Spring Assisters and AKS 1300

[Pip1]

Can anybody recommend what type of spring assisters to put on my 2001 Mondeo( new shape ) as the rear of the car does seem to give quite a bit despite watching the nose weight. I tow a Pageant Loire.

Also if on a slight slope it is difficult to unhitch as the hitch head does not seem to want to come off the tow ball , do I need to get an alko towball as the current one is the normal type(although clean and grease free0

Thanks

Pip

 

[Lutz]

Unless the suspension is really bottoming out on occasions, I see no reason to do anything. After all, the back end of the car cannot sit any further down if the boot were fully laden to its maximum loading capacity even without the caravan hitched up.

As for the towball, so long as you have at least 80mm clearance between the bodywork and the coupling, you don't need a special AlKo towball. The reason for your difficulty to unhitch is tension (or compression) in the coupling/towball system caused by the slope. If you apply the handbrake on the caravan, then back off the end stop in the coupling about half an inch to an inch so that the car is neither pulling nor pushing, you shouldn't have any problem.

 

[Lutz]

Unless the suspension is really bottoming out on occasions, I see no reason to do anything. After all, the back end of the car cannot sit any further down if the boot were fully laden to its maximum loading capacity even without the caravan hitched up.

As for the towball, so long as you have at least 80mm clearance between the bodywork and the coupling, you don't need a special AlKo towball. The reason for your difficulty to unhitch is tension (or compression) in the coupling/towball system caused by the slope. If you apply the handbrake on the caravan, then back off the end stop in the coupling about half an inch to an inch so that the car is neither pulling nor pushing, you shouldn't have any problem.

ps. The 80mm clearance that I referred to was to the centre of the towball, not the coupling. My mistake.

 

[john_5061281]

HI pip

The one i had also sat low but never bottomed out.spring assisters will put all the load on one part of the spring.

Jock

 

[Pip1]

HI pip

The one i had also sat low but never bottomed out.spring assisters will put all the load on one part of the spring.

Jock

Thanks , will see what happens on next trip out

 

[martin Straker]

Had a Mondeo new shape and no need for spring assisters, re towball, think you will find AKS1300 needs a special alco tow ball as per instructions, I have an AKS 1300 and sometimes have same problem hitching up etc, as stated earlier you do need to get tension off when you stop, fully unwind the stabilisher and should be ok, on hitching up you have to be virtually perfectly lined up with 1300 for it to lock on properly.