alko hitch

Emporor
Emporor Forum Participant Posts: 2
edited September 2016 in Caravans #1

on a couple of occasions recently after arriving on site my caravan does not seem to want to release from the car. On one occassion I have had to bar it off to release.  Is it something I am doing or on the other hand something I have done?

Comments

  • compass362
    compass362 Forum Participant Posts: 619
    500 Comments
    edited September 2016 #2

    I think perhaps you need to hitch & unhitch Caravan with someone with more experience , just to check if you are doing things correctly .

    I can understand your plight , I changed from a Caravan with a winterhoff hitch to a Caravan with the Alco one (3004) & certainly on my first outing to Buxton CC had to have some help hitching up when we left  ,I just couldn't get it to hitch up a member came & helped after watching me struggling   ,  I sure you'll find someone to double-check you method , or you could youtube it  , sorry I can't help more.

  • KENNYG
    KENNYG Forum Participant Posts: 215
    100 Comments
    edited September 2016 #3

    We had this discussion a few weeks ago. If reversing onto a pitch  apply handbrake on your caravan then let your car role forward a couple of inches just to take pressure of the damper then try to release hitch hope this helps. 

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
    1000 Comments
    edited September 2016 #4

    What Kenny says ..... generally releasing the handbrake while in neutral will do the same 

  • squip
    squip Forum Participant Posts: 42
    edited September 2016 #5

    Another possible cause, which I had with my van, is that the latch in the hitch which locks onto the ball does not retract cleanly when the small black handle is raised. This latch is retracted by a spring. In my case all that was needed was a bit of lubrication
    od the pivot point of this latch.

    squip

  • golfneil
    golfneil Forum Participant Posts: 40
    edited September 2016 #6

    Could also be pulling forward too much whilst decompressing the hitch,so under too much pressure or whilst on uneven ground so the hitch is not level, these are the two occasions I have had issues in the past unhitching.

  • Emporor
    Emporor Forum Participant Posts: 2
    edited July 2018 #7

    Can anybody help as I am desperate.  I have used my Ford S max towing a Swift Challenger 570. I have had no problems for three years. This year we trotted off to Whareham with no problem. two weeks later we take off again and the whole unit was all over the road at anything around the55 mph mark.

    We had packed the van as we always have noseweight was correct, tyre pressures correct on both the van and car. nothing different except I had just put new tyres on the rear of the car.  Exactley the same as previously  It towed as if the Alko hitch was no working. I have switched the back tyres for the rear (fitted in December) Changed the bits in the alko hitch, car has just had MOT no problems.

    I am running out of ideas, can anyone give an idea

  • lornalou1
    lornalou1 Forum Participant Posts: 2,169
    1000 Comments
    edited July 2018 #8

    lift van on each side individually and see if wheels spin freely ( with handbrake of off course } might be a bearing drying up. only guessing but worth a check.

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