Tow Bar Greasing

[bernie1]

Hi all,

I get a clunking sound when towing and going over bumps. The sound eminates from the telescopic part of the tow hitch and when I get hold of it and move it up and down I can feel the slight movement and hear the clunk. This was stopped last year at service interval by the technician greasing the telescopic part through the nipples. It is happening again now even after the recent service. I have even greased the nipples myself which did stop the movement / sound when I wiggled it about but after towing it started again. I checked under the rubber gaitor and there is loads of grease packed up inside it as if it has all come out.

Does the grease always come out, is there a seal that may have blown, Is there a bush on the telescopic bit that may have worn????? Any suggestions gratefully received, the van is only two years old.

Mike

 

[vauxhall2]

hi you need a new damper fitted

 

[Allyson]

Hi

Is greasing a good idea? We have an alko towbar and was told to take the paint of the towbar before we travel, if we didn't we were told it would ruin the gummings inside the alko hitch.

 

[RogerL]

Allyson, there's a difference between greasing the sliding hitch which is necessary and not greasing the towball itself if a hitch stabiliser is fitted.

 

[Allyson]

Allyson, there's a difference between greasing the sliding hitch which is necessary and not greasing the towball itself if a hitch stabiliser is fitted.

Thanks Roger for pointing this out, I mis read the message.

We had our towbar fitted recently by a supplier and he never told us to take off the paint before we used it on our alko stabliser.

A caravaner told us.

Why are Alko towbars painted if you then have to take the paint off?

Didn't want mike to do any damage.

 

[vauxhall2]

found this for you

RealPlayer low resolution (56k modem)

RealPlayer high resolution (512k broadband)

Windows Media low resolution (56k modem)

Windows Media high resolution (512k broadband

 

[vauxhall2]

found this for you

RealPlayer low resolution (56k modem)

RealPlayer high resolution (512k broadband)

Windows Media low resolution (56k modem)

Windows Media high resolution (512k broadband

did not work.see on home page/ vidio tutorials

 

[bernie1]

Thanks all,

I have viewed the video and will look for some of the other nipples he mentions.

I would still be concerned that the grease comes out in such a quantity and the knocking continues even after greasing???????

Mike

 

[BigAl1]

Hi Mike

You dont say what make of caravan or chassis/coupling you have but I would wager that it is an Explorer group 'van with a BPW coupling (the blue one)

I have had the same problem as you describe and was told that it was normal by the engineer who did the first service when it was 12 months old.

I was not happy with this and wrote to my supplying dealer to complain. Then I went to the NEC show in February this year and felt the ammount of coupling movement in the new Explorer 'vans on show and guess what....they all had play in them.

 

[bernie1]

Hi Mike

You dont say what make of caravan or chassis/coupling you have but I would wager that it is an Explorer group 'van with a BPW coupling (the blue one)

I have had the same problem as you describe and was told that it was normal by the engineer who did the first service when it was 12 months old.

I was not happy with this and wrote to my supplying dealer to complain. Then I went to the NEC show in February this year and felt the ammount of coupling movement in the new Explorer 'vans on show and guess what....they all had play in them.

Spot on Alan, an Elddis Sunseeker! Does this mean we just have to put up with the clunking noise?

 

[BigAl1]

Spot on Alan, an Elddis Sunseeker! Does this mean we just have to put up with the clunking noise?

No. It means that we should complain to our supplier and to Explorer because there must be a design fault as soon older 'vans that I have ckecked do not have any movement at all in their hitches.

If there should be a lot of play ther, Why do Alko not put play in their hitches?

 

[Clive_5133873]

Spot on Alan, an Elddis Sunseeker! Does this mean we just have to put up with the clunking noise?

I am not sure anyone is still reading this topic, but I can tell you it is the same with Swift group caravans on the new Euro chassis. I had the famous rattling when towing my Bessacarr Cameo 495 and found that when unhitched there is about 1.5 mm up/down movement that can be made by hand. The dealer said this is normal, and sure enough after trying all the other vans where I store my new van, they all have this 'play' in them.

The noise over uneven ground spoils an otherwise very stable towing experinece.