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Subject Topic: Keeping Alko towball clean using trailer! Post Reply Post New Topic
PersonPaul B
10/6/2014 at 7:29pm
 Location: Bradford West Yorkshire
 Outfit: Ssangyong Korando & Sprite Major 6TD View Paul B's Profile View Profile   Reply to Paul B Reply   Quote Paul B Quote  
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Hi all,

Looking for some advice, I'm in the process of trying to find a trailer to use fro trips to the tip etc. This will undoubtedly require a greased tow ball, but need to avoid cross-contamination when I'm using the caravan with an Alko hitch.

Since I've got a flange mounted tow ball, I could simply unbolt the towballs and keep swapping them, but wondered what others do in a similar situation? Swapping the tow ball obviously isn't practical from anyone with a swan-neck, so others must do something different?

Is there some kind of cover I can put over the towball to keep it clean, robust enough that it doesn't get damaged, but thin enough that it allows the hitch of the trailer to fit normally onto the towball?

Thanks,

Paul


Personalbee
10/6/2014 at 7:43pm
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Hi, What I would do if you would only doing short trips to the tip is to just lightly grease trailer hitch, then after use wipe ball with clean rag then wipe with thinners/lighter fluid or similar then rinse off with aerosol brake cleaner you get can this from pound shops etc. should find it to be then clean.


PersonGrampian91
10/6/2014 at 8:44pm
 Location: Midlands
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I use swarfega engine/patio cleaner/degreaser. Its designed to be used watered down. But i use it neat in a little spray bottle.

Dirty rag to wipe the main bulk off then spray and use a clean rag or the blue washing cloths on a roll.

One thing to watch is the towball cover. It for fit over a greasy ball remember to clean it also.


Personphantomtrucker
10/6/2014 at 10:28pm
 Location: Reading
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I use meths, clean of worse then do it with meth soaked rag, do not use cover until cleaned.


-------------
Sue & Bob


PersonLobeyDosser
11/6/2014 at 12:11am
 Location: Argyll Scotland
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I went through this when we had a van that came fitted with the Alko Stabilizer. Every time we went to use it the towball had to be cleaned. I used Brake Fluid and a clean rag. It was a proper sod. I use a Ute Trailer for most jobs and that, ofcourse, has a greased hitch.

Fortunately our latest van has a Spring Stabiliser and so the towball stays greased.

-------------
Lobey.


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Personfixings
11/6/2014 at 7:21am
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You don't even have to grease the ball, just spray a bit of grease into trailer hitch. When you have finished towing trailer, clean ball with solvent as suggested.


Personmillermicm
11/6/2014 at 7:51am
 Location: west country
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There is no cover that you can fit the trailer hitch over but cleaning off a bit of grease is not difficult. Wipe most off with a rag or tissue then clean it using a solvent, thinners, petrol, brake cleaner, white spirit, meths etc. Any of these type of fluids will do.

-------------
Steve


PersonPaul B
12/6/2014 at 1:33pm
 Location: Bradford West Yorkshire
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Many thanks to everyone for their comments - far simpler than keep unbolting the tow ball!



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