Towball creeks and grumbles.....

Iain McL
Iain McL Forum Participant Posts: 16
edited August 2016 in New to Caravanning & Touring #1

I have now towed for about 500 miles which is nothing In the grand schemes of things. This morning after hitching up and returning home, the towball / Al-ko 3004 stabiliser was groaning and creeking. 

The good news is stayed on, but I am wondering if it's normal and if I need to be cleaning the ball and stabiliser regularly. 

Thanks

Comments

  • DavidKlyne
    DavidKlyne Club Member Posts: 13,860 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2016 #2

    Iain

    Apologies if I am preaching to the converted but I assume you have removed all the paint from the towball? If the paint has been removed then I think what you are experiencing is fairly normal and usually due to muck building up on the towball and the pads. Not a bad idea to use some wirewool on the towball to keep it clean and probably the same on the pads.

    David

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited August 2016 #3

    Treat yourself to a can of Brake cleaner ,i spray our coupling head before each trip ,DO Not use the likes of WD40  

  • Tigi
    Tigi Forum Participant Posts: 1,038
    500 Comments
    edited August 2016 #4

    Normal in so much some make a noise and some don`t, as per previous post clean internals of hitch with a spray brake cleaner and towball, don`t under any circumstances lubricate either. Sometimes you can cure it, sometimes you end up living with it. 

  • Iain McL
    Iain McL Forum Participant Posts: 16
    edited August 2016 #5

    Thanks for the advice. Brake cleaner it is then. 

  • gygafo
    gygafo Forum Participant Posts: 51
    edited August 2016 #6

    When towing I can't hear my towball for the other half... Just as well really because it makes a real squeak on the move!

  • BorisSnowhead
    BorisSnowhead Forum Participant Posts: 50
    edited August 2016 #7

    Likewise had noise from our new van after less than 200 miles. Changed the friction pads, cleaned the towball, changed the towball and took back to dealer! Nothing wrong with it - appears to be one of those things.

    Dealer said they estimate about 10% of all vans they sell have a mystery squeak.

    Never heard a peep out of old one in countless thousands of miles. Several people have said that they settle down over time so fingers crossed 

  • Metheven
    Metheven Club Member Posts: 3,987 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2016 #8

    Whilst in Italy my friction pads failed (van serviced before I went) and was embarassing with the groans and creaking, probably louder inside than out. I had to grease to quieten it down and to protect the hitch.

    I ordered the pads online to have them waiting for me when I got home, meticulously cleaned the Winterhoff hitch, replaced the non existant pads and bolted on a new towball to replace the slightly scored one.

    Silence was what I hoped for but it was dreadful, the indicator was well into the green and I cleaned it again and again to no avail. Then on our return home from a CL the noise got less and less until it disappeared completely, indicator still nicely in the green but noticed less force needed on the actuator handle, so thinking they needed to be bed in and this took about 130 miles.

    Strange I know as after replacing pads on a previous caravan (ALKO) it was silent from day one Undecided

  • richardandros
    richardandros Club Member Posts: 2,681 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2016 #9

    Until recently, I haven't had a problem with creaking from the towball - always cleaned it with a fine sanding pad to remove any superficial rust and then a cloth and it was fine.  Was in the accessory shop the other day and saw a can of spray towball /
    pad cleaner so bought it and used it.  Guess what - not stopped creaking ever since! Does this mean it is now squeeky clean?Frown

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
    1000 Comments
    edited August 2016 #10

    Mine creaks and groans at low speed. Not noticeable when at normal cruising speed. It's one of those jobs that requires a 'round tuit'.

  • geoffeales
    geoffeales Forum Participant Posts: 322
    edited August 2016 #11

    you have to remember that the these things work on friction, where two surfaces are grinding against each other, in this case forced together, so there will be some degree of groaning, especially when you haven't
    used it for a while. It wil go away fairly quickly, in the meantime turn the radio up!

  • Wherenext
    Wherenext Club Member Posts: 10,607 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2016 #12

    you have to remember that the these things work on friction, where two surfaces are grinding against each other, in this case forced together, so there will be some degree of groaning, especially when you haven't
    used it for a while. It wil go away fairly quickly, in the meantime turn the radio up!

    Write your comments here...We are still talking about caravans and towing aren't we?SurprisedEmbarassed

  • sh31
    sh31 Forum Participant Posts: 2
    edited August 2016 #13

    Whilst in Italy my friction pads failed (van serviced before I went) and was embarassing with the groans and creaking, probably louder inside than out. I had to grease to quieten it down and to protect the hitch.

    I ordered the pads online to have them waiting for me when I got home, meticulously cleaned the Winterhoff hitch, replaced the non existant pads and bolted on a new towball to replace the slightly scored one.

    Silence was what I hoped for but it was dreadful, the indicator was well into the green and I cleaned it again and again to no avail. Then on our return home from a CL the noise got less and less until it disappeared completely, indicator still nicely in the green but noticed less force needed on the actuator handle, so thinking they needed to be bed in and this took about 130 miles.

    Strange I know as after replacing pads on a previous caravan (ALKO) it was silent from day one Undecided

    Write your comments here...

  • sh31
    sh31 Forum Participant Posts: 2
    edited August 2016 #14

    How much green should be showing in the indicator? New to this and noticed mine is half green/half red - a little concerned now and wondered if pads need changing. Also, husband appears to have difficulty in securing and relasing hitch could this have anything
    to do with the pads or human error!

  • geoffeales
    geoffeales Forum Participant Posts: 322
    edited August 2016 #15

    I don't think the friction pads have anything to do with it. The green is an indicator that the hitch is fully locked in position. If anything it would lock on easier with worn pads than new. I would get it checked by your local workshops

  • Metheven
    Metheven Club Member Posts: 3,987 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2016 #16

    I don't think the friction pads have anything to do with it. The green is an indicator that the hitch is fully locked in position. If anything it would lock on easier with worn pads than new. I would get it checked by your local workshops

    The Winterhoff hitch has a red to green range indicator and is solely for the wear rate of the pads, it also has a pop up green button for being correctly hitched and locked.

    In this instance we are talking of friction pads. Of course the lady may be talking of an Alko but as the post was below mine I assumed a Winterhoff.

  • Metheven
    Metheven Club Member Posts: 3,987 ✭✭✭
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    edited August 2016 #17

    How much green should be showing in the indicator? New to this and noticed mine is half green/half red - a little concerned now and wondered if pads need changing. Also, husband appears to have difficulty in securing and relasing hitch could this have anything to do with the pads or human error!

    It varies but should not be in the 'hatched' area on a Winterhoff hitch, if it is then its time for renewal.

    It would pay to replace the pads but difficulty in hitching/unhitching is not down to that, as said get it checked out. We all have a problem unhitching at times, dependant upon the compression of the hitch when stopped etc, but hitching is normally first time and if its the norm not to then there is a problem.

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