Stabilser - blade or ALKO

[Rubix]

We have recently purchased a caravan and it has a standard hitch.

The previous owner must have used a blade type stabiliser as the plastic blade "holder" on the A-frame is still present.

My question is what are the different types of stabilser (rather than specific makes) and what are the pros and cons.

The cost seems similar as the blade typ seem to need lots of accessories with them and others come all inclusive with locks (approx £250)

I have heard that some assist in the side-to-side stability and other in both that and up down.

Any help gratefully received as I would like to get a stabilser of some kind fitted before any major long journeys.

 

[rob_jax]

The pros and cons of blade (example Bulldog) and coupling head (example AL-KO) stabilisers.

Ease of use - coupling head are much easier to use - usually a simple lever to engage - and this is the deciding factor for most people.

Stability - blade type and the AL-KO 1300 use the same 27NM of torque to pre-tension the friction pads - and have roughly the same stability effect. If you caravan weighs more than 1300 kg (mid-weight and above) then you should be looking at the AL-KO 3004 and Winterhoff, and not a blade type.

Stability 2 - some people like the blade type because the spring bar applies a small (and undamped) "lifting force" to the back of the car.

Stability 3 - the "heavier duty" AL-KO and Winterhoff models use multiple friction pads to correct side to side sway and up and down pitching. Blade type and the AL-KO 1300 only provide correction to side to side sway.

Running costs - roughly the same for blade and AL-Ko, friction pads need replacing every 20,000 miles or so. Note that the Winterhoff pads are the most expensive.

Whatever you choose, fitting a stabiliser will make a very significant improvement to the stability threshold of the caravan and car.

Robert

 

[Rubix]

Robert,

Your point (Stability 2 - some people like the blade type because the spring bar applies a small (and undamped) "lifting force" to the back of the car.)

Can you explain that a bit more, do you mean it almost feels when towing that the 'van has a lighter noseweight ?

Sorry, me is new to this

 

[colin-yorkshire]

hi rubix

it's a matter of choice realy my preferance is for the blade type others will disagree, if you trawl through previous postings you will get a good idea of the pros and cons of the various types my van came with the 1300 type alko hitch fitted which I personally found next to useless plus the fact that 50% of the time it wont un-hitch after a journey so I bought a blade one and find no problems with it at all, the alko is still on the van but only because I have not got round to taking it off yet as the ball has to be changed as well.

hope this helps

colin

 

[rob_jax]

Hi,

Quote "Your point (Stability 2 - some people like the blade type because the spring bar applies a small (and undamped) "lifting force" to the back of the car.) Can you explain that a bit more, do you mean it almost feels when towing that the 'van has a lighter noseweight ?"

The blade type stabilisers require you to press down on the blade to fit it into the receiver on the towing bar. The upwards force from the blade on the receiver is designed into the product to try and ensure that the blade stays in place, and not pop-out whilst towing.

The upwards force from the blade redistributes a small amount of the caravan nose-weight to the tow-bar, so it doesn't alter the maximum nose-weight limit you can use, and the small amount of transfer probably won't be recognised by the driver - I doubt if most drivers could detect a difference of 5kg or 10kg in caravan nose-weight.

Robert

 

[rob_jax]

And there's one other difference, if you have a flange-plate tow-bar then you can fit either a blade type or an AL-KO type.

But if you have the newer swan-neck or detachable tow-bars, your question is moot because you can only use the AL-KO type.

Robert

 

[RogerL]

Blade type are much cheaper, hitch type are more convenient. In other respects, there's little in it so choose according to your budget and needs.

In both cases make sure they're properly maintained.

 

[Cockovan]

I have had both types, blade stbilisers for 21 years, hitch type for 2. I doubted their effectivness on my last twin axle and had it removed before purchase but have to admit that there is no apparent differnce in use. Personally I would not go to the expense of fitting a hitch stabiliser when you can pick up blade ones second hand (I have one for

 

[Angus1]

Only used a blade to date, but as I`ve had no problems can`t really tell if its any use.

You CAN get attachments for swan-neck bars, I`ve had one for the past six years.

 

[Icemaker]

Angus yes you can get attachments you are quite right but whether or not you can use it due the type aproval laws is another thing.

I know i had the very same adapter on the swan neck that was on my peugeot 407.

However when my towbar mechanic came to fit a brink removable bar to my alhambra he pointed out that i was unable to use the adapter as it was not type approved for my new car. i was not too concerned as the new van had a 3004 aks fitted but it still meant i had a blade that had become useless.

 

[Lutz]

????

All the adapters for blade type stabilisers on swan neck towbars that I have seen clamp over the towbar and do not require any changes to the towbar itself (no drilled holes necessary, no bolts removed). So long as that is the case, there is no need for type approval because no technical modification has been made to the towbar.

 

[TrevorM]

Rubix,

Looking through the replies, the consensus appears to be that the different stabiliser types are similar in effectiveness, (albeit the 'ball grippers' seem to be more expensive.)

I think if you search through previous threads you will discover which type seem to give the most aggravation to their users!

I am sticking to my blade type.

Enjoy your holidays.

Trevor M

 

[colin(bridgend)]

One point not mentioned here is the fact that if you have a 4x4 with a spare tyre mounted on the rear door there could be problems with using the Alko tpe stabiliser. I have a Daihatsu Fourtrack and an Alko 3004 stabiliser and the spare fouls the full vertical movement of the stabiliser. I have to reverse to the van at an angle so that I can lift the bracket vertical to hitch/unhitch the van to the car. It is possible to buy a tool to fit to compensate for this problem but as yet I have not bought one.

 

[Jay_374303472]

Hi - I know this is slightly off-topic but it seems a good place for it.

The question is - can you take-off and reuse an AKS stabiliser?

I have one on my old van and dont really want to spend

 

[Rubix]

Also along the same lines as Jay's comment, how easy is it to fit an ALKO stabiliser. Is it a DIY job (for an average DIYer).

It is kind-of important that the 'van doesn't go on holiday without the owners (down a ditch as it's become detached).

I go on holiday tommorow (woohoo !!) in a static though as we don't pick up our 'van till next Tuesday.

Happy Friday.

 

[WatsonJohnG]

Hi Rubix its quite easy

Basically you just remove 2 bolts that hold the old coupling on and bolt the new one on.

You are supplied with a drift to carefully tap out one of the the bolts that holds the damper so that it isn't leg go

The drift is exactly the right length to hold the damper in the shaft while allowing the coupling to be removed.

The coupling is then placed over the holes and the new fixing bolt is tapped through pushing the drift with it.

If you have a swan neck towball you need to clean well with emery etc.

If you have a bolt on ball it must be replaced by the Alko ball from which all paint has been removed from the ball.

Hope that helps.

 

[Avril_374306697]

One point not mentioned here is the fact that if you have a 4x4 with a spare tyre mounted on the rear door there could be problems with using the Alko tpe stabiliser. I have a Daihatsu Fourtrack and an Alko 3004 stabiliser and the spare fouls the full vertical movement of the stabiliser. I have to reverse to the van at an angle so that I can lift the bracket vertical to hitch/unhitch the van to the car. It is possible to buy a tool to fit to compensate for this problem but as yet I have not bought one.

Can you tell me what the tool is I can buy to eliminate the fouling of the spare wheel. We have a Nissan Terrano with the same problem although with our older one we had a longer towbar and a spacer which I have now found out is no longer legal on cars registered after 98 so this is creating a big problem. Any ideas would be appreciated!

 

[Avril_374306697]

Can you tell me what the tool is that I can buy to compensate the spare wheel fouling. We have a Nissan Terrano which is causing this problem although our older one was fitted with a longer towbar and spacer which solved this but I have now found out due to a new EC directive that towbars are now no longer than the bumper and that spacers are illegal, so this has made it near impossible. Any ideas?

 

[Avril_374306697]

Solved the problem. Alko supply a detachable handle for the stabiliser which replaces the existing but this must be removed when travelling it costs