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Subject Topic: Aklo hitch on new caravan Post Reply Post New Topic
Persontracy63
17/2/2011 at 8:50pm
 Location: Wigan
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We are picking up our new caravan at the weekend, and ahve had an email from the seller saying that a swan neck tow ball is needed for the Alko hitch. Of course - we don't have one - is the Alko easily removed for our journey home?



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Tracy63


Persontrottster
17/2/2011 at 8:53pm
 Location: plymouth
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no you will need to buy a new towball unless it is already fitted or you have a swan neck towball


PersonEddie12
17/2/2011 at 8:58pm
 Location: Northern Ireland
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Hi Tracy, and welcome to the forum. Unfortunately, you cannot remove the Al-ko hitch, so that's a non-starter. You don't necessarily need a swan-neck tow-ball either, providing you have a proper Al-ko extended neck tow-ball fitted. If you don't, any tow-bar fitter , or possibly some caravan dealers, may be able to change your's over for you. (It's just a matter of removing your present tow-ball, & fitting the Al-ko one - two bolts).

Post last edited on 17/02/2011 21:20:36


Personboff
17/2/2011 at 9:05pm
 Location: N Wales
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You need an Alko tow hitch about £20 our Towsure do an equivalent for less money.  You also need to rub the paint of the ball.  However as long as you aren't going over any major humpback bridges or similar you will probally get away with it


PersonEddie12
17/2/2011 at 9:07pm
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This is what you need Tracy;

http://www.ukcampsite.co.uk/redirect.asp?redir=http://www.towsure.com/product/Extended_Towball_for_Alko_Type_Stabiliser_Hitches

(Copy/Paste)

Post last edited on 17/02/2011 21:20:58


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PersonOpensauce
17/2/2011 at 10:12pm
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This..

You might already have one on your car but if you have standard flange ball then you unbolt & replace with this, note that it has longer & deeper shank than standard flange ball. Its required to prevent the Al-Ko stab. hitch destroying itself if, for example you need to do a U turn.

If you have suitable sized spanners including a 2 foot breaker bar/socket you can change it yourself.


PersonOpensauce
17/2/2011 at 10:18pm
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If you tow it with a standard flange ball & turn sharply, the front of Al-Ko stab. hitch can catch, this can destroy the hitch, replacement is well over £200.


Personboff
18/2/2011 at 8:46am
 Location: N Wales
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This from the Alko Site

http://www.al-ko.co.uk/edit/files/support/AKS3004Handbook.pdf   As other have stated best thing is to get the proper hitch and get the paint off the ball.  I have a proper Alko hitch but I suspect that there are a lot of caravans out there with this hitch that use standard towballs


Personlyn hathaway
18/2/2011 at 2:05pm
 Location: barnsley south yorks
 Outfit: 2012 coachman amara 550 5 ford kuga View lyn hathaway's Profile View Profile   Reply to lyn hathaway Reply   Quote lyn hathaway Quote  
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having just purchased a new caravan we had to get a car has the van was too heavy for the car.i had ring dealer up this morning to see which tow ball was required on the tow bar .he said any as they are going to put a new alko ball on when we pick the van up

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Personlyn hathaway
19/2/2011 at 8:30am
 Location: barnsley south yorks
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oh by the way tracy welcome to site and happy caravanning

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Sandringham 22nd mar - 30th mar
thorpe park 27th apr - 1st july

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Personcrocket55
20/2/2011 at 8:10pm
 Location: BRISTOL
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 ......You also need to rub the paint of the ball .....

Silly question I know , but why?


PersonEddie12
20/2/2011 at 9:07pm
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Quote: Originally posted by crocket55 on 20/2/2011

 ......You also need to rub the paint of the ball .....

Silly question I know , but why?



Because the paint contaminates the pads, and you'll soon know when that happens.


Personcrocket55
21/2/2011 at 9:14am
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Quote: Originally posted by Eddie12 on 20/2/2011
Quote: Originally posted by crocket55 on 20/2/2011

 ......You also need to rub the paint of the ball .....

Silly question I know , but why?



Because the paint contaminates the pads, and you'll soon know when that happens.


PersonEddie12
21/2/2011 at 9:17am
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Quote: Originally posted by crocket55 on 21/2/2011
Quote: Originally posted by Eddie12 on 20/2/2011
Quote: Originally posted by crocket55 on 20/2/2011

 ......You also need to rub the paint of the ball .....

Silly question I know , but why?


Because the paint contaminates the pads, and you'll soon know when that happens.


Noise!


Personcrocket55
21/2/2011 at 9:25am
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Quote: Originally posted by Eddie12 on 21/2/2011
Quote: Originally posted by crocket55 on 21/2/2011
Quote: Originally posted by Eddie12 on 20/2/2011
Quote: Originally posted by crocket55 on 20/2/2011

 ......You also need to rub the paint of the ball .....

Silly question I know , but why?


Because the paint contaminates the pads, and you'll soon know when that happens.
Call me a stupid woman if you will [apart from the fact I just sent an empty post lol ] but why paint said ball in the first place?  


Persongeoff+emmy
21/2/2011 at 9:37am
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To stop going rusty in the store look at your brake discs after a nights rain



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