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Subject Topic: Changing cars, getting new tow bar etc...
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Personmadspaceangel
29/4/2013 at 7:37pm
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Our old KIA sedona has been brilliant at pulling the 'van but it doesn't have aircon and is pretty hellish when we are on long journeys with kids in the summer (its melt city as you can really open many windows esp on motorway)so we took the chance to buy a different car this week.

We've got ourselves a grand voyager we need to get a towball fitted. The guy on the phone said that one with a powder coating is best as we have an ALKO stabilising hitch is that right or is it BS?

Any helpful hints and advice about what to expect when changing cars? esp to a bigger one? and from manual to automatic?

Hope you lot can help :)


Personthe black fox
29/4/2013 at 7:44pm
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you need a ALKO tow ball ,they are all 50mm these days but the main difference is a alko one has a longer slightly slimmer neck .you can either get one thats sprayed black (might be lacquered) but this will have to be cleaned off before use .so i guess he means just a plain silver coloured one .

PLEASE remember NOT to to grease or oil it in any way or you will ruin your stabiliser pads


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Personmadspaceangel
29/4/2013 at 7:47pm
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Cool so regardless of what on the ball we need to clean it down to smooth silver before use? so talk of 'powder coated' being better is in fact a load of cock?


Personrushallmanor
29/4/2013 at 8:01pm
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The powder coating refers to the rest of the bar that remains under the vehicle, it is very good protection for the steel.

Watch the max tow weight on the grand voyager, the one I had had a max tow of 1600kg, quite low for such a big vehicle that tows well.

-------------
Regards

Steve




Personstokes11
29/4/2013 at 8:11pm
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An Alko hitch just meams its got a longer reach,cos your alko stabiliser on your van is longer than norm and would hit your bumper on a normal tow ball,and as for the powder coating that means the tow bar not the ball hope that helps buddy.......... 


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Personrushallmanor
29/4/2013 at 8:18pm
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It has nothing to do with the bumper, the difference is the length of the neck and the neck profile. It allows free movement of the ALKO hitch without pushing the hitch off the ball.

-------------
Regards

Steve




Personmadspaceangel
29/4/2013 at 8:55pm
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The guy on the phone said a powder coated one makes the alko hitch WORK BETTER????


Personmadspaceangel
29/4/2013 at 8:58pm
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Ahhhh on further probing of Mr MSA he says the guy orobably didnt say that he just got 'confused'....

Wally.

Apparently something was said about the tow bat being 10 quid extra due to longer one specific shape needed. Which makes MUCH more sense eh?


Personmadspaceangel
29/4/2013 at 9:03pm
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Quote: Originally posted by rushallmanor on 29/4/2013The powder coating refers to the rest of the bar that remains under the vehicle, it is very good protection for the steel.

Watch the max tow weight on the grand voyager, the one I had had a max tow of 1600kg, quite low for such a big vehicle that tows well.



We have a Lunar Venus and i think the max load weight is 1100? so if we are sensible we shouldn't be exceeding the new cars allowance.

Now this is a stupid question i know but bar weighing each and every thing you put in the 'van or visiting a weighbridge how do you know for sure what weight the 'van is?


Personrushallmanor
29/4/2013 at 10:24pm
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just as you say, weigh it

-------------
Regards

Steve




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Personmadspaceangel
10/5/2013 at 2:16am
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The tow bar was fitted today. The first attempt they brought the wrong parts as they didn't realise we have a stow and go.

The ball is removable. The entire unit is coated in a thick black shiny paint its not a swan neck but the fitter assured me its compatible with the alko hitch.

I'm guessing I have to somehow clean all that thick black coating off the ball?



Personthe black fox
10/5/2013 at 7:16am
 Location: flint north wales
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yes you do ,otherwise the paint will gradually contaminate the friction pads in your alko head ,use either turps white spirit and fine emery cloth or wire wool ,finish off when clean with a wipe with methyolated spirit using a soft cloth (degreaser)

dont forget to use a cover on it afterwards to keep rust at bay


Personmadspaceangel
10/5/2013 at 7:39am
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Cheers black fox. I recon its going to be a right long job :( this isn't just a bit of spray coating like the last tow ball, it is like a thick black nail varnish.

I'm still not convinced its the right ball for the hitch given we have the ALKO. We are going to try hitching up tonight to test it.


PersonPagsUK
10/5/2013 at 9:09am
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Good bit of sandpaper will get it off - just done mine! Then clean it with some brake cleaner spray adn leave to dry (minute or so) and you should be ready to go.

Only took me about 15 mins to get a nice shiny towball


Personthe black fox
10/5/2013 at 10:31am
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the ball will be exactly the same size 50mm ,the only real difference is the neck is longer and slightly slimmer on the alko version ,now this usually applies to fixed tow bars ,as yours is a removable one it should already have a longer neck


Personmadspaceangel
10/5/2013 at 11:53am
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Sigh. I hate being a stupid novice. The hubby and I believed the ball is removable but I don't think it is.

Can I post a pic and one of you more experinced towers tell me what we've got just so I know what's been fitted?



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