Posted on 07/08/2016 16:00
I have now towed for about 500 miles which is nothing In the grand schemes of things. This morning after hitching up and returning home, the towball / Al-ko 3004 stabiliser was groaning and creeking.
The good news is stayed on, but I am wondering if it's normal and if I need to be cleaning the ball and stabiliser regularly.
Thanks
Posted on 17/08/2016 19:56
you have to remember that the these things work on friction, where two surfaces are grinding against each other, in this case forced together, so there will be some degree of groaning, especially when you haven't used it for a while. It wil go away fairly quickly, in the meantime turn the radio up!
Write your comments here...We are still talking about caravans and towing aren't we?
Posted on 20/08/2016 16:45
Whilst in Italy my friction pads failed (van serviced before I went) and was embarassing with the groans and creaking, probably louder inside than out. I had to grease to quieten it down and to protect the hitch.
I ordered the pads online to have them waiting for me when I got home, meticulously cleaned the Winterhoff hitch, replaced the non existant pads and bolted on a new towball to replace the slightly scored one.
Silence was what I hoped for but it was dreadful, the indicator was well into the green and I cleaned it again and again to no avail. Then on our return home from a CL the noise got less and less until it disappeared completely, indicator still nicely in the green but noticed less force needed on the actuator handle, so thinking they needed to be bed in and this took about 130 miles.
Strange I know as after replacing pads on a previous caravan (ALKO) it was silent from day one
Write your comments here...
Posted on 20/08/2016 16:52
How much green should be showing in the indicator? New to this and noticed mine is half green/half red - a little concerned now and wondered if pads need changing. Also, husband appears to have difficulty in securing and relasing hitch could this have anything to do with the pads or human error!
Posted on 22/08/2016 14:04
I don't think the friction pads have anything to do with it. The green is an indicator that the hitch is fully locked in position. If anything it would lock on easier with worn pads than new. I would get it checked by your local workshops
The Winterhoff hitch has a red to green range indicator and is solely for the wear rate of the pads, it also has a pop up green button for being correctly hitched and locked.
In this instance we are talking of friction pads. Of course the lady may be talking of an Alko but as the post was below mine I assumed a Winterhoff.
Posted on 22/08/2016 14:09
How much green should be showing in the indicator? New to this and noticed mine is half green/half red - a little concerned now and wondered if pads need changing. Also, husband appears to have difficulty in securing and relasing hitch could this have anything to do with the pads or human error!
It varies but should not be in the 'hatched' area on a Winterhoff hitch, if it is then its time for renewal.
It would pay to replace the pads but difficulty in hitching/unhitching is not down to that, as said get it checked out. We all have a problem unhitching at times, dependant upon the compression of the hitch when stopped etc, but hitching is normally first time and if its the norm not to then there is a problem.
Iain McL