towball compatibility.

[g1]

Our previous towcar had what I call an "ordinary" towball which was fine for both "ordinary" caravan hitch and "ordinary" luggage trailer hitch. All kept greased.

Current car has Volvo fitted Brincks detachable towball and caravan has Alko stabiliser. Both kept grease free.

Can I still hitch the trailer to the new towball? Is there any problem regarding a) size/shape or b) using trailer hitch dry ?

Thanks, Wes

 

[g1]

Sorry - should have said that Alko stabilliser is on another van

Wes

 

[Parksy]

Hi Wes

Yes you can still use the trailer as long as you clean any residual grease from the towball before hitching your caravan and using the stabiliser.

I clean mine using brake cleaner and have no problems.

 

[TrevorM]

Hi Wes,

I am not so sure. When I was about to purchase a Golf estate six years ago, I agreed with the dealer which tow bar I wanted fitted; when I arrived to pick up the car he had fitted a different (Brinks detachable I think) one, which was not suitable for an Alko stabiliser. The problem was that there was insufficient clearance to enable the hitched coupling to pivot in a vertical plane; i.e. Attempting to drive up a small ramp would have the effect of trying to lift the rear wheels of the car.

Hope yours is ok..

Enjoy your holidays,

Trevor M.

 

[Lutz]

I find it hard to believe that a detachable towball, in particular one from Brinks, which is an OEM supplier for some car manufacturers, is unsuitable for the AlKo coupling. As "ordinary" (bolted) towballs are almost unknown on the Continent (practically all cars have fixed or detachable swan neck ones) the towbar manufacturers must cater for the AlKo hitch in their designs.

 

[ProfJohnL]

The problem Trevor refers to has nothing to do with ball which will be of the correct size, this issue is the clearance around the ball which is the function of the stem that sets teh distance teh ball is away from the rear bodywork.

 

[TrevorM]

Lutz, I may be wrong, and it might not have been a Brinks. However, the towbar in question, as I remember was virtually a straight detachable bar with no 'swan neck' effect. The fitter had also made a hash of cutting the under bumper panel, and the sales manager refused to correct the error. I actually borrowed an Alko stabiliser head to try on the bar, and there was no way it had sufficient movement. Nor, since the bar was straight did it appear possible to fit a blade stabiliser clamp.

The outcome was that I rejected the car (but lost a small deposit as a result, since I did not want the hassle of pushing for a refund.)

Sorry, I hope this has not hi-jacked the thread!

Enjoy your holidays,

Trevor M.

 

[Len_Cuff]

I certainly learnt a lesson when I got my van with an ALKO fitted! I had already fitted a 'standard' towball to the car along with a bike carrier which has a plate fitted behind the towball. Wondered why there was a few marks on the plate after the first outing and confirmed by the local dealer that I needed an 'ALKO' ball to sort the problem! No one told me about this but seems the ALKO ball is slightly longer than standard allowing the hitch to swing side to side without catching on the bike carrier plate!!

 

[g1]

I find it hard to believe that a detachable towball, in particular one from Brinks, which is an OEM supplier for some car manufacturers, is unsuitable for the AlKo coupling. As "ordinary" (bolted) towballs are almost unknown on the Continent (practically all cars have fixed or detachable swan neck ones) the towbar manufacturers must cater for the AlKo hitch in their designs.

Hi, Lutz

The Brinks towball and Alko stabiliser are fine. Question is can I use the ordinary hitch on trailer with the Brinks towball. Sorry if I didn't make it clear. Wes

 

[g1]

Hi Wes

Yes you can still use the trailer as long as you clean any residual grease from the towball before hitching your caravan and using the stabiliser.

I clean mine using brake cleaner and have no problems.

Thank you, Parksy