Al ko shock absorbers.

[cooky1]

I have ordered a pair of shock absorbers for my Bailey Indiana. Does anyone know if the holes are pre drilled on the chassis and how easy are they to fit. Any details of how they fit from the chassis to the suspension would help me.

I hope they are delivered tomorrow morning and if they are easy to fit I will get them done before I leave tomorrow lunchtime.

Graeme.

 

[rob_jax]

Hi Graeme,

The holes are always predrilled in the AL-KO chassis - they are a standard fit in Germany and the chassis is pan-European - and you aren't allowed to drill and AL-KO chassis anyway - so the holes are there.

The instructions should be self-evident.

I know of a comprehensive step-by-step photo-guide to the replacement of AL-KO shock absorbers on the German Eriba web-site. The pictures are self evident, but you'll need to understand a bit of German - let me know if you want the link

Robert

 

[cooky1]

If you could send me the link so I can have a look at it, that would be great. After looking under the van I can now see the holes in the chassis but I can't see how the shocks attach to the hub/suspension.

Graeme.

 

[WatsonJohnG]

I've got the dampers on the present van and have swapped them from the last few vand when we change

Its very easy to fit them

There is a rectangular rubber bung under the suspension arm

The bootom bracket is in 2 halves-a bit like if you put your hads back to back.If you imagine the fingers back to back together they go in the slot and then the backs of the hands together moves the fingers apart and into the space inside the slot

If you known what I mean !!

 

[WatsonJohnG]

Graeme

Have a look at this

http://217.199.167.226/pdfs/shocks2003.pdf

 

[cooky1]

Thanks everyone. I have downloaded the technical borchure from Al ko and the job looks OK to do.

I ordered the shocks direct from Al ko last week and the website said 5-7 working days for delivery. That would have given me plenty of time to fit them. When I chased up the order yesterday Al ko were apparently on holiday last week so my order was omly despatched on Wednesday. It has not arrived at my local depot yet. My last chance is to collect them tomorrow morning, fit them and set off for France early afternoon!

Graeme.

 

[WatsonJohnG]

Thanks everyone. I have downloaded the technical borchure from Al ko and the job looks OK to do.

I ordered the shocks direct from Al ko last week and the website said 5-7 working days for delivery. That would have given me plenty of time to fit them. When I chased up the order yesterday Al ko were apparently on holiday last week so my order was omly despatched on Wednesday. It has not arrived at my local depot yet. My last chance is to collect them tomorrow morning, fit them and set off for France early afternoon!

Graeme.

Bon Voyage

 

[rob_jax]

Hi Graeme,

The direct link is to http://www.7elche.de/Touring/Daempfer/ and the owner reported that it took him 20 - 30 minutes per side - including adjusting the length of the damper stroke

Have a great vacation. Robert

 

[WatsonJohnG]

Rob just had a look at the link and sorry to say its not the Alko chassis that we know and love!!

Couldn't understand the bit about adjusting the stroke as all you do is push the damper in until its level with the hole in the chassis.Something was lost in translation I think

Hopefully Graeme has got his bits and set off to France with them fitted.

Regards

 

[rob_jax]

Hi John,

No, that's a real AL-KO chassis not the bent tin-plate most people have under their caravan. It's made from heavy duty galvanised steel and is still in (custom) production by AL-KO for the current Eriba Touring caravans.

The stroke adjustment is needed for this caravan because the mounting plate is in a different position.

But the job is still the same - offer up one AL-KO shock and do up two nuts and bolts.

And as you say, hopefully Graeme is now underway in France with a rather better controlled caravan

Robert

 

[joeby]

Greame they are really easy to fit , i fitted them to my Indiana and wouldnt be without them

 

[cooky1]

Thanks everyone. I picked up the shocks from a depot on Saturday morning at 08:00hrs. I then fitted them in about 3/4 of an hour, packed the rest of the van and set off for France about lunch time. After touring about 1000 miles in the last fortnight I have been impressed with the stability of the van with the shocks fitted. A well spent

 

[Bri-C]

Hi..

This is something I have been considering for a couple of years now, but to be honest aperthy has got in the way.

So as a person who has towed the same van with assumedly the same towcar both with and without the caravan shocks and has mentioned that it was

 

[SteveW77]

After fitting shock absorbers to my Swift Challenger 530, I can honestly say that I didn't notice any difference at all.

Steve W

 

[Val & Frank]

I can't be 100 % sure on this, but I think you have to have them fitted in Germany before you can have the tempo 100 Km/Hr sticker. If that is the case I am sure it has been proven that they add to stability !!!

Val & Frank

 

[Lutz]

Yes, Frank, you're right.

 

[WatsonJohnG]

I didn't notice any difference with the Oklahoma because I fitted them as soon as I took delivery

I already had them available and they are doing more good on the van than in a drawer !!

 

[GrahamPonty]

Hi Folks, Fitted mine today took me about one hour 20 mins. The only problem I had was that I had the Powrwheel motor mover fitted last week and it was right smack bang in the way. Had I fitted them before it would not have taken so long.

Regards

Graham (Ponty)