Al Ko Shock Absorbers

[TheTravelMan]

Hi there,

What are you people's thoughts on the fitting of Shock Absorbers to your caravan.

I have read a few posts in the past and generaly people seem in favour.

I Have decided to add them to my 2002 Swift Challenger - 490. To help give me extra stability.

I have a good tow car as I use an 2004 Isuzu Rodeo 4x4 Double Cab (no i'm not a poser, its my work vehicle too, and boy does it work for its living)

What are your general views and what advice can you give me, do they realy make a difference?

Another reason I ask is i called into a well known dealership the other day, and got chatting. I brought the subject up of fitting shoc absorbers to my caravan..... well ! i wish I hadn't the guy basically laughed at me and told me they are of little use and not worth fitting! he also added that if the makers thought them a bonus they would fit them during build of the caravan.

So over to you people, what are your thoughts?

Look foward to hearing your views!

Cheers!

Andy.

 

[Iain]

Can only recommend them. Had them fitted to my current Bailey when it was serviced in September and they are great. Lorries passing by are less noticeable, you still get a bow wave but its smoother and less pronounced, so much so my Mrs can't feel it from the passenger seat. Also the ride is smoother over our typically uneven roads, cushions etc remain in place. For the outlay they are worth it. We are having ours transferred to our new van when it arrives. On the back of this my dad is ordering some for his Bailey.

 

[RogerL]

I've fitted them to my Pageant, makes it ride much smoother and less movement in sidewinds - best

 

[WatsonJohnG]

I've fitted the same pair of blue shocks to the last 3 caravans but always as soon as I got the van so I can't really say if it made any difference !

I need the red ones for the new van I'm told so I am waiting to see how it tows without first.

There don't seem to be any on ebay at the moment!

 

[JasonR_374341560]

German law allows higher towing speed with shock absorbers I was told, so would assume they do work.

I've fitted them to our last two caravans and it is a far more pleasant towing experience with them.

Sounds like you met another clueless muppet at the dealers Andrew.

 

[WatsonJohnG]

I've fitted them to my Pageant, makes it ride much smoother and less movement in sidewinds - best

 

[RogerL]

Al-ko direct - it was 7 years ago though!

 

[WatsonJohnG]

Al-ko direct - it was 7 years ago though!

Thanks Roger

I thought that you might know a good source

I will see Alko at NEC

 

[JimC]

I had them fitted on my new Lunar Lexon EW TA. The ride is smoother than my previous Lexon TA which did not have them.

I had mine fitted after reading many favourable reports on this forum 2 years ago.

Regards Jim

 

[WatsonJohnG]

Hi Roger

Ordered them from my dealer with 10% discount

 

[WatsonJohnG]

Hi Roger

Ordered them from my dealer with 10% discount

 

[RichardS1]

Recently had shock absorbers fitted to our van and had to tow the van home over the north yorkshire moors last Sunday in windy conditions. Really pleased with how the shock absorbers improved the stability of the van in the wind.

 

[WatsonJohnG]

Red shocks arrived today@

 

[WatsonJohnG]

Can anyone tell me which hole(top) in the chassis(Alko) is used for the red shocks

The instructions involve removing the wheel and making several measurements.

I didn't do that before

It should be possible to say which hole I would have thought

 

[WatsonJohnG]

Can anyone tell me which hole(top) in the chassis(Alko) is used for the red shocks

The instructions involve removing the wheel and making several measurements.

I didn't do that before

It should be possible to say which hole I would have thought

Just answered the question via "search"

Hi Graeme,

I fitted the red shocks to my Swift Challenger 500se, using the hole that was furthest away from the wheel drum, going on the measurments supplied by Alko, it should be 265mm from the centre of the arm to the hole for the red shocks.

Not sure what colour shocks you used but I think you need to check your measurments with the instructions given by Alko.

http://www.al-ko.co.uk/Downloads/shocks2004.pdf
Hope this helps

Graham (Ponty)

 

[Terry_5112949]

I`ve been thinking about fitting the Blue shockers to my van as that is what is recomended for the weight, what I would like to know is can they be fitted as I have a Powrtouch Mover fitted in front of the axle at the correct locations? has any one else got them fitted as well as the mover

 

[RogerL]

I have Al-Ko Octagon Blue dampers and a PowrTouch model 3 mover fitted in front of the axle - they work fine together.

The PowrTouch model 1, fitted in front of the axle MAY conflict with dampers, in which case the mover can be relocated behind the axle but this may involve relocating the spare wheel further back as well.

 

[WatsonJohnG]

This is what Powrtouch say

Powrtouch Single Heavy Duty Model 3 (WEB/PTTM3)

The Model 3 is designed to fit caravans that have shock absorbers fitted or have a narrow gap (less than 105mm (4.125ins)) between the chassis and the tyre, but fitted with a reduction gearbox to provide more moving power to the caravan wheels. Under ideal conditions it is expected that this model will move a 1500 kgs (approx 1.5UK tons) caravan up a 1 in 4 slope.

It doesn't mention shock absorbers on the base model

 

[vernon]

I've got Alko blue shocks fitted to an Avondale 470/2 (Alko chassis) and a Pwrtouch 3 in front of the axle with no problem!

Plus it's a BIG improvement in towing.

 

[GrahamSouthBrum]

Another reason I ask is i called into a well known dealership the other day, and got chatting. I brought the subject up of fitting shoc absorbers to my caravan..... well ! i wish I hadn't the guy basically laughed at me and told me they are of little use and not worth fitting! he also added that if the makers thought them a bonus they would fit them during build of the caravan.

I think you will find that most if not all German caravans are fitted with shock absorbers by the makers. My Burstner certainly is.

My van has the shocks fitted in front of the wheels & the mover at the rear of the wheels.

This meant that the spare wheel is located under the fixed bed. That is no hardship as the Alko spare wheel holder is almost impossible to use, if you have a nearside flat & you are parked up against the kerb.

 

[WatsonJohnG]

As Jason said

"German law allows higher towing speed with shock absorbers I was told, so would assume they do work."

Its a legal requirement

 

[WatsonJohnG]

As stated already I now have the red shocks to fit but on examination the suspension arms don't have the rubber bungs for removal to fit the shocks

Instead there is a welded on "arm" with a hole near the end that looks as though its meant for the shocker to be attached

Anyone come across this??

 

[metz]

Hi John, Yes the arms are indeed to fit the shockers, i think they are fitted on the larger alko brake drum as standard.

 

[WatsonJohnG]

Hi John, Yes the arms are indeed to fit the shockers, i think they are fitted on the larger alko brake drum as standard.

Thanks Metz

 

[Lutz]

As Jason said

"German law allows higher towing speed with shock absorbers I was told, so would assume they do work."

Its a legal requirement

Shock absorbers (among other things) are only a legal requirement if you want to tow at 100km/h, not if are happy with towing at 80km/h.