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The Alko/winterhoff solution is easier to use and more positive since when you are hitching up it is difficult to forget to push the lever down. The blade types are more awkward to fit and genrally less convenient. They both work very well, it would be hard to say that one was better than the other in action. I used a blade for 11 years and I have used an Alko for 5 years and I would not willingly go back to a blade. However if my next van ( whenever that may be ) is not fitted with a stabilising hitch I would not be prepared to pay the extra £150+ to have one fitted when the blade type do as good a job.

I would point out that a recent study by the university of Bath suggests that stabilisers are not actually going to reduce the risk of a snake, just cover it up. Therefore you lose the first signs that something is wrong until it is too late. It would be more accurate to call them a comfort aid than a safety device.

There is even a train of thought that due to the early signs of a problem being covered up that they could be considered dangerous (I know at least one person on the forum that will not use a stabiliser who puts up a very good argument against them) Of course a more comfortable driver is more relaxed and should be a better driver which IMO cancels things out to a certain degree.

I certainly no longer consider a stabiliser a safety device, but whilst I am not about to remove mine, if I had the information when I bought it that I have now, I would have seriously considered saving my money and putting it towards retrofitting AlKos ATC which is certainly a far superior system as regards safety and is not significantly more expensive than a quality stabiliser.

As has already been mentioned, the Alko stabiliser is far better than the blase types.