Alko v standard towball question

Herb Atious
Herb Atious Forum Participant Posts: 60
edited May 2017 in Towcars & Towing #1

Hi all When I last towed some 20 years back I don't think Alko hitch/stabilisers were around or if they were they didn't figure in anything I was involved in

We were using the single leaf stabiliser then

So my question is, are Alko towballs different to the standard towball ?

ie would a caravan with an Alko hitch (which most seem to have now) fit a standard tow ball ?

I have a Westfalia tow bar with a swan neck Is this compatible with Alko hitches ?

Any help and advice gratefully received

Vehicle is a Volvo V70 2.4D if its relevant

Comments

  • dinker
    dinker Forum Participant Posts: 31
    edited May 2017 #2

    Yes swan neck tow-balls are fine with Al-ko hitches. It's the short-necked flanged standard tow-ball that can cause problems. To counteract this, Al-ko do a flanged towball with a longer neck, but this is not required when using a swan-neck.

  • Vulcan
    Vulcan Forum Participant Posts: 670
    edited May 2017 #3

    Yes they are different to a standard tow ball, the neck is slightly longer to allow for articulation of the AlKo head.

  • Herb Atious
    Herb Atious Forum Participant Posts: 60
    edited May 2017 #4

    Thank you both for clarifying what I thought was the case

    I didn't think they would have dreamed up a different size ball but thought I would just check

    As I said I don't think they were around back then but they seem a more sensible stabiliser

    I have read up on changing the friction pads (if required)

    Much appreciate the feed back

     

     

  • Vicmallows
    Vicmallows Forum Participant Posts: 580
    500 Comments
    edited May 2017 #5

    Question:

    I have a Winterhoff hitch which seems to me to be a very well thought out and satisfactory design.

    I have never experienced an Alko hitch.  In case I do, could someone explain what the TWO levers do, and exactly what the sequence of operation is please?  (I know I could look up the instructions, but often a description by someone with real-life experience is much more useful).

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
    1000 Comments
    edited May 2017 #6

     .... and remove any paint from your towball, otherwise it clogs the pads.

  • dinker
    dinker Forum Participant Posts: 31
    edited May 2017 #7

    The small lever locks the hitch onto the tow-ball, and the larger lever is the stabiliser to tighten the pads around the tow-ball.

  • Herb Atious
    Herb Atious Forum Participant Posts: 60
    edited May 2017 #8

    I found you tube very useful for describing how the Alko hitch works

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
    1000 Comments
    edited May 2017 #9

    Where on your Winterhoff the one handle is pulled rearwards and then lifted to release it from the ball

    The lower handle on the Alko is like any trailer hitch and is raised to drop the coupling on to the hook and then the larger is pushed down to engage the stabliser pads and the reverse to release,

  • Vicmallows
    Vicmallows Forum Participant Posts: 580
    500 Comments
    edited May 2017 #10

    Thanks for the explanations. It is as I supposed,but good to have confirmed in case I encounter one. I was particularly wondering if there might be an associated reason for the reported cases of 'vans becoming detached, as this seems most unlikely with the Winterhoff design.

Categories