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[robson]

does anybody have any experience of fitting and the use of a front tow ball for easy manoeuvreing of a caravan

[tunnie]

Apart from the emergency tow pole bolt, I would have thought it would difficult to find a place to secure a tow ball on the front of the car.

Sorry to be blunt, but just use the one on the back bumper & get better with it? 

[Andy B]

does anybody have any experience of fitting and the use of a front tow ball for easy manoeuvreing of a caravan

I'm sure you've already searched, but here's a link http://www.westerntowing.co.uk/acatalog/Vauxhall_Front_Push-Towbars.html
I'd put the money towards a fixed mover on the caravan if it's not possible to manoeuvre you caravan into storage/etc on the back of your car.

[bored bigyin54]

or unhitch it and move it by hand they are not that heavy got to do that with mine

[Andy B]

..... they are not that heavy got to do that with mine

Rather a generalised statement  Caravans's range from small to bloody big twin axles, OP might have a sloping drive that it has to go up. Mine is a little over a ton & I move it by hand as little as possible. 

[Slowmo]

Yes, I had a front towball on my range rover (classic). It was in the centre, unlike some land-rover ones which are off-centre.

I used to tow a caravan and a cabin cruiser (not at the same time). When pushing caravan or boat a long way or down a track it makes the job very easy - you just use the front of your vehicle to push the van, and the rear of your car just follows on. (BTW I am quite competent at reversing with a large trailer, but in a confined space, much better)

Don't know if you could fix one to the front of an omega though. However, the alignment and strength are not so important for work on private ground or camp sites.

Hope this helps, Peter.

[robson]

Thats right Andy B I have a slope and a tight parking place I have thought about a fixed mover but did not want the extra weight, Have you seen that device that you fix just behind the jockey wheel it has tank tracks and runs on its own battery remote controlled but expensive

[Andy B]

Thats right Andy B I have a slope and a tight parking place I have thought about a fixed mover but did not want the extra weight, Have you seen that device that you fix just behind the jockey wheel it has tank tracks and runs on its own battery remote controlled but expensive

I know the type of thing you mean, never seen one in the metal though. Our caravan came with a Reich mover already fitted, I think it was a dropped testicle by Barrons (now Discover) at Chorley, as it seemed that all other movers were removed from 2nd hand 'vans. Weight is something I've never really considered, it's low enough to not make much difference to nose weights etc, the gross weight of the 'van is around 1300kg and the Omega tows it quite easily - just thirstily 

[Entwood]

Thats right Andy B I have a slope and a tight parking place I have thought about a fixed mover but did not want the extra weight, Have you seen that device that you fix just behind the jockey wheel it has tank tracks and runs on its own battery remote controlled but expensive

Those types of mover are "OK" if you have a relatively straight run on a decent surface and not too steep an incline IMHO.

The "turning" motion is very slow which makes tight turns difficult. The "tracks" slip easily on gravel/wet concrete. They also use a lot of power

I looked at several a few years back and eventually opted for the full mover ... the powrtouch only weighs 37 Kg and we are well impresed with both the kit and the aftersales service of the company

http://www.powrwheel.com/

[Agemo]

I see the idea of having one at the front, I have used a Landy fitted with one, and it makes makes positioning a trailer very easy. Perhaps you could get a towball welded to a rod, threaded to fit the front towing eye hole. 

[Vamps]

I see the idea of having one at the front, I have used a Landy fitted with one, and it makes makes positioning a trailer very easy. Perhaps you could get a towball welded to a rod, threaded to fit the front towing eye hole. 

Now that is what I was thinking, as it is just for maneuvering.....

[robson]

that sounds a good idea lateral thinking i believe

[Andy B]

that sounds a good idea lateral thinking i believe

the towing eye is on the driver's side though, if you're having an offset front tow ball you need it in the middle or towards the passenger side so you can see down the side of the caravan as you're pushing it. 

[Bob G]

used to have front tow hitch on army Rovers to push trailers inot the Hercs, made life so much easier.

[robson]

Andy trust you to find a problem but quite right the next thing I would need would be a long forward facing drivers side mirror. Might be easier to practice more as Tunnie said.