The Towing Code
9
Galvanised steel chassis
Drilling of the galvanised steel chassis will
invalidate the warranty and must not be
done.
Towball
The Al-Ko stabiliser is designed to be used
with a swan neck, fixed or detachable
towball. If you use a 'bolt on type' towball
you may need to replace your towball with a
special extended neck towball.
If you have a bolt on type towball you should
ask your dealer to check clearance around
the towball to allow for the stabiliser to
articulate.
The Al-Ko extended neck towball (available
from your dealer) is approved and marked
with the approval number EC94/20. Failure
to provide enough clearance around the
towball may invalidate your stabiliser
warranty.
Stabiliser Friction Pads
The Al-Ko stabiliser uses 'friction pads'
inside the coupling head to clamp the
towball. These pads must be kept free from
grease and contamination from the towball.
The friction pads should last approximately
50,000km (30,000 miles) under normal use, if
correctly maintained.
Suitable towing vehicles
The caravan is manufactured for towing
behind normal road cars and is not suitable
for towing behind commercial vehicles. It is
strongly recommended that whenever a
caravan is to be towed over rough terrain,
e.g. a farmer’s field or track, great care
should be taken to ensure that no undue
stress is placed upon the caravan via the
hitch mounting, i.e. reduce speed. If in
doubt, please consult the chassis manufac-
turer and the towing vehicle manufacturer
who will advise. Touring caravans based on
standard Al-Ko chassis can be towed by
four wheel drive off road leisure vehicles
providing the unit is used to tow in a like
manner to a conventional road-going car and
driven in the same considered manner.
Towbar manufacturers should be consulted
before towing an uncompensated twin axle
caravan.
Snaking
This is a term used to denote an unstable
car and caravan combination where the
caravan ‘weaves’ from side to side often
causing a similar swaying movement in the
car itself.
Causes:
i) Unsuitable or unbalanced outfit.
ii) Incorrect loading or weight distribution.
iii) Excessive speed especially downhill.
iv) Side winds.
v) Overtaking.
vi) Being overtaken by a large fast moving
vehicle.
vii) Erratic driving.
viii) Insufficient tyre pressures.
ix) Mixing radial and cross ply tyres.
Cures:
Cases of persistent snaking can be
alleviated by the use of a stabiliser.
On the road
If you do find your outfit snaking, try to keep
the steering wheel in a central position as far
as possible, decelerate and avoid braking if
possible.
OTHER IMPORTANT TOWING
CONSIDERATIONS THAT COULD AFFECT
STABILITY
Types of tyres fitted
The original tyres fitted by the manufacturer
are suitable for towing at maximum speed of
up to 81 mph (130 kph).
Maintenance checks should be carried out
regularly for wear and tear.
Tyre pressures must be maintained, under
inflation could lead to premature tyre failure.
Replacement tyres must be of the same size,
load and speed index.
Periodically tyres should be rotated to
equalise wear in the same manner as car
tyres.
Do not mix four ply/six ply/eight ply tyres on
the same axle.
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