Alko shocks please read!!!

[paddy1]

Hi all i was kindley given a set off shocks by john(g)on this forum thankyou John.

I fitted them to my Bailey Discovery and tow with a focus what a difference they have made, no more bounce through car and alot more stabile when towed even my wife noticed i would recomend them regards Mark

 

[Jimbob1]

Hi Paddy,

Was that a difficult job fitting shock absorbers to your caravan,are you mechanically minded as such ?and do you think any d.i.y.r person could do it?Looking forward to your reply and any advice would be very welcome.Many Thanks.Jim

 

[stevecw]

I recently fitted a pair of shocks to my Bailey Ranger. Whole job took just over an hour. Hardest part was getting leverage on my torque wrench as the van was left on its wheels and I was lying down on my front.

As has been said I also feel the van tows a lot better and more stable.

 

[xtrailman]

I'm sure my first caravan a Monza 1200s, was fitted with coil springs and (not sure)dampers.

Anyone remember?

 

[Stephen_374341239]

Hi I too have just fitted AL-Ko shocks to my Bailey ranger also i have had the wheel balanced. Went for a test drive BIG difference. Much more stable even when these big lorreys go past.

I did jack the caravan up to put them on because as not to mechanically minded i followed the instruction from Al-Ko to the letter and also hired a torque wrench. Job took me 2hrs but thats with tea break.

Steve

 

[Dave_374330759]

They are ever so easy to fit. You can do it without jacking the van up if you are reasonable agile and not too bulky.

Don't hire a torque wrench, you can buy one from ARGOS for only

 

[Heethers]

l hav e a motor mover fitted to the front of my van, would this have to be moved to the rear or can the shocks still be fitted, don't want order the shocks to find l have to move the mover.

NigelH

 

[Dave_374330759]

You may have to move the motor units outwards a bit to clear the shock absorbers but generally unless you've got a strange or old motor mover you won't have a problem. It depends on how well the mover was fitted in the first place. Mostly there is enough clearance. I had to shift one of the motors by about 10mm coz they weren't fitted evenly - took nearly 5 mins to do, just slacken the clamp bolts, slide the motor outwards a bit and then retighten, making sure you maintain the correct clearance between the roller and the tyre.

 

[paddy1]

Hi took me 20mins a side to change just remove the plastic bung from under the swinging arm to fit shocks and the 3 holes are pre drilled on alko chassis easy for different caravan weights as per instructions.

I was going to change my car due to the bouce from caravan before fitting these shocks but that has gone.

Also whet away last friday even with the strong winds we had it towed well.

regards mark

 

[Heethers]

You may have to move the motor units outwards a bit to clear the shock absorbers but generally unless you've got a strange or old motor mover you won't have a problem. It depends on how well the mover was fitted in the first place. Mostly there is enough clearance. I had to shift one of the motors by about 10mm coz they weren't fitted evenly - took nearly 5 mins to do, just slacken the clamp bolts, slide the motor outwards a bit and then retighten, making sure you maintain the correct clearance between the roller and the tyre.

Thanks Dave, its a new Truma s fitted last October, will have a look before l commit to buying.

NigelH

 

[trucker]

NGH, Ive had a powrtorch fitted to 2 swift group vans, Aventura and now the Sterling topaz. Fitted shocks no prob on aventura and the topaz came as standard

Kevin

 

[gary]

Ray, your old Monza had whats known as 'coil over' suspension units, coil over damper/shocker that is, so yes it had shock absorbers.

 

[Heethers]

Trucker, my firestar is 08 didnt come standard until 09, looking at the van may need to move the mover a little, trouble is it's under 5year warranty.

The Rover 75 2.5 V6 tows it well enough, wife's Shougun even better but its manual, Rover auto thats why l use the Rover.

Wife's contemplating having a new Shogun later this year so may wait before l order shocks, thanks for all you help.

NigelH

 

[xtrailman]

Gary

Thanks for that, just wasn't certain.

Funny how "developments" appear to go full circle?

My old 1976 i think Monsa, was the easiest van to tow that i have ever had, and the lighest, the car was in complete control.

 

[Paul_5064559]

Paddy; All this makes me fume that with the current outrageous prices (compared with motor vehicles) asked for new vans these days most manufacturers still cannot bring themselves to fit as standard equipment such items that would only cost a relative small additional cost, yet as these testaments show, would give a substantial improvement in towing comfort/safety.

Can you imagine the outcry from the motoring press (Including Jeremy) if a similar situation existed there....