Alko stab hitch

[Deleted account DD]

On our caravan we have an alko 3004 stab hitch. It’s a bugger to operate with the spare mounted where it is on the terrano.

Anyone else suffered the same and how did you deal with it :?:

I’ve seen the retro fit alko 4x4 handles but I’ve been told they only clear on some 4x4’s so before I shell out yet another £30+ :cry: , any comments would be gratefully accepted.

Hi DAVED, You can remove the red handle altogether just leaving the two arms, the stabilizer can still be set one arm at a time. If you have a Witter towbar use the lower pair of holes to mount the towball, that's how I have done it on mine and it works.

[Thomas-the-Terrano2]

sometimes hitch with door open to clear lever. different everytime
either no problems or fouls wheel. that said was bliss this summer
took wheel off and kept in boot as found corroison on bracket.

reckon the blue winterhoff wont be same prob as pivot of handle
is behind ball not around it.

[arthur]

Hi Daved

I have cut the arms down to about 7" and I now use a tube to lock the arms down separately. Hitching up is real easy now.

I hope you find this helpful.

Arthur

[Deleted account DD]

Thanks all keep em coming.

Rbrt I can understand the comments on the opening door and different every time view. Tbh thats what I'm completely hacked off with and I'm just waiting for me to reverse into the van with the back door open ops: it'll happen :?

Arthur, which arms have you cut down? the two silver ones? Gadgetsyd & Arthur As far as locking down seperatley the advice from the dealer was dont though I cant see why not if you lock each down to the same position :? do you :?

All this to save £30 :

[arthur]

Hi Daved
Yes the silver one's.The red handle with two silver stumps is in the shed

I have a al-ko 2000 on my van they don't make the detachable handle for this model so I got the grinder out. The modification works fine.

Arthur

[JonathanM]

Originally Posted by daved

Thanks all keep em coming.

Rbrt I can understand the comments on the opening door and different every time view. Tbh thats what I'm completely hacked off with and I'm just waiting for me to reverse into the van with the back door open ops: it'll happen :?

Arthur, which arms have you cut down? the two silver ones? Gadgetsyd & Arthur As far as locking down seperatley the advice from the dealer was dont though I cant see why not if you lock each down to the same position :? do you :?

All this to save £30 :

Hi Dave, when we had the T2 for towing, I'd reverse up to the caravan with the door closed, then open it and do any final manoevres with the door open and Mrs JonathanM keeping a very close eye on things. So the door open idea doesn't have to be too scary, but I would say only with a spotter.

This of course used to be complicated by the rear wheel mounted bike rack!


This is one of the pluses of now using the X-Trail for towing, hitching is much easier from that respect.

The other option depends firstly on the age of your vehicle, secondly on the type of towbar fitted.

Vehicles registered before August 1998 can use drop plates & spacers - after these dates I don't think they can be used unless approved by the towbar manufacturer. Obviosuly though these can only be fitted if you've got a flange fitting towball. Either a drop plate or a spacer would give enough of a change in position to allow the Alko handle to work correctly.


One other thought, have you got a full spare wheel cover? Some of these will increase the profile of the tyre enough to stop the handle reaching its limit, so you might want to try it out without a full wheel cover as well and see if that helps.

[Thomas-the-Terrano2]

think JM has answered for me, only open door when units together.
subject to spare clearing hand brake and and jockey wheel handle.

[Deleted account DD]

Rbrt, you may find (as we have!!!) depending on whivh site youre on its turning the jockey wheel handle thats the main bugbear :?

I reckon one of those handles (however ridiculously priced :roll: ) will be the solution.

JohnathanM, your terrano technique was the same as ours is. I'm pleasantly suprised (to date) about the lack of falling out with each other :

Thanks for all the answers folks -welldone-

[Jocky]

Originally Posted by daved

Rbrt, you may find (as we have!!!) depending on whivh site youre on its turning the jockey wheel handle thats the main bugbear :?

I reckon one of those handles (however ridiculously priced :roll: ) will be the solution.

JohnathanM, your terrano technique was the same as ours is. I'm pleasantly suprised (to date) about the lack of falling out with each other :

Thanks for all the answers folks -welldone-

Don't buy one its a waste of cash 8O I took handle off mine and just pushed both stabilizer handles at the same time when hitched. You will also find when handle removed you sometimes foul spare wheel and there is no space to fit new alko handle anyway.
Its great messing with rear door, handbrake and jockey wheel 8O

:smile:

[(RIP) PLANK]

take it off, fit a normal tow hitch and sell it on ebay, they fetch good money and you wont feel the difference towing the caravan anyway

though i am sure we have been here before

[Thomas-the-Terrano2]

really plank suprised it took so long for you to make that comment.

ah mr plank we've been expecting you...

thats my plan with next van, unless it comes with winterhoffen?

could add a spacer or dropper to my pre s reg, aprt fom restricted
by the 4 mini bolt witter bracket. funny how close the upper studs
are to leading edge of alko but they dont foul. would grind arms off
too if planned on keeping the hitch.

[(RIP) PLANK]

rbrt, I was reading old posts (yes the xmas break is dragging on a bit) and couldn't resist! Daved if you are reading 'happy new year'