A friend of mine has offered to tow my caravan from Somerset to Essex, so quite a long journey we both want to ensure she's legal and safe to do so.
She says we need an anti snake straight bar attached to the towing vehicle to prevent the caravan from snaking. I have an Alko tow hitch and have been trying to find out if this does the same thing, can anyone shed some light for us?
I think your suspicions are correct. The newer Alko one will do the job admirably, it clamps on to the 50mm tow ball instead of using the friction plates in the older one which used a flat bar between them.
Have a look at this link. it should explain the different types of anti snake devices.
Dave.
------------- Never argue with an idiot, they will drag you down to their level and beat you on experience.
Mark Twain.
Quote: Originally posted by Lindylou1966 on 11/10/2022
Thanks Dave, the link was very helpful
So maybe we could use a straight bar as well as my existing hitch as a belt and braces approach?
no that is unsafe, there has to be some movement and what your current alko does is slow the side to side movement down, if you put the extra bar on it then you would stop the caravan being able to articulate (bend)
As well is two words!
How does a sage know everything about everything? or does he? or does he just think he does?
Remember, if you buy something you bought it, not brought it.
Not at all sure about need to use both types of damper, the damped couplings are quite effective on their own, but the blade type requires a fitting to be attached to YOUR caravan A frame, do you have that part available?
Biggest concern is, if your friend regularly uses the blade type damper, then in all likelihood she has an un-damped ball coupling on her usual trailer, which means the tow ball on her car will be greased - Alko type friction damped couplings require the towball to be impeccably clean of ALL grease, rust and paint! Any oil or grease on the towball will contaminate the friction pads (they're like mini brake pads) in your coupling and not only stop it working well on your friends car but stop it working properly on any subsequent towball, they usually need the pads replacing if contaminated!
Paint or rust on a towball can make a damped Alko type coupling groan and creak alarmingly when it moves!
The towball needs to be shiny clean metal and absolutely uncontaminated by anything.
I don't use anything at all and haven't done for years. If you make sure you have a well matched outfit, the caravan is loaded properly, and you drive sensibly and smoothly, you shouldn't have any problems. There is no legal requirement for any kind of anti-snake device, it is purely personal preference.
I certainly wouldn't use more than one device as in my opinion that could cause more problems than it solves by making the outfit too rigid. Only my personal opinion though. If you have a modern Alko tow hitch that should be more than adequate.
I used to do a lot of trailer towing for a living and none of the trailers I towed at the time had any kind of stabiliser or anti-snake devices.
If you have the Al Ko hitch the towing vehicle ball must be free of grease and the correct type. Swan neck type ok but the older bolt on ones may not be suitable newer ones are slightly different a bit taller and cut away so,the hitch locks on.
Check the electrical socket on the tow car. If you have a 13 pin and the car does great. If it has 7 pin or your van has two 7 pins and the car a 13 pin then you will need the appropriate adaptor.
------------- DS-There's more to life than football!!!
Quote: Originally posted by Lindylou1966 on 11/10/2022
Thanks everyone for all your comments, I have ordered the anti snake bar but given what some of you have said I'm wondering if I should cancel it 🤔🙄
I would, as it's completely unnecessary and could even be dangerous if used with a stabiliser hitch. You already have more than enough.
Yes, cancel it!
Much more important to ensure that the towing vehicle has an Al-ko compatible tow ball otherwise you risk the caravan becoming detached.
If the lady is suggesting using a leaf stabiliser then it is likely hers is not compatible!
DaveS1
Quote: Originally posted by Colin21 on 11/10/2022
I don't use anything at all and haven't done for years. If you make sure you have a well matched outfit, the caravan is loaded properly, and you drive sensibly and smoothly, you shouldn't have any problems. There is no legal requirement for any kind of anti-snake device, it is purely personal preference.
I certainly wouldn't use more than one device as in my opinion that could cause more problems than it solves by making the outfit too rigid. Only my personal opinion though. If you have a modern Alko tow hitch that should be more than adequate.
I used to do a lot of trailer towing for a living and none of the trailers I towed at the time had any kind of stabiliser or anti-snake devices.
I'm the same, in fact most of my trailers, except those with a max weight of 2000 kg or less, are fitted with ring hitches. Much quicker and easier to couple and harder to steal when bolted to a ground anchor post.
Alko did a standard pressed steel hitch on early caravans, this wasn't a stabiliser type,
The red ones are the stabiliser type, if your caravan has the stabiliser make sure your friend has a compatible towball.
Quote: Originally posted by Paul_B on 15/10/2022
Its good advice to use a stabiliser
Alko did a standard pressed steel hitch on early caravans, this wasn't a stabiliser type,
The red ones are the stabiliser type, if your caravan has the stabiliser make sure your friend has a compatible towball.
My caravan has the standard pressed steel hitch and so did the one we had before it, so they weren't stabilisers, just ordinary hitches. In my early caravanning days back in the 1970s I bought a bar-type stabiliser and used it regularly until one day I drove down to Cornwall from Norfolk without it, having simply forgotten to fit it. As I didn't even realise it wasn't there I never bothered with it again. Years later I had a small business which involved towing various different types of trailers, none of which was fitted with a stabiliser. With correct loading and careful driving I have never had a problem not using a stabiliser.
If anyone feels the need to use a stabiliser I would never dream of criticising them for it but I would just point out that it isn't a legal requirement, just a personal choice. What I would also say though is never use a bar-type stabiliser as well as a stabiliser hitch, as that will probably cause more problems than it solves.
Quote: Originally posted by Paul_B on 15/10/2022
Its good advice to use a stabiliser
Alko did a standard pressed steel hitch on early caravans, this wasn't a stabiliser type,
The red ones are the stabiliser type, if your caravan has the stabiliser make sure your friend has a compatible towball.
My caravan has the standard pressed steel hitch and so did the one we had before it, so they weren't stabilisers, just ordinary hitches. In my early caravanning days back in the 1970s I bought a bar-type stabiliser and used it regularly until one day I drove down to Cornwall from Norfolk without it, having simply forgotten to fit it. As I didn't even realise it wasn't there I never bothered with it again. Years later I had a small business which involved towing various different types of trailers, none of which was fitted with a stabiliser. With correct loading and careful driving I have never had a problem not using a stabiliser.
If anyone feels the need to use a stabiliser I would never dream of criticising them for it but I would just point out that it isn't a legal requirement, just a personal choice. What I would also say though is never use a bar-type stabiliser as well as a stabiliser hitch, as that will probably cause more problems than it solves.
I made a scot copy for my old caravan, maybe I didn't need it but I had it just in case.
Likewise I've had Covid jabs as and when they said I should have one, its not until you get Covid that you appreciate it.
I would not advice anyone to throw caution to the wind, as they say, its better to be safe than sorry
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Topic: Alko stabilising hitch / anti snake bar
via mobile 11/10/2022 at 2:10pm
