New Tow Car Advice

[Millerman]

Will shortly be picking up new (to me) tow car. (Seat Alhambra).
It has tow bar fitted with twin electrics. Should I get local tow bar fitters to check electrics prior to hitching up to van in case electrics are wired for pre 2008 van (mine is 2010 Charisma)? (Don't want to blow anything on the van).

Also, how do I check if the fixed tow ball is an Alko and compatible with AKS stabiliser?

Apologies if these are daft questions. Previously I've had to have tow bar fitted and gone for detachable one so this is all new to me!

 

[Lutz]

Presumably the electrics on both the car side and the caravan side will be 13 pin, so there shouldn't be any problem.
You don't say whether the towbar is a swan neck or a bolt-on towball type. If it is the latter, the horizontal distance from the centre of the ball to the bolt-on face should be greater than 55mm, which is the dimension for a standard Class A 50-1 towball, and at least 60mm from the centre of the towball vertically to the top of the neck.
To my knowledge, all swan necks are AlKo compatible.

 

[Millerman]

Thanks Lutz,

The electrics on the car are twin not 13 pin.

I think the tow bar is bolt on rather than swan neck.

 

[Mel]

If the van is 13 pin you will need an adaptor. Watch out for the cables dragging on the ground with an adaptor, there is a thread about this currently running. The bolt on towball will need an extended neck to be compatible with an alko stabiliser; have a look on their website for a picture.
mel