How to Choose the Right Trailer Valet Mover

Moving a trailer by hand is one of those tasks that sounds simple until you're actually doing it. You're pushing against hundreds or thousands of pounds, trying to steer something with no steering, in a space that's never quite big enough. Or you're trying to back your truck into position for the tenth time because the angle is never right.

Trailer Valet makes three different product lines designed to solve this problem, and they each solve it differently. The right one depends on what you're moving, how heavy it is, and how much control you need.

Here's how to figure out which one is actually right for you.

First, Know Your Weight Numbers

Before anything else, you need two numbers: your trailer's gross weight and its tongue weight.

Gross weight is the total loaded weight of your trailer. Tongue weight is the downward force the trailer puts on the hitch, typically 10 to 15 percent of gross weight. A 5,000-pound trailer usually carries 500 to 750 pounds of tongue weight.

Both numbers matter. Every Trailer Valet mover has limits on both, and running either number over capacity will strain the equipment or simply not work. Check your trailer's door placard or owner's manual if you're not sure. When in doubt, weigh it.

The MV Series: Manual Dollies for Everyday Moves

The MV Series (the 5X and XL) is the manual option. You push it. No motor, no battery, no remote. What it gives you is simplicity, reliability, and the ability to move your trailer anywhere without needing a charge.

The 5X handles trailers up to 5,000 lbs with a tongue weight capacity of 500 lbs. It's the right choice for small travel trailers, boat trailers, and utility trailers you need to reposition around your property without hitching up.

The XL steps up to 10,000 lbs gross and 1,000 lbs tongue weight. It accepts both 2-inch and 2-5/16-inch balls, and a high/low gear ratio gives you mechanical advantage when you're dealing with heavier loads. If you're moving larger travel trailers, cargo trailers, or a tiny home trailer, the XL is what you need.

Both are built on rust-resistant steel with zinc-nickel coating and a powder-coated finish. The solid rubber "Never Flat" tires give you grip on concrete, gravel, and packed dirt without worrying about a flat at the wrong moment.

Choose the MV Series if: You want a straightforward, no-charge-required solution for repositioning trailers in a driveway or storage area. If your trailer is within weight limits and you don't need motorized help, these get the job done without complexity.

The JX Series: Drill-Powered Jacks for Lifting and Leveling

The JX Series solves a different problem. These aren't dollies, they're jacks. If you've ever cranked a trailer jack by hand for five minutes just to hitch or unhitch, you already understand the appeal.

The JX Series is drill-powered, compatible with any 18-24V drill. Attach your drill, pull the trigger, and the jack does the work. No manual cranking. Much faster setup and breakdown at camp or in storage.

There are two weight tiers. The JX2 models (JX2-C and JX2-S) handle trailers up to 2,000 lbs, teardrop trailers, small utility trailers, lightweight campers. The JX5 models (JX5-C and JX5-S) go up to 5,000 lbs for small to mid-size travel trailers.

The "C" designation is a coupler-mount style; "S" is a side-mount. The side-mount version has a sleeve fitting that keeps things sliding smoothly even after heavy use. All models include a foot plate and wheel attachment, and the gear system on JX5 models is optimized to minimize heat buildup under load.

Choose the JX Series if: Your main pain point is the lifting and lowering process, hitching, unhitching, leveling at a campsite. If you want to eliminate hand-cranking and speed up your setup time, this is the product line for you.

The RVR Series: Remote-Controlled Movers for Total Control

The RVR is in a different category entirely. It's a motorized, remote-controlled rover that attaches to your trailer's coupler and moves the whole thing under its own power. You stand up to 40 feet away and steer it with a remote.

There are four models:

RVR3: up to 3,500 lbs gross, 350 lbs tongue weight. Good for motorcycle trailers, jet ski trailers, and small utility trailers.

RVR5: up to 5,500 lbs, 550 lbs tongue weight. Handles teardrop trailers, A-frame campers, pop-ups, and larger boat trailers.

RVR9: up to 9,000 lbs, 900 lbs tongue weight. Right for mid-size travel trailers and small horse trailers.

RVR12: up to 12,000 lbs, 1,200 lbs tongue weight. Large travel trailers, heavy enclosed cargo trailers. The RVR12 also has three speed settings for more precise control.

All RVR models have 360-degree range of motion, aluminum bodies for corrosion resistance, and lithium-ion batteries that run up to 30 minutes per charge. That's plenty of runtime for repositioning in a storage yard or backing into a tight campsite.

Choose the RVR Series if: You're regularly moving heavy trailers solo, dealing with tight spaces where you need to see exactly what's happening, or just done with the physical effort of pushing and steering. Remote control means you can walk alongside the trailer and react to what you're seeing in real time.

How to Decide

Start with weight. If your trailer is over 10,000 lbs, you need the RVR12. If it's under 5,000 lbs, most options in the lineup will work and the choice becomes about how you want to move it.

Then think about the task. If the problem is hitching and unhitching, lifting the tongue, cranking it up and down, the JX Series is the direct fix. If the problem is repositioning the trailer around your property or storage area, you're looking at the MV or RVR series.

Finally, consider how often you're doing this. If you're moving your trailer a few times a year, a manual dolly is perfectly reasonable. If you're repositioning frequently, moving heavy loads, or working solo, the time and effort saved by a motorized RVR pays for itself fast.

If you're still not sure after going through those questions, Trailer Valet's support team can walk you through it. They know the product line in detail and can point you to the right model based on exactly what you're working with.