I wrote this email to Bailey caravans and was advised to have the service agent pay us a visit,has anyone else had this problem?
" I am the owner of a Pageant series 5, 2005/6 caravan with the appropriate Al-ko hitch and stabiliser. At present I cannot use the caravan and here I ask for your help.
I have written to Al-ko and they advised me you were the first contact for caravan problems. The problem is with the hitch.
For a while attaching and detaching have been progressively difficult because of increasing tightness , so much so that now I cannot do either without a great deal of effort from a strong and fit assistant.
I cannot rely on finding such help when arriving and leaving sites, especially when abroad, which means that I must stay at home. This was mentioned at a recent service, carried out at an ‘approved’ workshop who told me that there was nothing that they could do.
A few years ago we had a new roof fitted under warranty and during the repair some of the ’shims’ were taken out, with my permission. This solved the problem at the time, but the stiffness has returned, with a vengeance. This was the reason given by the workshop who were sympathetic, but impotent.
From your experience and technical ability, please, please help.
Can this be repaired? Can a new hitch and stabiliser solve the problem, at about four hundred pounds ! ? Would you trust a used replacement, second hand ? or What do you suggest?
Many thanks to all who gave help with regard to the hich/stabiliser stiffnes on my caravan. As suggested I changed the tow ball on the car and dismantled the hitch completely and cleaned and lubricated where obvious.New pads had been fitted as part of the recent service.Now I can get mobile again. Thank you again.
The advice from Llani Davies was especially not helpful.
The caravan has been 'serviced' annually as part of the Red Pennant insurance of the Caravan Club. The latest by an 'approved workshop', £450+, on 12/07/2012. Their comment was that they "could do nothing to help" ?
Bailey Caravans suggested that the pads had been wrongly fitted, and to find a mobile fitter to inspect.
Many thanks to all who took the trouble to reply to my cries for help mavis ann.
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Topic: Alkoo hitch and stabilizer
