I'm not going to voice my opinion on the need to have a stabiliser or not, this question came up before & got a wide selection of replies. Lots of folk think they don't need one but I've seen too many go wrong on the road to run without one personally.
The only thing I'sd say to you is, for the sake of the cost of having one, try practising turning back time, I can't do it. It'll be to late after something goes wrong on the road & you wish you'd bought one.
Have to say that until we got our new Ellie last summer that came complete with the (wonderful), winterhoff gismo, we'd always towed with the blade type of stabiliser. First the Scott, then the Bulldog, (and got the scars to prove it when we had a flat battery on the tow car at a services and had to unhitch while lots of other nice peeps helped up to give it a push start - an me with my back! Anyhoo, I happened to be at the back more for show than anything else and got whacked with the bl**dy blade right on me shin and bled all the way home!).
However we've noticed how excellent the Winterhoff is, (as I believe is, the Alko type), and wouldn't want to go back to the blade type again. This just made the whole unit feel much more stable even when we had an emergency stop on the downward slope of a steep hill in Cornwall! Only thing needed then was a change of underwear for me!And to pick up one of the front seat cushions that fell down. Phew
I can just reinforce what others have said about cleaning the tow ball thoroughly with meths which may stop the noise. The worst thing you can do for these modern stabilisers is to grease the tow ball as you would have before.
I got so obsessed about keeping the connection spotless that not only do I keep a small bottle of meths and a clean j cloth in the front locker for the job but I also slip a small freezer bag over the tow ball on the car itself and fasten with an elastic band before putting the tow ball cover on it. Don't want even the tiniest fleck of dust to interfere with the adhesion that the Winterhoff needs.
> I got so obsessed about keeping the connection spotless that not only do I keep a small bottle of meths and a clean j cloth in the front locker for the job <
Oh No HC, you are not actually going to tell us that you, of your own free will, actually do something similar to H**work! ....
I have just taken delivery of a 3 year old van which has an alko stabiliser. I am a complete novice to this hobby and haven't even towed it yet (scared)!!! However I will have to take it to storage today (yipes)!!! I have just read the above and wonder what and where those referred to pads are and what is a blade stabiliser. Apologies for the probably obvious questions. Thanks.
> I have just read the above and wonder what and where those referred to pads are and what is a blade stabilise >
Blade stabilizers are an older type of stabilizers, consisiting in esence of a few blades parallel to the connection hitch/towbar. The blades dampen the movements of the caravan that could eventually lead to snaking.
There is also a similar type consisting of one bar parallel, led through a friction-bus. Same function. The friction of the bar in the friction bus dampens/prevents the left-right pnedulum movements of the van.
Alko, Sanders (in Holland) and Winterhof (using the patent of Sanders), manufacture hitch-ty[e of stabilizers. The stabilizer function is provided within the hitch itself, that hold litlle friction pads inside the hitch. These friction pads, in effect litlle roundish breaking pads, are pressurized onto the towball by a lever. The pads work like a break and dampen the pendulum movements. The simple Alko 1300 only the pendulum movements, the more expensive type also pitching movements. Alko 1300 only has two pads, on left and one right, hence only anti-pendulum. The Alko 2000 and 3000, Sanders and Winterhof have side pads inside, plus in addition on in front and one on the backside of the towball, hence also dampen the pitching movement.
These pads are all inside the hitch around the towball; the hitch therefore becomes a bit bigger. That's why for the better types a swansneck towbar is needed.
Much safer and much more comfortable.
For the hitch types in this case also more expensive implies safer. The more expensive once are more sophisticated and more effective than the cheaper ones, but even the simple Alko 1300 already is very useful.
Funny this topic appearing now been having a hunt around for van insurance just out of interest and this is the first time not one but three insurance companies asked if i had a stabilizer and which type i asked if it made a diff to their premiums 2 said 10% reduction 1 said 5% 10% if tyron bands fitted as well so it seems insurance companies reckon they make a differance
Quote: Originally posted by kmckirkle on 24/7/2006
I have just taken delivery of a 3 year old van which has an alko stabiliser. I am a complete novice to this hobby and haven't even towed it yet (scared)!!! However I will have to take it to storage today (yipes)!!! I have just read the above and wonder what and where those referred to pads are and what is a blade stabiliser. Apologies for the probably obvious questions. Thanks.
Hya Kate, don't worry about towing the caravan for the first time, just relax, gather your thoughts & concentrate on remaining in control of the outfit. Just drive at a speed that you feel comfortable at & ignore the traffic following you. They have the option of overtaking or staying there. Your main concern is to get your outfit to its destination in one piece. Only you know that you're new to it, they've no idea at all.
I would suggest that if you're concerned once on the road, just find yourself an industrial estate somewhere nice & quiet & go & drive round it for a few minutes. Set yourself little targets & tasks to do with the caravan & you'll soon get the feel of it.
Just thought I'd revive this thread to tell you about my experiences with my stabilser.
Since posting this originally, I have replaced the friction pads (bit dear at £22.50 I thought).
I have now towed my van for at least 1000 mils with the stabilser fitted and adjusted properly. Having driven with it not fitted correctly, I now see how good it is.
I would always use one.
Thanks for all the comments.
------------- You're only supposed to blow the blardy doors off.
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Topic: Are stabilisers worth having?
And to pick up one of the front seat cushions that fell down. Phew
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