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 Topic: Alko stabilising tow hitch
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09/5/2018 at 10:51am
Location: swindon
Outfit: Elddis Vogue Typhoon
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So I'm in the market for a used Alko stabilising tow hitch, our car has to have a detachable tow ball so an old skool leaf spring stabilizer isn't an option. I've found one locally for a good price but the guy says he's selling because it won't fit his van on account of his tow hitch has one vertical bolt and one horizontal bolt. I've just checked our van (1997 elddis vogue typhoon) and it's the same.
I'm pretty new to caravans but had assumed that these aftermarket tow hitches were pretty much universal. Has this guy got it wrong? Can I get a stabilising tow hitch for my van? Can anyone help?
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Chris
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09/5/2018 at 11:01am
Location: Near Alton Towers
Outfit: Bailey Burgundy S7 H
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You could ask Alko themselves at this number for customer service - 01926 818500.
Dave.
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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.
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09/5/2018 at 2:16pm
Location: East Herts
Outfit: 1992 Elddis Wisp 450CT + X Trail
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Are you sure you really need one? I've never had one and never found one necessary. Our Elddis tows fine behind our old Volvo without any form of stabiliser. Just load correctly and you should be ok.
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Best Regards,
Colin
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09/5/2018 at 5:05pm
Location: swindon
Outfit: Elddis Vogue Typhoon
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Quote: Originally posted by Colin21 on 09/5/2018
Are you sure you really need one? I've never had one and never found one necessary. Our Elddis tows fine behind our old Volvo without any form of stabiliser. Just load correctly and you should be ok.
Our caravan is the maximum weight we can tow with our car. It's fine up to about 55mph, gets very uncomfortable over that. I'd like to try it and see if it helps, that's why I'm looking at used rather than new
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Chris
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09/5/2018 at 5:55pm
Location: East Herts
Outfit: 1992 Elddis Wisp 450CT + X Trail
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Loading is critical, particularly if you are on the car's limit. Make sure you have as much weight on the tow hitch as the car allows, and then as much of the remaining weight over the caravan axle as possible. Never put a lot of weight at the rear of the caravan to reduce the nose-weight, as that will cause instability.
There is a danger with stabilisers in that if they are used to mask a badly loaded caravan they can cause all sorts of problems. However, if the caravan is loaded as best you can, and you still have problems, then a stabiliser may help. I hope you find one that suits.
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Best Regards,
Colin
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09/5/2018 at 10:42pm
Location: swindon
Outfit: Elddis Vogue Typhoon
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Quote: Originally posted by Pickled Onion on 09/5/2018
You could ask Alko themselves at this number for customer service - 01926 818500.
Dave.
If only it were that easy
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Chris
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10/5/2018 at 1:19pm
Location: East Herts
Outfit: 1992 Elddis Wisp 450CT + X Trail
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Quote: Originally posted by KBLLB on 10/5/2018
Hi Daves mate,
I think you'll find that Elddis did not use Alko Kober chassis on their earlier vans; hence the Alko stabiliser will not fit.
What you need is a Winterhoff stabiliser which has the bolt fittings you describe and which will match those on the BPW chassis which I believe is the type used in your van's construction.
I think Elddis used both chassis at various times. My 1988 Tornado XL definitely had an Alko chassis, and I believe the 1992 Wisp 450CT that I have now does too.
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Best Regards,
Colin
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10/5/2018 at 9:00pm
Location:
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Your Elddis has BPW chassis. As pointed out a Winterhof stabiliser hitch will fit but rare secondhand. Some Alko stabiliser hitches will fit BPW hitchhead as they also have hole for vertical bolt fitting. You will need correct fitting kit from Alko as you need specific bolts & spacer for draw tube.
If you can find used Alko stabiliser hitch with vertical bolt fitting then all good but unless it has come off a BPW chassis with fitting kit included then you will need fitting kit about £35.
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10/5/2018 at 10:08pm
Location: essex
Outfit: Swift Challenger 570
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Ive never heard of Eldiss using Alko chassis
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its our imperfections that makes us perfect
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11/5/2018 at 12:35pm
Location: East Herts
Outfit: 1992 Elddis Wisp 450CT + X Trail
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Quote: Originally posted by richardandjo2010 on 10/5/2018
Ive never heard of Eldiss using Alko chassis
They certainly do/did. My 1988 Tornado XL was on an Alko chassis, and I think my current Wisp 450CT is also. I'll have to take a better look.
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Best Regards,
Colin
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12/5/2018 at 5:27pm
Location: swindon
Outfit: Elddis Vogue Typhoon
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Quote: Originally posted by KBLLB on 10/5/2018
I've got a Winterhoff stabiliser which I purchased because the seller assured me it would fit an Alko hitch - it didn't!
I paid £60 for it plus postage which then came to £10 but have never used it.
I'd be willing to sell it for what I paid plus postage but it is not new so it will need cleaning up to make sure the friction pads are OK.
Please message me on here if you're interested and I'll
see if I can get some pictures and measurements.
I'm not sure if the shims are with it but if they are you are welcome to them.
Not sure how to do personal messages on here. I'm definitely interested, photos would be good
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Chris
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17/5/2018 at 3:32pm
Location: swindon
Outfit: Elddis Vogue Typhoon
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Very interested in your winterhoff tow hitch
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Chris
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19/5/2018 at 6:26am
Location: chesterfield
Outfit: Ford Kuga AWD & Lunar Clubman SI
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I had a 2000 Eldiss and I replaced the hitch head for a Alko, if you buy a brand new one it comes with a load of bits for different fittings look at the instructions on the website, from memory it cant be fitted to a braking system that has gas struts.
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