Hello,
I was wondering how easy it is to change a standard hitch to the alko One with built in stabiliser? I'm looking for a new tow car, seen One with a tow bar but not sure what type. Just getting some advance info.
Yep it's pretty easy to swap over to the Alko type hitch , you will a certain type of tow ball see here http://www.al-ko.co.uk/edit/files/support/Towballguide.pdf . When i changed mine i had to get a different draw tube gator ( cheap enough from most caravan shops ) , then just undid the 2 bolts , removed the old hitch and gator , slid the new gator on and fitted the new hitch . Note : the bolt nearest to the caravan passes thro the hitch damper located inside the draw tube , this damper can sometimes pull back inside the tube as you remove the bolt , Alko provide a dowel to hold this in place while you change the hitch , as you remove the bolt nearest to the caravan ( first ) you insert the dowel in at the same time as pushing the bolt out , this then holds the damper in place while you change the hitch , then as you push the new bolt in , you push the dowel out . I didn't have a dowel when i changed mine , i used a screw driver to roughly aline the damper and pushed the bolt in . Make sure you torque the bolts to the right torque setting .
Both the Winterhoff and the Al-ko hitches are compatible with drawbars that have the standard hitch. The diameter variables are taken care of by means of "U" shaped spacers which slide over the drawbar prior to fitting the hitch. These are supplied with the new hitch.
I have replaced a standard hitch with a Winterhoff on a BPW chassis. Then, when we changed to a new van with an Al-ko chassis and hitch, we had the dealer replace the Al-ko hitch with our Winterhoff before taking delivery.
So you can see that there is a very wide degree of interchangeability.
Hi pageantman, It is dead easy to change, takes about 5-10 minutes you just have to be careful with the bolt nearest the van. In the alko kit you get a 10 mill pin which you knock in to the bolt to release the bolt, then put on alko hitch and with the bolts supplied knock out the pin. The pin is there to hold the damper in place, sounds harder than it is.
PS I have a 4 month old alko3004 stabiliser for sale, i have just bought a brand new van and px'd our older van so removed the alko hitch i fitted in June, in the kit is the alko towball as well, let me know if you fancy it. email is jc.moss at btinternet.com
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Topic: Changing Hitch
