We have alko towball and have had no problems with previous car citreon picaso. we now find that with recently aquirred nissan torreno we have problems unhitching the van the van and tow ball will not unhitch we have tried "wiggling" it and reversing slightly but takes ages to finally get it right any tips would be most welcome Regards Brenda
unhitching problem
- Thread starter brendaeames76hotmail.com
- Start date
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Silly question is the hitch getting caught on the towbar plate? When we had our new car the guy who fitted the tow bar did not put a alko towbar on our new car. He fitted our original car towbar so we rang him when we had problems with it touching the plate he asked had we changed the towbar? We explained we had the same caravan but just a different car.
We had to have a alko towbar fitted and an extra bracket to stop it touching.
Just wondered if this was causing the hitch not to come off, because it did not have enough room for movement.
Hope this helps.
We had to have a alko towbar fitted and an extra bracket to stop it touching.
Just wondered if this was causing the hitch not to come off, because it did not have enough room for movement.
Hope this helps.
Thanks for that hubby says he will check with alko fitter he had not thought of doing that before. original towbar (alko) was fitted to new car when we swopped cars taken off old car thanks againSilly question is the hitch getting caught on the towbar plate? When we had our new car the guy who fitted the tow bar did not put a alko towbar on our new car. He fitted our original car towbar so we rang him when we had problems with it touching the plate he asked had we changed the towbar? We explained we had the same caravan but just a different car.
We had to have a alko towbar fitted and an extra bracket to stop it touching.
Just wondered if this was causing the hitch not to come off, because it did not have enough room for movement.
Hope this helps.
Hi brenda
is your alko the one what you have to tighten by the side and it clicks when tight then pull the arm down on the left hand side, i might have the answer to your problems
is your alko the one what you have to tighten by the side and it clicks when tight then pull the arm down on the left hand side, i might have the answer to your problems
It`d be interested in any tips for the use of aks 1300.
Brought one the other month & fitted it to the van. first trip out and the bloody thing jammed on! Phoned dealer who supplied it, and he said that it`s a common problem (didnt tell me that b4 I handed over the cash!). Ended up having to force adjuster wheel free with a g clamp and getting a new circlip.
Brought one the other month & fitted it to the van. first trip out and the bloody thing jammed on! Phoned dealer who supplied it, and he said that it`s a common problem (didnt tell me that b4 I handed over the cash!). Ended up having to force adjuster wheel free with a g clamp and getting a new circlip.
Have a look here
http://www.al-ko.co.uk/support-aks.asp
I find that I have to jiggle the van with the mover.
Before we got the mover on one occasion I released the car handbrake in an effort to free the coupling.When it did free the car started to roll away downhill !!.Next time I placed a chock a little way in front of the car wheel!!
http://www.al-ko.co.uk/support-aks.asp
I find that I have to jiggle the van with the mover.
Before we got the mover on one occasion I released the car handbrake in an effort to free the coupling.When it did free the car started to roll away downhill !!.Next time I placed a chock a little way in front of the car wheel!!
HI AL THE ELDDISMAN
I had the alko 1300 on last van and it kept sticking any cut the story short if it jams on of tow hitch is get a small piece of wood and just tap it free with a hammer if I remember right you tap it towards you it always worked for me then you are not going to damage it with clamps ect...hope this tip helps. The dealers say it sticks with over tightening the rachet and the rachet sticks but you can only turn so far then it start clicking anyway. allthe best
I had the alko 1300 on last van and it kept sticking any cut the story short if it jams on of tow hitch is get a small piece of wood and just tap it free with a hammer if I remember right you tap it towards you it always worked for me then you are not going to damage it with clamps ect...hope this tip helps. The dealers say it sticks with over tightening the rachet and the rachet sticks but you can only turn so far then it start clicking anyway. allthe best
I was going to buy one of the Alko triple packs before we set off in October but i don't think i'll bother now.
Drove the van from Derby to Inverness without a stabiliser so why bother fitting one if it can cause this much grief.
Drove the van from Derby to Inverness without a stabiliser so why bother fitting one if it can cause this much grief.
I have had this problem and it is usually caused by reversing onto the pitch so that when you try to uncouple the overrun ram is being pushed forward hence putting pressure on the ball,the solution is usually not to reverse a bit but pull forward so that the ram is pulled out uncoupling then should be ok.
Mine does it when I drive onto our drive every time.
The reason being that the drive is quite steep and the car is more level than the van.
The reason being that the drive is quite steep and the car is more level than the van.
Hi, I have the same problem with my 2004 alko hitch. I have found that if the handle is not upright as far as it will go the friction pads are still gripping the towball. I have a 4x4 with a wheel on the back and that gets in the way.
Kevin H
Kevin H
Thankyou all your comments have been very helpful will let you know if we solve problem when we go off in Oct. Regards Brenda
I also have a terrano,(Great tow car) you will find that if you open the back door/tail gate, then release the tow hitch this will allow the alko to release fully.
Hope this helps
Hope this helps
What I do now, is whenever I have to reverse the van or manouver onto pitch, I always release the stabiliser pads.
So far,(touch wood)it hasnt happened again. we`ll see this weekend as we are of to Clumber park in Sherwood with the young caravan club!
So far,(touch wood)it hasnt happened again. we`ll see this weekend as we are of to Clumber park in Sherwood with the young caravan club!
Will try that !!What I do now, is whenever I have to reverse the van or manouver onto pitch, I always release the stabiliser pads.
So far,(touch wood)it hasnt happened again. we`ll see this weekend as we are of to Clumber park in Sherwood with the young caravan club!
Famous last words!I was going to buy one of the Alko triple packs before we set off in October but i don't think i'll bother now.
Drove the van from Derby to Inverness without a stabiliser so why bother fitting one if it can cause this much grief.
Hi Brenda
Reading through the answers given no one has made reference to greasing the pawl, at the point there is a howl of you do not grease with Alco hitches. I do NOT say get grease on the ball, but you put a smear of grease on the pawl and then operate and release the hitch handle several times then you will find it releases smoothly. I think this is refered to in the Alco write up but no one seems to do it. I had to use a "Birmingham spanner" and thought "this is a no go" so did a bit of research.
Reading through the answers given no one has made reference to greasing the pawl, at the point there is a howl of you do not grease with Alco hitches. I do NOT say get grease on the ball, but you put a smear of grease on the pawl and then operate and release the hitch handle several times then you will find it releases smoothly. I think this is refered to in the Alco write up but no one seems to do it. I had to use a "Birmingham spanner" and thought "this is a no go" so did a bit of research.
The comment by Hymerman is very valid, I think it most unlikely that many owners are aware of the need to grease the mechanism within the AKS Stabiliser. Refer to the ALKO datasheet http://www.al-ko.co.uk/edit/files/support/AKSlubrication.pdf
for further information. I recently fitted new friction pads to my older AKS 2000 and found that the cams referred to in the data sheet were absolutely dry with no sign of any grease.
for further information. I recently fitted new friction pads to my older AKS 2000 and found that the cams referred to in the data sheet were absolutely dry with no sign of any grease.
Hi Thankyou so much for replying to my problem and I think you will possibly think i am quite thick but what and where is the pawl? as you can gather we are quite new to the caravan experience but we are enjoying learning from other people who know lots more than us.Hi Brenda
Reading through the answers given no one has made reference to greasing the pawl, at the point there is a howl of you do not grease with Alco hitches. I do NOT say get grease on the ball, but you put a smear of grease on the pawl and then operate and release the hitch handle several times then you will find it releases smoothly. I think this is refered to in the Alco write up but no one seems to do it. I had to use a "Birmingham spanner" and thought "this is a no go" so did a bit of research.
Kind Regards Brenda
Hi Thank you so much for your reply I have asked for more info from Hymerman and also apologised for being quite uninformed I do not even know what a pawl is we are very new to the caravan scene and very much appreciate input from more experienced people thank you againThe comment by Hymerman is very valid, I think it most unlikely that many owners are aware of the need to grease the mechanism within the AKS Stabiliser. Refer to the ALKO datasheet http://www.al-ko.co.uk/edit/files/support/AKSlubrication.pdf
for further information. I recently fitted new friction pads to my older AKS 2000 and found that the cams referred to in the data sheet were absolutely dry with no sign of any grease.
Kind Regards Benda
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