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Subject Topic: Winterhoff hitch is "graunching"
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Personxplore
24/5/2016 at 7:27pm
 Location: Lincolnshire
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Last week we drove 80 miles with our Elddis Xplore 304 which has a Winterhoff hitch. We had no problems on the trip?
Today one week later we hitch up ready to come home and at low speed the hitch is making loud "graunching" noises, the noise is far worse at low speeds.
We unhitched and rehitched twice and it made no difference; the hitch has recently been greased with a grease gun.
The caravan is only just over 4 years old and we did not use it last year due to other commitments. We think we have probably done just under 5000 miles with it.
Has any one any suggestions as to what the problem might be?
Thanks, Jan



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naj


PersonRTS5
24/5/2016 at 8:02pm
 Location: North Wiltshire
 Outfit: Elddis & 3 tents View RTS5's Profile View Profile   Reply to RTS5 Reply   Quote RTS5 Quote  
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Probably dirt on your tow ball. Give it a clean with some sandpaper.


PersonPickled Onion
24/5/2016 at 10:17pm
 Location: Near Alton Towers
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Quote: Originally posted by RTS5 on 24/5/2016
Probably dirt on your tow ball. Give it a clean with some sandpaper.


A flush with some Brake Cleaner will help get any grease off too. BTW cleaner, not brake fluid.

Dave.

-------------
Give a man a fish and he will eat for a day,
Teach a man to fish and you can get rid of him for a whole weekend.


Personxplore
24/5/2016 at 11:49pm
 Location: Lincolnshire
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If it was cleaned when we left and the cover was put on the ball I see no reason that it would have got dirty again.

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naj


Persontango55
24/5/2016 at 11:52pm
 Location: Lichfield
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It will get dirty again as the cover may contain tiny particles of dirt. A creaking stabiliser hitch at low speeds is usually either dirt on the towball or contaminated friction pads in the hitch. They both need to be thoroughly clean on contact otherwise any tiny particles of diesel fumes or dust will contribute to unwanted graunching noise.


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Personxplore
26/5/2016 at 9:29pm
 Location: Lincolnshire
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Thank you for your help and advice, I think one of the friction pads has fallen out!
Will check it out again when it is not raining and hubby thinks he can get up again after looking! Then we will get some new ones!,
Cheers, Jan

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naj


Personrogandmit
29/5/2016 at 4:11pm
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Hi can anyone help have got winterhoff hitch. When going round corners or roundabouts or over speed humps makes terrible noise ie sounds like metal rubbing on metal.


Personpeter1474
29/5/2016 at 4:19pm
 Location: ML9
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Quote: Originally posted by rogandmit on 29/5/2016
Hi can anyone help have got winterhoff hitch. When going round corners or roundabouts or over speed humps makes terrible noise ie sounds like metal rubbing on metal.


Read all above



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Peter and CofSD (Anne)


Persontango55
29/5/2016 at 6:22pm
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Quote: Originally posted by rogandmit on 29/5/2016
Hi can anyone help have got winterhoff hitch. When going round corners or roundabouts or over speed humps makes terrible noise ie sounds like metal rubbing on metal.



The answer to your question is in the above posts.


PersonRonnieRemould
29/5/2016 at 10:46pm
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I had exactly this problem with a Winterhoff hitch and I found the answer was to remove the friction pads and to clean them with emery cloth - until they were a light straw colour - after several half soaked attempts at cleaning them I found that a proper job was needed.


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Personrogandmit
29/5/2016 at 11:11pm
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Thank you for your help


Personpassatboy
27/6/2016 at 3:17pm
 Location: stockport
 Outfit: elddis avante 540 View passatboy's Profile View Profile   Reply to passatboy Reply   Quote passatboy Quote  
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Hi Guys, I know its going over old ground but I suffer with hitch noise. As a matter of interest how long are friction pads meant to last. When the hitch is attached the visible marker is on the middle line, so to me its showing the pads need replacing. Ive gone through this cleaning regime in the past and its semi worked, and as one guy earlier said when you go over a speed bump its pretty unpleasant, sounds like the van is coming off. My last van made no noise whatsoever so I'm wondering if this hitch really is not suitable. Sometimes when towing it sounds like an old galley at sea creaking away.

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Paul blackburn


PersonGrandad Kenny
01/7/2016 at 3:19pm
 Location: Essex
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Paul, what do you mean by ' the hitch is not suitable'? Suitable to be on your caravan?


Personpassatboy
01/7/2016 at 4:06pm
 Location: stockport
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Hi, yes I'm wondering if this hitch is suitable all round, lots of people with Elddis seem to have a problem with noisy hitch.

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Paul blackburn


PersonGrandad Kenny
01/7/2016 at 10:03pm
 Location: Essex
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I have elddis and winters off an d no problem at all. I tow my daughters caravan for her but always clean the towball with wet wipes and an old tea towel before putting my own caravan on, never had a problem. As other bods have said, clean the towball and friction pads, no problem 😊


Personpassatboy
02/7/2016 at 6:38pm
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I do everytime l go out, l clean towball so it's spotless and clean pads with recommended brake cleaner.

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Paul blackburn



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