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Hi Everyone, we've just got a new, second hand Isuzu Trooper to pull our Caravan. I knew even before we bought it, that the rear door spare would cause a problem when hitching our caravan, with its Alko stabiliser. Is there an accepted way to work out this problem or am I looking to do something radical like taking the spare wheel off. I had thought that hitching with the rear door open might do it. I know that I only have myself to blame, but when the missus falls in love with the motor what is a bloke to do?

Hi Cestria

We have a similar issue with the CR-V, you can just about hitch with the door closed and spare wheel on, but when unhitching the last bit of travel of the Alko handle tends to knock the spare wheel cover with a bang.

Solution, £25 removeable Alko handle from Alko, some people on here object to spending the money, but the colour coded spare wheel covers aren't cheap either.

The handle could be a cheaper option when bought with the stabiliser I guess.

Mick

Hi Cestria

My parents had this problem with their Freelander.  They bought the Alko removeable handle as soon as they became available - solving the problem.

Some folks have also suggested removing the normal Alko handle as required - but Alko have warned that it is not intended to be removed and refitted in this way, with possible dire consequences!

£25 is not a lot to preserve the domestic happiness!

Many people remove the Alko handle ,its just one screw and dire consequences don't seem to ensue.

The handle is removed on hitching so that the levers can be moved downwards taking up the slack and then replaced to take up the pressure.

The procedure is reversed on unhitching (ie release pressure then remove handle to full raise the levers)

Alko say that  using the new handle (£25) will enable you to pass on the old one in good condition to the next owner!!!

There was a very good letter in this month's CC mag slating Alko and their reply in the previous month's mag.(removing handle etc as above)

I totally agree with the writer of the letter and think that Alko got the design wrong in the first place and to ask £25 for a mod to the handle which you are told to remove when towing anyway is a total rip off.

My friend has been removing the handle when hitching to his Freelander for 2 years with no signs of anything dire happening  .

He has even bought a special torx screwdriver so that the better half has a good tool to use when she unscrews the bolt

That's good news for Pajero owners

New regs on towbars limit the thickness of spacers on type approved towbars for later vehicles although I have yet to read of any prosecutions for towbar failure by the towbar police

www.witter-towbars.co.uk

Look on this website for details

They seem to say max spacer 25mm for most applications

It can still be awkward if the car and van are not level

If the car is nose up and the van nose down due to the lie of the land

Quote: Originally posted by JohnG on 11/10/2005

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It can still be awkward if the car and van are not level

If the car is nose up and the van nose down due to the lie of the land

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You are dead right JohnG. We thought we had got away with this when we hitched up on our inclined but relatively level driveway, only to discover that it was more of a problem on the undulating ground on site, which was the main reason for the handle 'flicking off' the towbar and banging the spare wheel cover.

£25 handle for us I'm afraid.

Mick