Towball hitch query

[ChrisBlues]

Complete noob to the world of towing and Caravaning, looks a great forum so hopefully someone can help with a bit of advice.

Picked up a Kia Sorento last week and it came with a towbar and I believe an Alko removable tow ball.

I’m struggling to tell whether the tow ball is located correctly.

In the image, it clicked into position but the dial sits a fair bit away from the body of the tow ball. The instructions supplied appear to show that the dial should be tight or closer to the body.

Also, in a moment of faffing, managed to remove the lock cylinder completely from the housing.

Is this simply a security measure and shouldn’t affect it locking into position or not?

Any advice appreciated, Chris.

 

[Jcloughie]

Welcome to the forum, I don’t recognise your hitch system. So cant help. The two detachables I have had could be fitted ‘nearly’ but not 100%. It could be moved slightly from side to side. I don’t know if it was safe because I would refit it until it was solid.

John

 

[otherclive]

Complete noob to the world of towing and Caravaning, looks a great forum so hopefully someone can help with a bit of advice.

Picked up a Kia Sorento last week and it came with a towbar and I believe an Alko removable tow ball.

I’m struggling to tell whether the tow ball is located correctly.

In the image, it clicked into position but the dial sits a fair bit away from the body of the tow ball. The instructions supplied appear to show that the dial should be tight or closer to the body.

Also, in a moment of faffing, managed to remove the lock cylinder completely from the housing.

Is this simply a security measure and shouldn’t affect it locking into position or not?

Any advice appreciated, Chris.
View attachment 5362

Welcome to the forum.
I would contact Alko tech support and also their website may lead you to an operating manual download. I’ve never seen one like that so would err from giving advice on such a safety related item.

 

[Buckman]

That could be a Trust Towbar that is fitted. Can you post a picture from the side?

 

[Gozza2]

That looks a lot like the Westfalia tow bar I'm having fitted next week! The docs I've seen on line suggest that if the green bit on the rotating wheel is lined up with any part of the green segment on the towbar then it's locked into position.

Do you have a towbar workshop near you? An approved fitter whose main business is towbars, not a garage who also do towbar fitting? My experience of such places is they'll be more than happy to spend five minutes having a look and giving you good advice.

If you happen to be in the South Hampshire area then I know from experience that Towbar Services in Fair Oak will definitely help you this way. If you tell us roughly where you are, I'm sure you'll have someone local on the forum who can give a similar local recommendation.

 

[ChrisBlues]

Thank you for the replies. Further pictures which may help.

 

[Hutch]

Towball
I hope this video helps. It does show that the handle should be flush when fitted. This is the Westfalia A40v. So not your 3KS but shows the principle.

 

[ChrisBlues]

Great thank you, it does appear the key and barrel need to be in situ to allow complete and full attachment.

I can put the barrel back into the turn handle but the key won’t enter fully. I’ll have a fiddle about later with it.

If I need to contact a supplier, are Witter the guys to go to?

 

[GaryB]

My parents had the same type fitted by Kia to a 2016 Ceed. The key/barrel does need to be in place but it was always a bit of a fiddle to get it to lock, in the end they left it in place.

 

[otherclive]

Great thank you, it does appear the key and barrel need to be in situ to allow complete and full attachment.

I can put the barrel back into the turn handle but the key won’t enter fully. I’ll have a fiddle about later with it.

If I need to contact a supplier, are Witter the guys to go to?

Any NTTA fitting company should be able to give you some advice on your fitment.

 

[Beachball]

Towball
I hope this video helps. It does show that the handle should be flush when fitted. This is the Westfalia A40v. So not your 3KS but shows the principle.

I thought it look familar to my Westfalia but no longer got my car to check

 

[ChrisBlues]

Thanks for all the replies and advice👍

I’ll run it down to a local Towbar installer to get it checked over.

 

[ChrisBlues]

Went to the local towbar installer this morning, who looked at the towball and how it sitted in the collar. Said straight away rust or debris inside the collar was preventing it from locating properly.

Came back home, wire brush and a bit of spray white lithium grease, the towball now sits flush in the collar with no movement and the diall flush against the body👍

I am still however, unable to lock the towball. The key will not turn in the lock what so ever thou I have noticed the key doesn’t fit the barrel flush 🤷‍♂️

 

[JB1]

If the barrel comes out with the key you can firstly lubricate the barrel springs pins/sliders see if they move And check if it now works. If not and the pins/ sliders move and the key actually fits into the barrel you can file the protruding pins/sliders flush with the barrel and the barrel should now operate correctly as you have tailored the barrel to the key? as a last resort if you don’t feel confident.

 

[ChrisBlues]

Thank you for the advice, i’ve removed the barell and lubricated both ends. The key still won’t enter fully as in the image. If I remove the washer on the bottom part, am I likely to have bits of the lock drop out? Or is it advisable to take it to a lock guy to take a look at?

 

[Hutch]

Thank you for the advice, i’ve removed the barell and lubricated both ends. The key still won’t enter fully as in the image. If I remove the washer on the bottom part, am I likely to have bits of the lock drop out? Or is it advisable to take it to a lock guy to take a look at?

Chris I think that all depends on your confidence, in yourself to be able to dismantle and reassemble the lock barrel, the pins have tobe reffited into the correct, holes, and the springs can be fiddly.
Good luck.

 

[ChrisBlues]

Lock guy it is then👍😄. Appreciate the help!

 

[JB1]

Yes I agree lock guy, on some locks just the barrel comes out so you can see all the workings, this is not the case with your lock. good luck