caravan help required please.

[si tate]

I bought a little 2 berth freedom caravan about a month ago with the standard hitch "which was fine", anyway i sold it today & bought a 17 foot twin axle van & it has an AL-KO stabiliser fitted.

My question is, will the stabiliser be ok hooked on a standard ball or will i need to buy an AL-KO one to suit.

Not picking it up till friday but any advice would be much appreciated.

[oneintheeye]

it should be ok i've got an alko hitch on my van and i use a standard ball on both my cars that tow the van

[BUSHWHACKER]

You need an ALKO tow ball, £22 from Halfords.
They have a longer neck to allow for the larger ALKO hitch receiver. Get a ball cover too as the ball part needs to be kept clean and dry so the the ALKO stabiliser pads can grip it. New ALKO balls will have black paint on them when you buy them, this must be rubbed off with emery cloth to expose the metal and make it more grippy before towing.

[Smego2]

that's wierd as I have towed one using a normal towball without an issue.

Also twin axles don't really suffer from snaking like single axles do, I tow an 22ft and never bother with the stabiliser as a pain to fit.

[si tate]

it should be ok i've got an alko hitch on my van and i use a standard ball on both my cars that tow the van

It probably would be ok, but........................... .....

You need an ALKO tow ball, £22 from Halfords.
They have a longer neck to allow for the larger ALKO hitch receiver. Get a ball cover too as the ball part needs to be kept clean and dry so the the ALKO stabiliser pads can grip it. New ALKO balls will have black paint on them when you buy them, this must be rubbed off with emery cloth to expose the metal and make it more grippy before towing.

For 20 odd quid i think i'll buy one just to be on the safe side.

Thanks guys.

[BUSHWHACKER]

that's wierd as I have towed one using a normal towball without an issue.

Also twin axles don't really suffer from snaking like single axles do, I tow an 22ft and never bother with the stabiliser as a pain to fit.

Good for you. Got a photo of the rear of your caravan so I know what NOT to drive behind?

[Smego2]

Good for you. Got a photo of the rear of your caravan so I know what NOT to drive behind?

Have you ever towed one??

I have for over 20k miles....!

[BUSHWHACKER]

[si tate]

that's wierd as I have towed one using a normal towball without an issue.

Also twin axles don't really suffer from snaking like single axles do, I tow an 22ft and never bother with the stabiliser as a pain to fit.

Pain to fit?

Im not being sarky with that either because i know nothing about them.

Why a pain.

[si tate]

This is mine, well not the actual one but similar & not that price either.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2002-BESSACARR...item33586f000e

[oneintheeye]

i've got a 22ft single axle caravan and towed it to cornwall and back at 70mph this year with a normal ball covered nearly 500 miles round trip all in all i've done around 2000 miles this year without any problems

[BUSHWHACKER]

This is mine, well not the actual one but the same & not that price either.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/2002-BESSACARR...item33586f000e

Excellent!
Thats a 24 footer by the way not 17


Mine is 22 feet.

[si tate]

Excellent!
Thats a 24 footer by the way not 17


Mine is 22 feet.

OOOOPS, its also a 3 birth, mines a 2 birth, only one i could find to show you.

Looks very similar though

[Smego2]

Yep my point exactly a singe axle.

[Surf01]

We tow a twin axle behind our caravan which has the Alko stabliser fitted. You cannot tow it with the stabliser up as it will snag on your spare wheel when tunring a corner. Can I suggets that if the caravan does not have them, fit shock absorbers to the caravan. £120 a pair and well worth the price. For further caravanning stuff go to this forum or this one Both have members who use a surf to town their caravan.