Hi.
Happy new year to all.

Can anyone advise.

Recently changed towing vehicle which  is already
fitted with towbar and ball (normal type).

There are several inches clearance between towball and bodywork
of car,more than enough space to take the 1300kg hitch.

My caravan has a AL-KO 1300kg stabilizer fitted and
as you know the section where the towball goes in is
larger than a normal steel towing hitch and it is possible to
fowl car bodywork with normal ball//towbar.

The AL-KO towball has a longer neck on it to push the
ball further from the car to accommodate the larger AK-KO
hitch head and avoid fowling bodywork.

**BUT**  is that the only reason for fitting a AL-KO towball ???
or  does the AL-KO 1300 kg hitch*** have to be*** married with
a AL-KO towball ?.

Both are 50mm//both are the same height side by side and
the only difference I can see is the longer neck.

I'd rather not fit an AL-KO ball unless necessary.

Anyone know for sure.
Barry

.

ForeverArsenal wrote:
> Hi.
> Happy new year to all.
> 
> Can anyone advise.
> 
> Recently changed towing vehicle which  is already
> fitted with towbar and ball (normal type).
> 
> There are several inches clearance between towball and bodywork
> of car,more than enough space to take the 1300kg hitch.
> 
> My caravan has a AL-KO 1300kg stabilizer fitted and
> as you know the section where the towball goes in is
> larger than a normal steel towing hitch and it is possible to
> fowl car bodywork with normal ball//towbar.
> 
> The AL-KO towball has a longer neck on it to push the
> ball further from the car to accommodate the larger AK-KO
> hitch head and avoid fowling bodywork.
> 
> **BUT**  is that the only reason for fitting a AL-KO towball ???
> or  does the AL-KO 1300 kg hitch*** have to be*** married with
> a AL-KO towball ?.
> 
> Both are 50mm//both are the same height side by side and
> the only difference I can see is the longer neck.
> 
> I'd rather not fit an AL-KO ball unless necessary.
> 
> Anyone know for sure.
> Barry

It's basically a clearance issue to allow for 25 degree roll 
articulation, pitch articulation and operating handle clearance.

See here:
http://www.al-ko.co.uk/edit/files/support/Proddata32.doc

or for something more specific to your hitch (but less helpful otherwise):
http://www.al-ko.co.uk/edit/files/support/AKS1300TriplePackHandbook.pdf

If you can meet Al-ko's conditions without their ball, fine. Those 
limits are very generous for those operating normal cars on the road - 
but I didn't say that!

ForeverArsenal wrote:
>> Hi.
>> Happy new year to all.
>>
>> Can anyone advise.
>>
>> Recently changed towing vehicle which  is already
>> fitted with towbar and ball (normal type).>



"Dougal"  wrote in message 
news:25idndpC26plvOfanZ2dnUVZ8v6dnZ2d@eclipse.net.uk...
>
> It's basically a clearance issue to allow for 25 degree roll articulation, 
> pitch articulation and operating handle clearance.
>
Hi Dougal.
Many thanks for that,just what I needed.

Best wishes for happy/healthy new year.

Barry

As Dougal has said, it is a clearance issue.

It would be quite acceptable to use the Alko couplings on a swan-neck towbar 
or a detachable (subject to towbar manufacturers recommendations) but there 
is an issue with pitch on a standard towball.  Certainly in the case of the 
heavier Alko stabilizers, there are times when the front of the coupling 
strikes part of the towball.

Imagine a situation going over speed bumps for instance.  At some point, the 
back of the car and the front of the caravan will drop significantly.  It is 
possible for the coupling to try and lever itself off the ball.  Clearly, 
this not desirable!

Best advice is, with a flange ball towbar, to use the dedicated Alko 
towball.

-- 
Kind Regards

Tony Maris
BROOKSIDE STORAGE
Chesterfield.

www.brooksidecaravanstorage.co.uk

CaSSOA Gold Award

"TonyM"  wrote in message 
news:_amdnaph5_LV9-banZ2dnUVZ8uadnZ2d@brightview.com...
> As Dougal has said, it is a clearance issue.
>
> It would be quite acceptable to use the Alko couplings on a swan-neck 
> towbar or a detachable (subject to towbar manufacturers recommendations) 
> but there is an issue with pitch on a standard towball.  Certainly in the 
> case of the heavier Alko stabilizers, there are times when the front of 
> the coupling strikes part of the towball.
>
> Imagine a situation going over speed bumps for instance.  At some point, 
> the back of the car and the front of the caravan will drop significantly. 
> It is possible for the coupling to try and lever itself off the ball. 
> Clearly, this not desirable!
>
> Best advice is, with a flange ball towbar, to use the dedicated Alko 
> towball.
>
> -- 
> Kind Regards
>
> Tony Maris
> BROOKSIDE STORAGE
> Chesterfield.
>
> www.brooksidecaravanstorage.co.uk
>
> CaSSOA Gold Award



It's also worth pointing out that insurers might quibble (that's a polite 
euphemism for 'sod off, we're not paying out') if, in the event of an 
accident, it was discovered that the OP was not using the Alko recommended 
tow ball.

Insurance companies are getting increasingly clued-up about such things - 
after all, we now live in an age where one of the first things their claims 
investigators do is connect a laptop to the damaged vehicle to ascertain 
whether it has been 'chipped'.  If the CPU *has* been modified, and they 
have not been so advised, it's 'bye,'bye claim.

The Alko balls are over-priced and they rust like mad.  I wanted to fit an 
elctro-plated alternative, but decided to stick with the Alko version just 
in case insurers got restive.

In message , ForeverArsenal 
 writes
> ForeverArsenal wrote:
>>> Hi.
>>> Happy new year to all.
>>>
>>> Can anyone advise.
>>>
>>> Recently changed towing vehicle which  is already
>>> fitted with towbar and ball (normal type).>
>
>
>
>"Dougal"  wrote in message
>news:25idndpC26plvOfanZ2dnUVZ8v6dnZ2d@eclipse.net.uk...
>>
>> It's basically a clearance issue to allow for 25 degree roll articulation,
>> pitch articulation and operating handle clearance.
>>
>Hi Dougal.
>Many thanks for that,just what I needed.
>
>Best wishes for happy/healthy new year.
>
>Barry
>
>
If you retain your existing ball make sure you thoroughly degrease it 
before using your Alko hitch.
-- 
hugh
Reply to address is valid at the time of posting

In message , Brute Force 
 writes
>
>"TonyM"  wrote in message
>news:_amdnaph5_LV9-banZ2dnUVZ8uadnZ2d@brightview.com...
>> As Dougal has said, it is a clearance issue.
>>
>> It would be quite acceptable to use the Alko couplings on a swan-neck
>> towbar or a detachable (subject to towbar manufacturers recommendations)
>> but there is an issue with pitch on a standard towball.  Certainly in the
>> case of the heavier Alko stabilizers, there are times when the front of
>> the coupling strikes part of the towball.
>>
>> Imagine a situation going over speed bumps for instance.  At some point,
>> the back of the car and the front of the caravan will drop significantly.
>> It is possible for the coupling to try and lever itself off the ball.
>> Clearly, this not desirable!
>>
>> Best advice is, with a flange ball towbar, to use the dedicated Alko
>> towball.
>>
>> --
>> Kind Regards
>>
>> Tony Maris
>> BROOKSIDE STORAGE
>> Chesterfield.
>>
>> www.brooksidecaravanstorage.co.uk
>>
>> CaSSOA Gold Award
>
>
>
>It's also worth pointing out that insurers might quibble (that's a polite
>euphemism for 'sod off, we're not paying out') if, in the event of an
>accident, it was discovered that the OP was not using the Alko recommended
>tow ball.
>
>Insurance companies are getting increasingly clued-up about such things -
>after all, we now live in an age where one of the first things their claims
>investigators do is connect a laptop to the damaged vehicle to ascertain
>whether it has been 'chipped'.  If the CPU *has* been modified, and they
>have not been so advised, it's 'bye,'bye claim.
>

That's because it is a performance enhancement.
>The Alko balls are over-priced and they rust like mad.  I wanted to fit an
>elctro-plated alternative, but decided to stick with the Alko version just
>in case insurers got restive.
>
>
If in doubt just drop a line to your insurer -  but the towball would 
have to be material to the accident to refuse a payment.

Of course if you buy your insurance on price alone then you must expect 
them to try to cut their costs at every opportunity.
-- 
hugh
Reply to address is valid at the time of posting

"hugh"  wrote in message 
news:1uqlMLEIR5eHFATZ@raefell.demon.co.uk...
> In message , Brute Force 
>  writes
>>
>>"TonyM"  wrote in message
>>news:_amdnaph5_LV9-banZ2dnUVZ8uadnZ2d@brightview.com...
>>> As Dougal has said, it is a clearance issue.
>>>
>>> It would be quite acceptable to use the Alko couplings on a swan-neck
>>> towbar or a detachable (subject to towbar manufacturers recommendations)
>>> but there is an issue with pitch on a standard towball.  Certainly in 
>>> the
>>> case of the heavier Alko stabilizers, there are times when the front of
>>> the coupling strikes part of the towball.
>>>
>>> Imagine a situation going over speed bumps for instance.  At some point,
>>> the back of the car and the front of the caravan will drop 
>>> significantly.
>>> It is possible for the coupling to try and lever itself off the ball.
>>> Clearly, this not desirable!
>>>
>>> Best advice is, with a flange ball towbar, to use the dedicated Alko
>>> towball.
>>>
>>> --
>>> Kind Regards
>>>
>>> Tony Maris
>>> BROOKSIDE STORAGE
>>> Chesterfield.
>>>
>>> www.brooksidecaravanstorage.co.uk
>>>
>>> CaSSOA Gold Award
>>
>>
>>
>>It's also worth pointing out that insurers might quibble (that's a polite
>>euphemism for 'sod off, we're not paying out') if, in the event of an
>>accident, it was discovered that the OP was not using the Alko recommended
>>tow ball.
>>
>>Insurance companies are getting increasingly clued-up about such things -
>>after all, we now live in an age where one of the first things their 
>>claims
>>investigators do is connect a laptop to the damaged vehicle to ascertain
>>whether it has been 'chipped'.  If the CPU *has* been modified, and they
>>have not been so advised, it's 'bye,'bye claim.
>>
>
> That's because it is a performance enhancement.
>>The Alko balls are over-priced and they rust like mad.  I wanted to fit an
>>elctro-plated alternative, but decided to stick with the Alko version just
>>in case insurers got restive.
>>
>>
> If in doubt just drop a line to your insurer -  but the towball would have 
> to be material to the accident to refuse a payment.
>
> Of course if you buy your insurance on price alone then you must expect 
> them to try to cut their costs at every opportunity.<


Well. that's told me, eh?

I think I need to make an appointment to see a Psychiatrist - I was insane 
enough to think that it would be possible to start the new year on ukrc 
without some silly argumentative twat stirring the pot for yet another flame 
war.

As always, I failed to take your perverse nature into account.

In message , Brute Force 
 writes
>
>"hugh"  wrote in message
>news:1uqlMLEIR5eHFATZ@raefell.demon.co.uk...
>> In message , Brute Force
>>  writes
>>>
>>>"TonyM"  wrote in message
>>>news:_amdnaph5_LV9-banZ2dnUVZ8uadnZ2d@brightview.com...
>>>> As Dougal has said, it is a clearance issue.
>>>>
>>>> It would be quite acceptable to use the Alko couplings on a swan-neck
>>>> towbar or a detachable (subject to towbar manufacturers recommendations)
>>>> but there is an issue with pitch on a standard towball.  Certainly in
>>>> the
>>>> case of the heavier Alko stabilizers, there are times when the front of
>>>> the coupling strikes part of the towball.
>>>>
>>>> Imagine a situation going over speed bumps for instance.  At some point,
>>>> the back of the car and the front of the caravan will drop
>>>> significantly.
>>>> It is possible for the coupling to try and lever itself off the ball.
>>>> Clearly, this not desirable!
>>>>
>>>> Best advice is, with a flange ball towbar, to use the dedicated Alko
>>>> towball.
>>>>
>>>> --
>>>> Kind Regards
>>>>
>>>> Tony Maris
>>>> BROOKSIDE STORAGE
>>>> Chesterfield.
>>>>
>>>> www.brooksidecaravanstorage.co.uk
>>>>
>>>> CaSSOA Gold Award
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>It's also worth pointing out that insurers might quibble (that's a polite
>>>euphemism for 'sod off, we're not paying out') if, in the event of an
>>>accident, it was discovered that the OP was not using the Alko recommended
>>>tow ball.
>>>
>>>Insurance companies are getting increasingly clued-up about such things -
>>>after all, we now live in an age where one of the first things their
>>>claims
>>>investigators do is connect a laptop to the damaged vehicle to ascertain
>>>whether it has been 'chipped'.  If the CPU *has* been modified, and they
>>>have not been so advised, it's 'bye,'bye claim.
>>>
>>
>> That's because it is a performance enhancement.
>>>The Alko balls are over-priced and they rust like mad.  I wanted to fit an
>>>elctro-plated alternative, but decided to stick with the Alko version just
>>>in case insurers got restive.
>>>
>>>
>> If in doubt just drop a line to your insurer -  but the towball would have
>> to be material to the accident to refuse a payment.
>>
>> Of course if you buy your insurance on price alone then you must expect
>> them to try to cut their costs at every opportunity.<
>
>
>Well. that's told me, eh?
>
>I think I need to make an appointment to see a Psychiatrist - I was insane
>enough to think that it would be possible to start the new year on ukrc
>without some silly argumentative twat stirring the pot for yet another flame
>war.
>
>As always, I failed to take your perverse nature into account.
>
>
Toys out the pram already.
-- 
hugh
Reply to address is valid at the time of posting

"hugh"  wrote in message 
news:C2Zo6PGCHBfHFAdC@raefell.demon.co.uk...
> In message , Brute Force 
>  writes
>>
>>"hugh"  wrote in message
>>news:1uqlMLEIR5eHFATZ@raefell.demon.co.uk...
>>> In message , Brute Force
>>>  writes
>>>>
>>>>"TonyM"  wrote in message
>>>>news:_amdnaph5_LV9-banZ2dnUVZ8uadnZ2d@brightview.com...
>>>>> As Dougal has said, it is a clearance issue.
>>>>>
>>>>> It would be quite acceptable to use the Alko couplings on a swan-neck
>>>>> towbar or a detachable (subject to towbar manufacturers 
>>>>> recommendations)
>>>>> but there is an issue with pitch on a standard towball.  Certainly in
>>>>> the
>>>>> case of the heavier Alko stabilizers, there are times when the front 
>>>>> of
>>>>> the coupling strikes part of the towball.
>>>>>
>>>>> Imagine a situation going over speed bumps for instance.  At some 
>>>>> point,
>>>>> the back of the car and the front of the caravan will drop
>>>>> significantly.
>>>>> It is possible for the coupling to try and lever itself off the ball.
>>>>> Clearly, this not desirable!
>>>>>
>>>>> Best advice is, with a flange ball towbar, to use the dedicated Alko
>>>>> towball.
>>>>>
>>>>> --
>>>>> Kind Regards
>>>>>
>>>>> Tony Maris
>>>>> BROOKSIDE STORAGE
>>>>> Chesterfield.
>>>>>
>>>>> www.brooksidecaravanstorage.co.uk
>>>>>
>>>>> CaSSOA Gold Award
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>It's also worth pointing out that insurers might quibble (that's a 
>>>>polite
>>>>euphemism for 'sod off, we're not paying out') if, in the event of an
>>>>accident, it was discovered that the OP was not using the Alko 
>>>>recommended
>>>>tow ball.
>>>>
>>>>Insurance companies are getting increasingly clued-up about such 
>>>>things -
>>>>after all, we now live in an age where one of the first things their
>>>>claims
>>>>investigators do is connect a laptop to the damaged vehicle to ascertain
>>>>whether it has been 'chipped'.  If the CPU *has* been modified, and they
>>>>have not been so advised, it's 'bye,'bye claim.
>>>>
>>>
>>> That's because it is a performance enhancement.
>>>>The Alko balls are over-priced and they rust like mad.  I wanted to fit 
>>>>an
>>>>elctro-plated alternative, but decided to stick with the Alko version 
>>>>just
>>>>in case insurers got restive.
>>>>
>>>>
>>> If in doubt just drop a line to your insurer -  but the towball would 
>>> have
>>> to be material to the accident to refuse a payment.
>>>
>>> Of course if you buy your insurance on price alone then you must expect
>>> them to try to cut their costs at every opportunity.<
>>
>>
>>Well. that's told me, eh?
>>
>>I think I need to make an appointment to see a Psychiatrist - I was insane
>>enough to think that it would be possible to start the new year on ukrc
>>without some silly argumentative twat stirring the pot for yet another 
>>flame
>>war.
>>
>>As always, I failed to take your perverse nature into account.
>>
>>
> Toys out the pram already.<


Nope - just a bit annoyed that you've waded in with more querulous bollox, 
so early in the new year.

I was (and, in fact, still am)  hoping to see this group return to its 
former usefulness - and, to that end, I have taken the (for me) *highly* 
unusual step of killing your posts.

You can bask in a certain amount of glory for that achievement - not even 
Mary 'there's-nothing-that-I-don't-know-about-everything' Fisher made it to 
a killfile.

Of course, one useful thing about consigning you to the pit is that I'm free 
to tell you so - happy in the knowledge that you will be aware that your 
fulminating response will be quite in vain, as you know I'll never see it ;)

'Bye Hughie.

('per.....lonk', as they say)

"ForeverArsenal"  wrote in message 
news:13nk5vbspdrv6e2@corp.supernews.com...
>
>
> Hi.
> Happy new year to all.
>
> Can anyone advise.
>
> Recently changed towing vehicle which  is already
> fitted with towbar and ball (normal type).
...................................................
Hi again all.
Many thanks for ALL the replies to my  questions.

Have decided to fit a AL-KO towball to be on the
safe side.


Best wishes to all.
Barry.

-- 
Don't get to friendly with the neighbours.
You never know when you've got to upset
them.

In message , Brute Force 
 writes
>
>"hugh"  wrote in message
>news:C2Zo6PGCHBfHFAdC@raefell.demon.co.uk...
>> In message , Brute Force
>>  writes
>>>
>>>"hugh"  wrote in message
>>>news:1uqlMLEIR5eHFATZ@raefell.demon.co.uk...
>>>> In message , Brute Force
>>>>  writes
>>>>>
>>>>>"TonyM"  wrote in message
>>>>>news:_amdnaph5_LV9-banZ2dnUVZ8uadnZ2d@brightview.com...
>>>>>> As Dougal has said, it is a clearance issue.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> It would be quite acceptable to use the Alko couplings on a swan-neck
>>>>>> towbar or a detachable (subject to towbar manufacturers
>>>>>> recommendations)
>>>>>> but there is an issue with pitch on a standard towball.  Certainly in
>>>>>> the
>>>>>> case of the heavier Alko stabilizers, there are times when the front
>>>>>> of
>>>>>> the coupling strikes part of the towball.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Imagine a situation going over speed bumps for instance.  At some
>>>>>> point,
>>>>>> the back of the car and the front of the caravan will drop
>>>>>> significantly.
>>>>>> It is possible for the coupling to try and lever itself off the ball.
>>>>>> Clearly, this not desirable!
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Best advice is, with a flange ball towbar, to use the dedicated Alko
>>>>>> towball.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> --
>>>>>> Kind Regards
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Tony Maris
>>>>>> BROOKSIDE STORAGE
>>>>>> Chesterfield.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> www.brooksidecaravanstorage.co.uk
>>>>>>
>>>>>> CaSSOA Gold Award
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>It's also worth pointing out that insurers might quibble (that's a
>>>>>polite
>>>>>euphemism for 'sod off, we're not paying out') if, in the event of an
>>>>>accident, it was discovered that the OP was not using the Alko
>>>>>recommended
>>>>>tow ball.
>>>>>
>>>>>Insurance companies are getting increasingly clued-up about such
>>>>>things -
>>>>>after all, we now live in an age where one of the first things their
>>>>>claims
>>>>>investigators do is connect a laptop to the damaged vehicle to ascertain
>>>>>whether it has been 'chipped'.  If the CPU *has* been modified, and they
>>>>>have not been so advised, it's 'bye,'bye claim.
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>> That's because it is a performance enhancement.
>>>>>The Alko balls are over-priced and they rust like mad.  I wanted to fit
>>>>>an
>>>>>elctro-plated alternative, but decided to stick with the Alko version
>>>>>just
>>>>>in case insurers got restive.
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>> If in doubt just drop a line to your insurer -  but the towball would
>>>> have
>>>> to be material to the accident to refuse a payment.
>>>>
>>>> Of course if you buy your insurance on price alone then you must expect
>>>> them to try to cut their costs at every opportunity.<
>>>
>>>
>>>Well. that's told me, eh?
>>>
>>>I think I need to make an appointment to see a Psychiatrist - I was insane
>>>enough to think that it would be possible to start the new year on ukrc
>>>without some silly argumentative twat stirring the pot for yet another
>>>flame
>>>war.
>>>
>>>As always, I failed to take your perverse nature into account.
>>>
>>>
>> Toys out the pram already.<
>
>
>Nope - just a bit annoyed that you've waded in with more querulous bollox,
>so early in the new year.
>
>I was (and, in fact, still am)  hoping to see this group return to its
>former usefulness - and, to that end, I have taken the (for me) *highly*
>unusual step of killing your posts.
>
>You can bask in a certain amount of glory for that achievement - not even
>Mary 'there's-nothing-that-I-don't-know-about-everything' Fisher made it to
>a killfile.
>
>Of course, one useful thing about consigning you to the pit is that I'm free
>to tell you so - happy in the knowledge that you will be aware that your
>fulminating response will be quite in vain, as you know I'll never see it ;)
>
>'Bye Hughie.
>
>('per.....lonk', as they say)
>
>
>
Obviously a troll trying to stir things up. Hopefully I will remain in 
his Kill File forever.
-- 
hugh
Reply to address is valid at the time of posting