Fitting an Alko Stabiliser - how difficult?

[Stephen_5078422]

Hi all,

I've just had a removable towbar fitted to my Audi which means that my Bulldog stabiliser no longer works. After reading good reviews on the Alko, I splashed out and bought one for my Europa caravan.

With only a couple of weeks before our first outing, I'm starting to get a bit worried about fitting it. I'm reasonably good as far as engineering goes, but the last thing that I want is to be overtaken by my caravan on the M6.

Does anyone here have experience in fitting one, or are there any on line tutorials with photos. The instructions from Alko anen't too great.

 

[WatsonJohnG]

I did one for a friend and if you follow the Alko instrucions ite straightforward.

There are only two bolts holding the hitch on and its important they say to use the drift supplied(or a sawn off bolt) so that you don't lose the shock absorber mounting.

 

[TonyAsh]

Stephen, I fitted one a few years ago, it was the 1300 model.

The job is very uncomplicated but you need to remember to use the steel pin which holds the brake system in place when you remove the bolts which hold the original hitchlock, otherwise a strong spring will cause the brake rod to shoot backwards and you will have one hell of a job pulling it back into the correct position. Good luch, let us know how it went. Tony

 

[TonyAsh]

Stephen, I fitted one a few years ago, it was the 1300 model.

The job is very uncomplicated but you need to remember to use the steel pin which holds the brake system in place when you remove the bolts which hold the original hitchlock, otherwise a strong spring will cause the brake rod to shoot backwards and you will have one hell of a job pulling it back into the correct position. Good luch, let us know how it went. Tony

Sorry Stephen, this is described in the reply above - the pin is supplied in your kit.

 

[WatsonJohnG]

Sorry Stephen, this is described in the reply above - the pin is supplied in your kit.

We get there between us

Sometimes things need repeating !!

 

[BigRoy]

Just to add to the instructions above, you may have to fit the shims that come with the unit, depending on the diameter of the drawbar.

Basically if you fit the stabiliser to the drawbar and it seems too big, fit the U shaped shims over it, it may need just one or it may need all of them.

Roy.

 

[Andy_5062145]

Yes, very easy job. The correct torque on the bolts is also very important.

 

[Stephen_5078422]

Yes, very easy job. The correct torque on the bolts is also very important.

OMG, that was so easy,

Just got to torque up to the correct level

Cheers

 

[Catcher]

Does anyone have the instructions please? i.e. do you have to take one bolt out at a time using the drift and leave that in place until you fit the alko, pushing the drift out with the new bolt? Also, what is the correct torque setting for the bolts?

Thanks

Catcher

 

[WatsonJohnG]

Yes that is the correct procedure.

Tomorrow I am seeing my friend for whom I fitted the Alko stabiliser and I will ask if he still has the instructions