wont fit??

31-03-2009, 23:17

hi
iv just bought a caravan with an alko stableizer but every time i hook up i have to take the spare wheel off??
i cant fully open the stableizer cause the spares in the way
iv put 2 spacers on the ball but its still no good?

any1 have any idears
any1 got the same problem

thanks

tezzer · 31-03-2009, 23:25

Quote:

Originally Posted by pin777

hi
iv just bought a caravan with an alko stableizer but every time i hook up i have to take the spare wheel off??
i cant fully open the stableizer cause the spares in the way
iv put 2 spacers on the ball but its still no good?

any1 have any idears
any1 got the same problem

thanks

yes, i had the same problem, just got tow ball with extended neck, works on my hitch.

tezzer

millie2 · 01-04-2009, 01:14

i had same problem so got a 1INCH spacer plate works great now.WORKED ON MY MAV WITHOUT SPACER BUT USED TO HIT STEP ON FULL LOCK.
KEV.

Deleted account DD · 01-04-2009, 06:58

Or get one of these

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ALKO-AL-KO-4-x...QQcmdZViewItem

Though that particular one does seem a lot expensive

mully · 01-04-2009, 07:13

I bought the AL-KO 4 x 4 4x4 HANDLE a couple of years ago and it works a treat

Jocky · 01-04-2009, 08:31

Just open the door before you lift up the stabiliser handle

did that for years with T2.
I also took the Stab handle off for bit more room.

zippy656 · 02-04-2009, 22:16

alko stableizer. i give up... this the tipe that holds your balls tight??

and got the long handles?

i dont use a stableizer at all

Thomas-the-Terrano2 · 02-04-2009, 22:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by zippy656

alko stableizer. i give up... this the tipe that holds your balls tight??

and got the long handles?

i dont use a stableizer at all

balls? zippy was gonna ask how many u got but thought better of it.

yeah alko and winterhoff are pedlers of pain here mind latter better
as handle set back.

ouch holding balls tight, not good for you, best left to inadequate cars
and oversized 'vans.

perhaps we should start a sub group of anti friction couplings drivers?

(RIP) PLANK · 02-04-2009, 22:37

Quote:

Originally Posted by zippy656

alko stableizer. i give up... this the tipe that holds your balls tight??

and got the long handles?

i dont use a stableizer at all

that makes two of us, i dont find them any help and a bit of a pest at the best!

zippy656 · 03-04-2009, 05:50

[QUOTE=Thomas-the-Terrano2;47681]balls? zippy was gonna ask how many u got but thought better of it.

QUOTE]

ive one back. and oneday hope to get one at the front..

Quote:

Originally Posted by PLANK

that makes two of us, i dont find them any help and a bit of a pest at the best!

im sure if you load the caravan properly. all is well. ok so Mrs Zippy loads it properly..

dinky · 03-04-2009, 08:29

Try a WINTEROFF stableizer ,beter than alko and lower no handle sticking up.When funds allow dumping my alko.

(RIP) PLANK · 03-04-2009, 09:16

just practice loading your caravan well! keep it at maximum nose weight, nothing heavy high up, correct tyre pressures (not too high!) he same goes for the towing vehicle, it doesnt need massive extra pressure in the tyres to cope with an etra 50-70k nose weight that isnt even the weight of an adult passanger (70k i about 11 stone!) and dont set out to dirve at silly speeds.

careful braking and manouvering etc. and you dont need a stabaliser at all!

out of interest have those of you with front tow/ push bars got alko balls fitted? is it therfore ore stable going backwards

Deleted account DD · 03-04-2009, 17:27

I'm not going to get into the perennial argument of do hitch stabilisers do anything or not.

If you load your caravan properly as plank says and drive it properly no probs and they may just be superfluous, I've harboured that thought for a long time.

But as a lot of vans come with them as standard why ditch them? they just may help as back up one day, there's no substantial evidence to say they wont. Thats nothing to do with a cosy feeling, from my view its based on practical engineering experience and a decent understanding of physics & dynamics (I may not sound it but I am a reasonably educated engineer by trade but binned uni for hands on

it paid the bills better

).

If you accept youve got one and choose not to ditch it I really dont understand why theres such a big downer (costs aside

) on the replacenment handle

I found one on ebay 2nd hand (unmarked condition) for £12 + £5 p&p.

We have the Alko 3000 which is the biggest chunkiest of them on our van and it went from standard handle fitted = chew on to 4x4 handle in use = pice of piss

no removing spare wheels, no squashing hands and twisting arms.

On a slight aside for stability I do love the presence of the Alko ATC , again as a back up, not as a substitute for proper towing skills and set up but I would say anyone who claims theyve never been caught out is either brain dead or telling porkies

The reason for my like of them is whilst driving down through Northumberland, nothing to see to warn us, we crossed an open gap along the A1 and got wacked by one hell of a crosswind. All happened very quickly but all I would describe the van as doing was snapping back into line very very quickly indeed. I was in the process of (trying

) to react properly and was beaten to it.

I asked around including speaking to Alko tech people and what I described happening to us is exactly what it is supposed to do.

Cant fault it and I'll always wonder if it saved the day

but as said by Plank and others you should startoff doing it right from basics.

31-03-2009, 23:17	#1
pin777 Guest Posts: n/a	wont fit?? hi iv just bought a caravan with an alko stableizer but every time i hook up i have to take the spare wheel off?? i cant fully open the stableizer cause the spares in the way iv put 2 spacers on the ball but its still no good? any1 have any idears any1 got the same problem thanks

01-04-2009, 08:31	#6
Jocky Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Teesside,Englandshire, I only sleep there honest. Vehicle: Nissan Patrol 2.8 TD6 Y61 Posts: 1,420	Just open the door before you lift up the stabiliser handle did that for years with T2. I also took the Stab handle off for bit more room. __________________ (Y61) Patrol 2.8TD6 SE Touring.DPT Box. Ironman Nitro Shocks OME Springs 20mm lift front, 30mm lift rear. 33" General Grabber AT's, Airtec Snorkel, EGR Mod. 2.5" Stainless Exhaust

01-04-2009, 01:14	#3
millie2 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: SW durham Vehicle: 06 xtrail columbia Posts: 244	i had same problem so got a 1INCH spacer plate works great now.WORKED ON MY MAV WITHOUT SPACER BUT USED TO HIT STEP ON FULL LOCK. KEV.

01-04-2009, 06:58	#4
Deleted account DD Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 4,705	Or get one of these http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ALKO-AL-KO-4-x...QQcmdZViewItem Though that particular one does seem a lot expensive

01-04-2009, 07:13	#5
mully Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: dorset Vehicle: Terrano11 Posts: 112	I bought the AL-KO 4 x 4 4x4 HANDLE a couple of years ago and it works a treat

02-04-2009, 22:16	#7
zippy656 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Devizes Wiltshire Vehicle: Nissan Note Ntec 1.5 Posts: 14,138	alko stableizer. i give up... this the tipe that holds your balls tight?? and got the long handles? i dont use a stableizer at all

03-04-2009, 08:29	#11
dinky Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: SOCIALIST REPUBLIC OF SOUTH YORKSHIRE Vehicle: t20 lwb Posts: 1,238	Try a WINTEROFF stableizer ,beter than alko and lower no handle sticking up.When funds allow dumping my alko.

03-04-2009, 09:16	#12
(RIP) PLANK Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Central England, in the Heart of the Black Country Vehicle: T2 2004 TDI SE LWB Posts: 7,740	just practice loading your caravan well! keep it at maximum nose weight, nothing heavy high up, correct tyre pressures (not too high!) he same goes for the towing vehicle, it doesnt need massive extra pressure in the tyres to cope with an etra 50-70k nose weight that isnt even the weight of an adult passanger (70k i about 11 stone!) and dont set out to dirve at silly speeds. careful braking and manouvering etc. and you dont need a stabaliser at all! out of interest have those of you with front tow/ push bars got alko balls fitted? is it therfore ore stable going backwards

03-04-2009, 17:27	#13
Deleted account DD Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 4,705	I'm not going to get into the perennial argument of do hitch stabilisers do anything or not. If you load your caravan properly as plank says and drive it properly no probs and they may just be superfluous, I've harboured that thought for a long time. But as a lot of vans come with them as standard why ditch them? they just may help as back up one day, there's no substantial evidence to say they wont. Thats nothing to do with a cosy feeling, from my view its based on practical engineering experience and a decent understanding of physics & dynamics (I may not sound it but I am a reasonably educated engineer by trade but binned uni for hands on it paid the bills better ). If you accept youve got one and choose not to ditch it I really dont understand why theres such a big downer (costs aside ) on the replacenment handle I found one on ebay 2nd hand (unmarked condition) for £12 + £5 p&p. We have the Alko 3000 which is the biggest chunkiest of them on our van and it went from standard handle fitted = chew on to 4x4 handle in use = pice of piss no removing spare wheels, no squashing hands and twisting arms. On a slight aside for stability I do love the presence of the Alko ATC , again as a back up, not as a substitute for proper towing skills and set up but I would say anyone who claims theyve never been caught out is either brain dead or telling porkies The reason for my like of them is whilst driving down through Northumberland, nothing to see to warn us, we crossed an open gap along the A1 and got wacked by one hell of a crosswind. All happened very quickly but all I would describe the van as doing was snapping back into line very very quickly indeed. I was in the process of (trying ) to react properly and was beaten to it. I asked around including speaking to Alko tech people and what I described happening to us is exactly what it is supposed to do. Cant fault it and I'll always wonder if it saved the day but as said by Plank and others you should startoff doing it right from basics.