I have a fairly old stabiliser which creaks and groans at slow speeds especially when turning. I'm not sure if this is normal or if I need to lower the caravan end of the fitting because it is pretty hard to lift on to the u shaped holder.
Yes, ours used to creak and groan all the time. As far as I can remember ours was hard to get into the holder. I take it is a bulldog blade stabiliser. As far as I am aware the noises are normal from the stabiliser.
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Probably a bulldog, but it's a blade type anyway - no name on it.
It was pretty noisy last time I used it a few years ago, but we had an alko stabliser hitch on the last van which is now sold on - maybe I'd just forgotten how creaky it was.
I have a bulldog stabiliser which used to creak and groan and the reason was the friction discs were worn and breaking up, a phone call to bulldog got me a new set of pads and full fitting and setting up measurements and settings and the only tools needed are a spanner and bathroom scales ,now my stabiliser does not creak anymore
If you take a good look at you stabilizer,you will notice that there is a couple of pads inside the part that swivels, these are similar to break pads.As your car turns these pads make the noise you can here.They are meant to,as they stop the van from snaking.Only worry if you don't hear the noise when you're cornering and straightening up.
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Ours is a fairly new Bulldog Major,about 12months old, and its always squeeked and screached since new, theres nothing wrong with it, and after owning a couple of others before it on various vans during our lifetime lol, we find the noise quite reassuring that its actually doing its job ok!
Julia
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Quote: Originally posted by Viggo on 25/6/2010
Does your stabiliser creak and groan?
Yes, she does...
Well that's you in trouble!
Thanks to all for replies - it really confirms what I thought myself. At least when I turn a corner at slow speed I am reassured that I haven't lost the stabiliser on the journey!
i noticed today my alkohitch creaks and groans like mad was a bit worried that there was an underlying problem there.dont want the caravan falling off next week lol
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I had the same trouble with our winterhoff stabiliser and to solve it i sprayed some brake cleaner onto the pads in the stabliser and also every so often i clean the towball with brake cleaner sprayed onto a rag, i have not had a problem since. I always allow both to dry out fully though before hitching together
Quote: Originally posted by fife-bloke on 25/6/2010
i noticed today my alkohitch creaks and groans like mad was a bit worried that there was an underlying problem there.dont want the caravan falling off next week lol
You need to clean both the hitch and the ball with white spirit. Check the pads in the hitch and install some new ones. They are quite cheap on ebay.