Hitching up a Freelander TD4 with an Alko stabiliser

[Lucylou]

Hi, I don't know if this subject has been debated in the past, but any assistance would be welcomed. I have a Freelander TD4 and have to be at an angle in order to hitch up. My 'van has an Alko stabiliser and its often a pain. Has anyone got the redesigned Alko handle and if so is it of any benefit? thanks in anticipation, Rob.

 

[wayne_5097681]

Hi Rob,

We used to have the same problem,only i used to take the spare wheel off. You might be able to get around the problem by opening the rear door, we tried this and could'nt shut the back door again because the jockey wheel handle gets in the way. One good thing about this is that if caravan is hitched up no one can nick it with taking the wheel off.

Anyway we got a but pee'd off with doing this and bought the 4x4 handle and its worth every penny does'nt take two seconds to hitch and unhitch now much less stress.

 

[Lucylou]

Hi Wayne, many thanks for your reply. Was this the modified Alko handle that you are referring to? thenka, Rob.

 

[rayc]

robin, I've got a CRV and had the same problem when replacing my van. My old van had a Winterhoff which was no problem at all. The Alko 3004 on the new van is a problem so I removed the handle and just slip it back on to push the stabaliser handles into their engaged positions and to lift them when unhitching. The cost of the modified handle seems to me to be exhorbitant for what it is.

 

[mealsonwheels]

robin, I've got a CRV and had the same problem when replacing my van. My old van had a Winterhoff which was no problem at all. The Alko 3004 on the new van is a problem so I removed the handle and just slip it back on to push the stabaliser handles into their engaged positions and to lift them when unhitching. The cost of the modified handle seems to me to be exhorbitant for what it is.

We bought a modified handle for our Freelander Td4 and it works fine. The rear opening window is really useful when backing to hitch up too, as anyone guiding you back can speak to you normally, without raising their voice.

I believe the new Freelander, which comes out at the end of this year, has a roof hinged opening door.

 

[woodsieboy]

Hi Robin, I did the same as Ray with the Alko handle, but to make it firmer I drilled 2 holes through the 2 parts of the handle and bolted them together, works fine, you just have to remember to remove the handle before travelling. Also found that on our van you can hitch up with the arms of the stabiliser at 45 degrees.Hope this helps

 

[scottironsbtinternet.com]

just get an 1 inch spacer in and it works fine

 

[Lucylou]

just get an 1 inch spacer in and it works fine

Hello Wayne, Keith, Ray and Scott, Many thanks to you all for you kind help, that's great. We are off in a couple of weeks for a long weekend to meet up with a friend and his wife so I'm looking forward to taking your advice when hitching up and giving up my French and going back to my mother tongue LOL Cheers Rob.

 

[WatsonJohnG]

Our friends have a Freelander fitted with a 1in spacer but if the slope of the land is against you its impossible to hitch up/unhitch.

The Alko replacment handle at

 

[Lucylou]

Our friends have a Freelander fitted with a 1in spacer but if the slope of the land is against you its impossible to hitch up/unhitch.

The Alko replacment handle at

 

[scottironsbtinternet.com]

Hi guys,Dont want to be a pain about this but I had a Freelander (2002 spec) and tow a Bailey Arizona with an Alko Hitch.I put a 1 inch spacer in place and never had any problems hitching (rear door closed) at any angle,always hitched up in a straight line as i have a caravan mover.The only problem i can for see is if its a new Freelander the bumper might be different,but I dont rely see that .Hope this helps.

 

[WatsonJohnG]

Hi Scott the problem can arise when hitching straight on if the the caravan is on a sloping pitch so that its front down and the car is level or tail down.Well that's what I saw !!!

The "new" Freelander should be no problem as the spare wheel is not on the back.

 

[scottironsbtinternet.com]

Hi John,Yes I could see thats a problem in the example you gave,never had that problem because I have a mover.Yes the new Freelander does not have a rear wheel,but in saying that they are pricing most people out of the Freelander market.I have had 2 from new and there wont be a 3rd.But this is going of the subject.

 

[WatsonJohnG]

Hi John,Yes I could see thats a problem in the example you gave,never had that problem because I have a mover.Yes the new Freelander does not have a rear wheel,but in saying that they are pricing most people out of the Freelander market.I have had 2 from new and there wont be a 3rd.But this is going of the subject.

What's a little going off between friends .

The new Freelander looks a lot like the X-Trail to me and sounds good on paper.

 

[wayne_5097681]

Hi Wayne, many thanks for your reply. Was this the modified Alko handle that you are referring to? thenka, Rob.

yeh thats the one i think it was about

 

[wayne_5097681]

We bought a modified handle for our Freelander Td4 and it works fine. The rear opening window is really useful when backing to hitch up too, as anyone guiding you back can speak to you normally, without raising their voice.

I believe the new Freelander, which comes out at the end of this year, has a roof hinged opening door.

You'll have to invest in a motor mover now if you buy a new freelander

 

[Marcus_5113048]

Robin

I had the same problem. I've got a removeable towbar so a spacer wasn't an option. I bought the alternative handle and realised that it was a waste of 30 quid.

Solution.

Remove the screw through the red handle and remove red handle

Raise whats left to just off vertical

Align tow ball

Slowly lower coupling to tow ball (watch for handles fouling spare wheel and lower as neccessary)

When you have a secure coupling replace red handle and lower completely

Replace screw

Unhitching is the same in reverse. Hope this helps.

Marcus

 

[Lucylou]

Robin

I had the same problem. I've got a removeable towbar so a spacer wasn't an option. I bought the alternative handle and realised that it was a waste of 30 quid.

Solution.

Remove the screw through the red handle and remove red handle

Raise whats left to just off vertical

Align tow ball

Slowly lower coupling to tow ball (watch for handles fouling spare wheel and lower as neccessary)

When you have a secure coupling replace red handle and lower completely

Replace screw

Unhitching is the same in reverse. Hope this helps.

Marcus

Hi Marcus, many thanks for your reply, I'll do this in a couple of weeks when I'm off for a weekend. Cheers

 

[WatsonJohnG]

Robin

I had the same problem. I've got a removeable towbar so a spacer wasn't an option. I bought the alternative handle and realised that it was a waste of 30 quid.

Solution.

Remove the screw through the red handle and remove red handle

Raise whats left to just off vertical

Align tow ball

Slowly lower coupling to tow ball (watch for handles fouling spare wheel and lower as neccessary)

When you have a secure coupling replace red handle and lower completely

Replace screw

Unhitching is the same in reverse. Hope this helps.

Marcus

Seems a lot like my method--great minds