Towbar fitting, alko 1300

Sharktale

Hi all, I'm just getting sorted with my towbar. I've been looking through and I see it says about the towbar with alko stabilisers. I have an alko 1300 stabiliser on my caravan so do I need to ask for a specific towbar? Some places ask and some don't so I'm a little confused. 

Many thanks

JVB66

It is not the towbar but you will probably need the extended hook to clear the Alko, hitch

Tinwheeler

As ever, Google explains it all.

Sharktale

Thats how i became confused, I looked on Google. Years ago we used to have a pennine pullman normal hitch. The company that delivered my caravan, pick up and drop off caravans all the time so will have some with stabilisers some not.

I was hoping to get a fixed flange but have no idea now.

Thanks

JVB66

A fixed flange towbar is fine it just needs the Alko type  long hook should be fine they are designed to give more space 

As tinny has posted

Tinwheeler

The ones shown above simply bolt to the towbar in place of the type you had before. There’s nothing to get confused about. 

https://www.towbar2u.com/news/whats-the-difference-between-fixed-flange-ball-towbar-and-fixed-swan-neck-towbar/

 

EmilysDad

Compare these two ....

Standard 2 bolt flange

Alko 2 bolt flange

Navigateur

The extended AlKo style also accepts the other couplings, so is only one needed.  [ I'll not mention 2 inches ]

Sharktale

 

I  can see it now, thats helped a  lot. I also didn't realise the alko one accepts both.

Thanks

Julie

commeyras

Would have thought that most fitters fit a tow hook suitable for an Alko stabilizer. Just ask the fitter for what you want.  Really quite simple.

geoffeales

I'd guess something like 85% of vans are fitted with Alko stabilizers so most hooks will give sufficient clearance, if not, a simple spacer and a couple of longer bolts will do the trick for flange type tow-bars. Having just researched this I'd recommend a swan-neck which will almost certainly give the clearance you need and is far less likely to interfere with your reversing sensors. 

Tinwheeler

Unless the law has recently changed again, Geoff, the once common practice of fitting spacers was outlawed several years ago as it contravened the type approval of the tow bar.

EmilysDad

That's not correct. Regardless of the legalities of spacers, an ALKO 2 bolt flange tow ball provides extra clearance UNDER the ball, not just behind it to provide enough articulation of the stabiliser hitch.