We are looking for our first Van - car fitted with a "standard swan neck" towbar (Volvo V50 - dealer fitted bar). Just read on another thread that if the van has an Alko hitch it does not fit a standard towbar - is this correct? (or have I misread/mis-understood).
We have been looking at a van with an Alko hitch and do not wish to make a big mistake if it wont fit!
Thanks in advance
Dan
------------- April - Derbyshire
May - Cromer
May - Clipsby Hall
July - Kelling Heath
August - France
September - Clipsby Hall
October - Brecon
it's not that it won't fit on the tow ball - it's the amount of clearance between the ball and the bumper of your car that you have to watch. An alko hitch requires more clearance than a standard one. You can buy an alko towball for around £20 from most caravan accessory shops and it's only 2 bolts to fit it.
Standard swan neck will be fine, just remove all the paint from the ball.
------------- XVI yes?
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.
Only a problem on a flange type towbar. Swan neck is ok. It's not actually clearance between ball & bumber. It's clearance between the ball and the towbar and or bumper protection plate.
The above posts are quite right as there is only a problem if you have a flange type towball fitted which is the one with the 2 x 16 mm. mounting bolts that attach to the towbar. As yours is a swan neck towball the fitting is different so there won't be any restriction for the Alko stabiliser to swivel. Swan neck towballs are designed for this purpose so rest assured that you haven't wasted your money, just make sure that the towball is dry and no dust whatsoever otherwise the hitch is likely to creak. The way to clean the towball is with brake and clutch fluid and it is advisable to spray the internal friction pads as well in side the hitch to remove any dust particles.
it's not that it won't fit on the tow ball - it's the amount of clearance between the ball and the bumper of your car that you have to watch. An alko hitch requires more clearance than a standard one. You can buy an alko towball for around £20 from most caravan accessory shops and it's only 2 bolts to fit it.
Rod
In fact it is the height of the neck and the amount of cutoff under the ball that is the problem not the clearance between the bumper not the ball.
------------- Bill
For a licence dated 1997 or later you must add together the plated max weight of the caravan and trailer, if the total is 3500 or less you can tow it. You may even tow a caravan with a MAM greater than the cars unladen mass the restriction was removed in 2013
On my Santa Fe I had a removable towball fitted with no problems, not even any cuts to the plastic rear sill.
------------- XVI yes?
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.
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.
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Topic: Towbar - Alko Hitch
