Removable tow ball help

[rovi]

Hello
I have recently purchased a Volvo v50 and the dealer fitted a tow bar with a removable tow ball for me. Since there is only one kind of swan neck available can someone please tell me if this is suitable for the Alko hitch? Also this is black coated so do I have to remove all coatings and rub the ball area back to bare metal for the Alko.
Thank you.

 

[Martin24]

Yes you need to remove all the coating before hooking up.

 

[Robtel]

Hi,
As far as I know the removalable towbars are compatible with alko hitches, mine is anyway and any others I've seen have been o.k. Yes you do need to remove all the black paint from the actual ball section, that's a definite.
Robert

 

[RogerB]

Definitely remove all traces of paint with fine abrasive and then wipe clean.I didn't at first and had the mother of all groans and creaks every time I turned a corner or went over a sharp bump - so it's a must.The towball will almost certainly have a relief groove around its base making it suitable for Alko hitches.

 

[Lutz]

The towball will almost certainly have a relief groove around its base making it suitable for Alko hitches.

If the relief is missing it wouldn't comply with the regulations that specify towball dimensions anyway. For cost-cutting reasons, the operation to provide the relief may have been left out but this would make it a sub-standard product.

 

[rovi]

Thanks to all. Will get it cleaned up before use (early October) and check for the groove in the neck.
Cheers
Rovi