![]() | Home > Camping, Caravanning and Holidays > Al-Ko hitches with Defender tow balls |
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blackwolf Member Since: 03 Nov 2009 Location: South West England Posts: 12465 ![]() ![]() ![]() |
I am not a caravan expert but the only Al-Ko hitches I have ever come across differ from a standard 50mm ball only in that the neck of the ball is slightly taller to accommodate the deeper socket of the damped coupling.
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Paulv8 Member Since: 09 Jun 2013 Location: Milton Keynes Posts: 605 ![]() ![]() |
The only reason the alko is not compatable with the defender is the spare wheel. Buy an alko towball, then you will need to either 1) hitch up with the back door open, then close the door or 2) remove the handle part of the alko and buy a removable handle so the you can hitch up with the door closed.
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gilarion Member Since: 05 Dec 2013 Location: Wales and Manchester Posts: 4922 ![]() ![]() ![]() |
I tow a caravan with an ALKO hitch with a Defender with a rear mounted spare wheel and I have no problems. Admittedly, I have a Dixon Bate adjustable tow bar, which may make a difference. Whatever tow bar you have you will need to buy an ALKO tow ball to fit the hitch this type of tow ball has a longer neck.
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Laurie Member Since: 22 Feb 2008 Location: Sussex, England Posts: 2890 ![]() ![]() ![]() |
I have a D-B hitch and a 16mm dropplate used as a spacer only which gives me enough room to couple and uncouple with the rear door open or closed. |
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leeds Member Since: 28 Dec 2009 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 8570 ![]() ![]() |
If you can find one get a Dixon Bates shock link. Apart from pushing the tow ball a further 2” back it will save breaking the caravan chassis which is relatively common with 4x4 towing caravans.
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blackwolf Member Since: 03 Nov 2009 Location: South West England Posts: 12465 ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Sadly not easy to find since Al-Ko took over Bradley/Dixon Bate and discontinued all the good products! |
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leeds Member Since: 28 Dec 2009 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 8570 ![]() ![]() |
Unfortuntely the DB shock link has been discontinued by Alko. That is why Isaidifyou could find one. Not cheap, they were about £500, however cheaper then sorting out the A frame and caravan chassis.
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OE110 Member Since: 23 May 2018 Location: Wales Posts: 14 ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Not entirely sure on what stabilising hitch you have?
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RoddyK05 Member Since: 08 Apr 2015 Location: Inverclyde Posts: 624 ![]() ![]() ![]() |
AFAIK Most more modern caravans have the standard ALKO hitch. This is the one where the stabiliser handle lifts up to nearly 90° to hitch/unhitch and then folds flat over the hitch head to engage the stabiliser pads on the ball. I find I need to remove the spare from the back door to allow this to be done - I have seen others with the same problem. Someone said hitch up with the door open, in my case I cannot do this as I wouldn’t get the door closed again due to it catching on the jockey wheel. I believe there is or was a kit you could get to replace the stabiliser handle with a removable item, but I didn’t fancy this. My solution was to mount a standard rear door spare wheel mount to my roof rack. At the start of the towing season the wheel goes up there, and comes back down once I’ve finished towing for the season. Not ideal for everyone, but a cheap and secure solution.
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legin Member Since: 22 Jul 2017 Location: Chelmsford Essex Posts: 1004 ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Here's my AL-KO ball hitch fitted with a spacer ,if I back on to the caravan at a angle I can hitch up without removing the spare or opening the rear door.
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deejayen Member Since: 18 Sep 2017 Location: Inverness Posts: 54 ![]() ![]() |
Thanks very much for all the info and pictures. I think my tow-bar looks the same as Legin's, but I'd need to double-check. Unfortunately, I don't have information on the hitch fitted to the caravan other than it's an Al-Ko Stablising hitch. I think the caravan might be too old to have a "3004" hitch, but perhaps it's a "2004". I've asked the dealer for more details, but they've not yet replied.
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LandRoverAnorak Member Since: 17 Jul 2011 Location: Surrey Posts: 8890 ![]() ![]() ![]() |
If you find that the handle fouls the spare wheel, there's absolutely no reason why using a spacer to move the tow ball out slightly wouldn't be completely suitable for towing a caravan. You may even find that your bike rack fitting serves the same purpose, although the rack itself may be a problem with the front of your 'van, depending on model.
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T140 Member Since: 15 Mar 2016 Location: Ayrshire Posts: 138 ![]() ![]() ![]() |
I don't tow caravans but I do tow trailers regularly, I have a safari equip swing away carrier this moves the spare wheel about 3" to the drivers side which makes it easier to hitch and unhitch. nobody is perfect but being Scottish is a start |
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gilarion Member Since: 05 Dec 2013 Location: Wales and Manchester Posts: 4922 ![]() ![]() ![]() |
![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() http://www.youtube.com/user/conwy1 |
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