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Subject Topic: Question about tow bars Post Reply Post New Topic
PersonMadMum1972
06/4/2013 at 8:34pm
 Location: Hempstead Kent
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Hi all.

It's me again, hungry for some more knowledge!

We have chosen our car today, a Mondeo 2l tdci 140bph. It is a 2010 on a 10 plate.

I have rung a company today and spoken about tow bars. He asked me if the caravan has an ALKO hitch. I said I think so. I have just looked again and it says it has a hitch head stabiliser. Is this the same thing??

There is so much I need to learn that it is a bit scary! I don't want to get the wrong tow bar put on the car.

The tow bar suggested was a detachable flange or a fixed flange. How do I know this will suit the caravan? Is there any way of knowing whether swan neck would suit the caravan better? Is it a case that the tow bar fits the car and any caravan will suit or do certain caravans need certain tow bars?

I know the experienced will probably be thinking I should not be let loose with a caravan but I am a quick learner!!

-------------
Center Parcs April 2015
Chestnut Meadows Bexhill August 2015
Once in lifetime trip to Florida Oct 2015!!!


PersonOpensauce
06/4/2013 at 9:26pm
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Fit a swan neck, it will look more tidy & be ok for your Al-ko hitch. If your caravan is new it will require a 13pin socket on car


PersonGrampian91
06/4/2013 at 9:40pm
 Location: Midlands
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None of the towbars suit the caravan better.

As long as it has a towball its the same to the caravan.

Do you want to take the towbar off when not towing so the car looks standard from behind? This probably means getting under the bumper to fit and remove it though.

Swanneck, Leave it fixed but its less obvious than the flange towbar.

Flanged towbar, Usually the cheapest option and most obvious to look at. But also the most versatile.
Plenty of options for bike racks and other add ons.


Personthe black fox
07/4/2013 at 8:00am
 Location: flint north wales
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as i told you in a previous post you will need a alko tow ball ,either fixed or detachable makes no difference ,a fixed one does i find protect the cars rear from car park/parking space nudgers ,

NEVER under any circumstance even if you hear squeaking while towing grease your tow ball ,they are made to run dry .it the fitters put one on that is sprayed black you also have to remove the paint before use .


Personthe black fox
07/4/2013 at 8:02am
 Location: flint north wales
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Personbirdman101
07/4/2013 at 9:26am
 Location: Milton Keynes
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Ensure you have the dedicated wiring for your model and have it coded at Ford Dealer.


PersonDavid Klyne
07/4/2013 at 10:15am
 Location: Milton Keynes
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The reason you were asked whether you had an AlKo fitted to the caravan is that it requires a tow ball with a slightly longer neck. If you have a swan neck fitted its fine for both AlKo and non AlKo hitches.

David


PersonDaveCoaches
08/4/2013 at 5:31pm
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AlKo Stabiliser hitches are predominantly red and silver in colour and have a lever either on the side or on the top depending on the model. These will fit any tow bar, BUT if you have a flange type towbar, you need to get an AlKo tow ball, not a standard tow ball. It will work fine with a detatchable or swan neck as standard. Do not grease the hitch or tow ball with a stabiliser hitch though.

Winterhoff Stabiliser hitches are predominantly dark blue in colour, almost black. These also have a lever which is incorporated into the handle. These will fit any tow bar with a 50mm ball, including a standard flange ball, an AlKo flange ball (though why anyone would want to use a more expensive AlKo towball unnecessarily is another matter), a detatchable or swan neck. These should not be greased either.

The other option is the standard non stabiliser hitches. These are normally silver in colour, although there are still some very old ones about which will be painted cast iron. Thee will fit any tow bar with a 50mm ball and should be greased.

There are also still a very small number of very old 2" hitches in existence which are now obsolete as 2" tow balls are extremely difficult to source in the UK These hitches will fit over a 50mm ball, but at 50.08 mm, before taking into account possible wear on the ball and the inevitable wear in the old hitch, are liable to jump off a 50 mm tow ball, so should really be replaced with a 50mm hitch. 2" are still common in the USA, so sourcing a tow ball ball from the USA may be an option. Fortunately, these are now very scarce.


PersonZafiral
08/4/2013 at 6:25pm
 Location: Kent
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As a seasoned Mondeo IV owner I can recommend the dedicated wiring loom as it turns off the parking sensors if fitted & also detects bulb failure through the car's own electronics.
I would also get a removable bar as the Mondeo boot is huge & I have caught my shins on my bar more than a few times while reaching in to the depths of the boot. My bar is removable, but I usually leave it attached while actually away.

-------------
All year Dorset!!!


PersonMadMum1972
08/4/2013 at 8:08pm
 Location: Hempstead Kent
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Thanks all for your help. I thought about the detachable bars but it worries me incase I don't quite fit it back on correctly. I am a born worrier!! I am sure it is pretty fool proof and I know what you mean about hitting your shins. I have done that many a time with the oneon my present car!

I have my tow bar booked in now for the 50mm flange alko one but I may well research how the detachable ones work tonight.

Neither my husband nor myself can sleep at night through all the excitement of our additonal learning and things we need to find out! We are becoming very tired!

-------------
Center Parcs April 2015
Chestnut Meadows Bexhill August 2015
Once in lifetime trip to Florida Oct 2015!!!


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PersonZafiral
08/4/2013 at 10:32pm
 Location: Kent
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With both the removable bars I have had, one Witter & one Brink (Thule), both show red by the catch if not fitted correctly & green when in place similar to the Alko hitch when in place on the tow ball. Check manufacturers websites, they should be instructions available online.
Since towing I have had:

Scenic - swan neck
Civic - flange with Alko ball
Zafira - swan neck
Peugeot 4007 - removable
Mondeo - removable

The flange has one other advantage (as well as being cheaper) of having the electric sockets mounted higher up, however this is even more to catch the shins on. Never again, and that was on a Civic with the shortest boot of any of my tow cars.

-------------
All year Dorset!!!


PersonMarkos
27/4/2013 at 5:49pm
 Location: Essex
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Quote:
NEVER under any circumstance even if you hear squeaking while towing grease your tow ball ,they are made to run dry .it the fitters put one on that is sprayed black you also have to remove the paint before use .


Off topic I know, but there's another thread in here on this very subject and they are saying you SHOULD grease it?


-------------
Are you looking at my bird?


Personthe black fox
28/4/2013 at 8:05am
 Location: flint north wales
 Outfit: swift challenger 480se 2002 View the black fox's Profile View Profile   Reply to the black fox Reply   Quote the black fox Quote  
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Quote: Originally posted by Markos on 27/4/2013
Quote: NEVER under any circumstance even if you hear squeaking while towing grease your tow ball ,they are made to run dry .it the fitters put one on that is sprayed black you also have to remove the paint before use .


Off topic I know, but there's another thread in here on this very subject and they are saying you SHOULD grease it?


NO NO NO never ever grease or oil a tow ball that is made for a alko/winterhoff type tow hitch ,they are designed to run totally dry and free from paint etc .

mad mum don't know what you have been quoted for for your towbar ,but i had mine fitted to my new mondeo estate on friday and it cost me £179-00 all in ,super job to .



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