I am contemplation buying an Elddis caravan with a new type of hitch which I know nothing about. My car has an old tow ball and twin electrics for towing my 1999 Bailey Pageant. Will I need to alter my car tow ball or electrics?
The "new" caravan has twin electrics and the following hitch which I understand is a Winterhoff.
No need to do anything. Your car's two sockets will accept the caravan's two plugs. The Winterhoff hitch is a first class hitch and will also be suitable for your use. (I recently changed my Al-ko hitch for a Winterhoff, and I'm very pleased with it).
Quote: Originally posted by LlaniDavis on 28/9/2017
Doesn't the Winterhoff require the modified, longer necked ball?
No. The Winterhoff hitch only requires a standard 50mm towball. However they are prone to squealing if the pads become contaminated so remember to remove all paint and grease from the towball before using the Winterhoff.
What would I have to do if I got a Coachman with this hitch? Thanks for the info so far. I have never used a stabiliser nor have I had snaking on any of my vans.
Alko stabiliser hitch in picture. If you have flange ball towbar then you need the extended neck Alko compatible ball. Required to avoid damage to front of hitch at extreme articulation. This is also suitable for towing anything else as well. So it you have or are getting flange type towbar fitted the specify Alko stabiliser compatible flange ball job done.
If you are having a towbar fitted then I would go for swan neck. It looks much neater than flange ball & will be suitable for any hitch including Alko stabiliser.
Note for the pedants. All swan neck hitches supplied in the last 20yrs at least are suitable for any 50mm ball hitches which is standard UK/Europe size.
Yes just fit the Alko ball & you are good to go with any caravan you might end up with. You can fit it yourself if you have the spanners & the flange ball bolts are supposed to be torqued but the need to be tight so a long bar required. If you cannot diy then any garage can fit it for their labour rate.
I'm assuming here that you do not already have an Alko suitable ball fitted. If you want to post a side view photo of your current towball somebody will put you right.
Side view would tell for certain but with a rear view it looks like a standard flange so fit the Alko flange & you are good to go with anything if you are not sure of caravan choice yet. If you are getting the Elddis with the Winterhof hitch you can stick with standard flange you have though.
Do not grease the ball if you are using either stabiliser hitch though. ball needs to be clean shiny metal.
I am sure that hitch is the hitch on the BPW chassis. It also requires a different type of hitch lock. What year is the caravan as I think they only switched to the ALKO chassis last year.