off Pascoe Vale Road in Melbourne.
Tried doing it at night, but mostly a Sunday arvo with relos and Stop/Slow lollipop sign, as the house was at the crest of a hill. Nothing like an audience to make sure you bring your A game! Usually got a toot and thumbs up when it squeezed through the gates, but got the bronx cheer from a truckie when I cocked it up....
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Can you drive up into 1 garage unhitch and push trailer into 2nd garage.
Yep, if its pretty flat up near the garage, a Campomatic won't be hard to spin around into the other garage..
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I'm no engineer, but that brick pillar looks to be designed to support a vertical load? Strap a winch to it and drag a 1.5T load up a steep incline looks like a recipe for disaster.
Dynabolt into the concrete for sure.
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What have you got as a tow vehicle?
Both mine have manual freewheel hubs, so I put them in L4 when I'm reversing the trailer up the driveway, and it just gives that bit more control over the trailer.
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I have both ratchet and a powered jockey wheel, and can tell you from experience that both struggle on even a gentle slope. Any more than a gentle slope and the wheel will spin anyway.
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If you are going to use a winch. I wouldnt even rely on dynabolts in a what looks like old concrete. Park your car in garage and connect the winch to it. I dont think the car will move with the rolling weight of a trailer up that slope. Problem would be getting enough length of rope on winch to go that distance. The old capstan PTO winches would be the go.
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If you have a Winch on the front of your car you may be able back the trailer up as far as you can use wheel chocks and hand brake disconnect car and turn around.
using eye bolts Dyna bolted to the concrete floor attach a pulley block run the winch cable under the trailer through the pully block on the floor and attached to the rear of your trailer. ( if you have rear recovery point)
Using the winch to pull the trailer into the garage. You should also attach a strap to another anchor point and trailer just in case something let go especially if you are on a steep slope. Would be best to do this before disconnecting from car.
I used to do this at my old place although the driveway was not steep just to tight to swing the trailer and car around into the garage so limited risk in the trailer getting away.
I was able to steer the trailer while winching it in at the same time..
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The other great (not) thing about ratchet jockey wheels is they only ratchet in one direction. Get past the point of resistance and they are just a jockey wheel that clicks as it runs you over. Not ideal on any slope.
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If you are going to use a winch. I wouldnt even rely on dynabolts in a what looks like old concrete.
Absolutely. I'd be making sure it's at least 100mm thick and reinforced. Eye bolt on a 200mm steel base plate with four Trubolts or Chemsets to spread the load.
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The other great (not) thing about ratchet jockey wheels is they only ratchet in one direction. Get past the point of resistance and they are just a jockey wheel that clicks as it runs you over. Not ideal on any slope.
Mine will work both forward and back. The lever arm has a 1/2" drive ratchet head, and the wheel has a ratchet lever as well. But it's a pain when you do want to change directions, moving both levers in the opposite directions, especially when on a slope and the load is against the ratchet pawl. Totally agree with the other part of your post though, I've busted a few thongs with mine. >:(
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What have you got as a tow vehicle?
Both mine have manual freewheel hubs, so I put them in L4 when I'm reversing the trailer up the driveway, and it just gives that bit more control over the trailer.
what he said.
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May or may not be up to the task, but it's only a phone call to find out - https://parkit360.com.au/collections/models-pricing/products/p360hd-4535kg-boat-caravan-mover They're not far from you, so may be able to arrange a site inspection?
They have a few options for power, and can be set up with a brake controller to work the trailer brakes. Bloody expensive though, but they appear to a fair bit better than the average power mover.
I think 1 in 10 is about on their limit, and the driveway in the photo looks steeper than that? Don't measure the amount of fall over the entire length of the driveway, measure it over just the steepest section so you have a true idea of the hill you need to climb.
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I’ve seen a boat winch used and they work great . Keep in mind you might have to make up a couple of extensions for the cable. You might have to stop winching and run the cable out again. If it’s not a remote winch , you might have to extend the controller wire too. Also make up a bar that goes over your jockey wheel so you can steer it. :cheers:
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I'd also rig some chocks that can drag up the drive with the camper so if any of the winch rigging lets go the wheels will hit the chocks and stop.
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Have you considered moving house. ;D
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On the right hand side where the lawn, retaining wall and driveway are all the same height do you. Have enough room to put a concrete pad or large paved area that you can drive up to and swing onto, allowing you to unhitch and swing the trailer into the garage on the flat top of the driveway?
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I agree with Potsy. Visually it appears that a car could pull to the right even if you had to position some small ramps to allow this to happen. Then dehitch the camper and push into garage with some ratchet mover with a safety winch strap.
Maybe easier then winching the whole driveway?
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Guys
Some great feedback.
To answer some questions;
* old house built in 50's car will not fit into garage!
* camper will only just fit into right hand door.
* good comments on pillar and I will disregard due to concerns raised.
* I used to have a 4wd that I would drive up and onto the grass and then decouple the trailer on the driveway. Not a lot of room for error and you still have to manhandle.
* The car is a Commodore so still has sufficient power to back up the incline - I hope.
* I can actually reverse a trailer having plenty of experience on boat ramps and with vans but I was looking for an easier less stress solution.
* The road is Greythorn Road in Balwyn - now a major thoroughfare.
* Wife will not consider site works as she doesn't want the front yard turned into a carpark. 4 cars, 1 x camper, 1 x 6x4 and 2 motorbikes she has a point.
I think based upon the collective advice of the forum, especially the warnings about an unsecured trailer on a slope I will just have to pick my times and reverse. The only Shitty thing is that the wall on the right usually prevents egress form the car unlees it is a 4wd with sufficient clearance - like the pajero that I foolishly got rid of!
I'll report back on Wed and let you know how I went.
Ken
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* The car is a Commodore so still has sufficient power to back up the incline - I hope.
your gearbox will disown you.
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Okay
Picked up the 2006 Supermatic Regal from Arch and Ros.
Well used but well looked after unit.
Hooked up and towed very well.
Got home and asked wife to get her mobile phone out and guide me.
Held traffic up one side of traffic for less than a minute and straight up the driveway.it llooked as thoguh most people were okay excpet for the mandatory idiot.
First go okay. Needed guide and kept it slow.
Car had plenty of power and did not hear any issues with the transmission.
I suppose the incease distance between the draw bar and wheels as opposed to a 6x4 makes things easier.
Thanks for the input a lot of helpful info that hopefully will be of use to others.
The only issue is that I had to exit the car by the passengers oddr due to the wall.
By this time next year I'll be back in a 4wd so with the extra height everything is okay.
Wifes suggestion to loose 20kgs was not appreciated.
I'll post photos of van over in the cub forum when I set it up later this week!
Ken
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Good to hear it all worked out.
A reversing camera on the back of the van would also help make things much easier! 8)
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I suppose the increase distance between the draw bar and wheels as opposed to a 6x4 makes things easier.
Yep definitely. Short drawbars on box trailers can be a little touchy. Reversing a truck with a trailer is far easier.
I can fully relate to your situation. Nothing worse than a bunch of spectators waiting and watching as you're trying to reverse something into a tricky spot. Its a bit like reverse parking the big 4wd into a prius spot in the middle of town with a bunch of muppets sitting behind you.
Good outcome and the more you do it the more you will ignore the impatient spectators.
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As an aside. We've got road works happening on our street ATM. Yesterday we watched a B Double being reversed around a street corner and she managed to keep ALL of the trailer wheels where the bitumen meets the concrete gutter. Later I overheard one of the crew asking her how she did it and she replied "practice is the key, years and years of it"
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