Please help with tow hitch info

stargate1955
stargate1955 Forum Participant Posts: 1
edited March 2016 in Towcars & Towing #1

We have a 2005 bmw x5 with a modern removable swan neck tow bar and a 10ft very old caravan with an old style tow hitch. I have been told that they might not be compatible.

We also need a stabiliser as well but unable to find one for the swan neck

Please can anyone help us.

Comments

  • EasyT
    EasyT Forum Participant Posts: 16,194
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    edited March 2016 #2

    If you google 'swan neck tow bar stabiliser' adding the chosen make of stabiliser there are a number of options. I have seen them used in the past but not recently as most vans have the inbuilt stabilisers now.

     

     

     

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,310 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2016 #3

    Could you not replace the existing hitch with an Alko stabiliser version. It would not be the cheapest option, but as you do not have a stabiliser you would have to purchase one anyway, and that would be half the cost.

  • KENNYG
    KENNYG Forum Participant Posts: 215
    100 Comments
    edited March 2016 #4

    Used that style for a few years. I used a bulldog blade stabiliser. 

  • DSB
    DSB Club Member Posts: 5,670 ✭✭✭
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    edited March 2016 #5

    We used to have a bulldog blade stabiliser years ago.  I changed the hitch on the caravan for one with an integrated stabiliser.  It's been a long time ago now - I don't remember if we put an alko on or whether it was a different make - they did the same
    job.

    David 

  • Navigateur
    Navigateur Club Member Posts: 3,880 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited March 2016 #6

    If it is a VERY VERY old caravan with a British 2" hitch then they are dangerously incompatible as the Continentals' balls we have to use now are smaller and it can (i.e. will) pull off.  The locking tounge does not lock.

    I think the change was about 1970s, but there are some very nice retro caravans about from that era and you might just have one of them!

  • Wildwood
    Wildwood Club Member Posts: 3,582 ✭✭✭✭
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    edited March 2016 #7

    If it is a VERY VERY old caravan with a British 2" hitch then they are dangerously incompatible as the Continentals' balls we have to use now are smaller and it can (i.e. will) pull off.  The locking tounge does not lock.

    I think the change was about 1970s, but there are some very nice retro caravans about from that era and you might just have one of them!

    Fully agree, I do know of a boat trailer breaking away because it had the old imperial style hitch and the tow car had a metric one. I would suggest that changing the hitch is essential.

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