Checking Alko Friction pads 

Thanks Trev, yes my tow ball needs cleaning up. An easy job to do to help towing safety. Hope you & yours are well. Cheers Martin 👍

Thanks for watching Paul. Cheers Martin 😊

Cheers Gavin, it’s an easy job, I wonder how much a dealer would charge for doing it? thanks for watching, Martin 👍

Yes nice easy job, the tap made me laugh when it moved!! Thanks for comments and support. Martin 👍

Hi Kev, thanks for your kind words. Was great to get back doing some caravanning jobs. That tap made me laugh. Thanks for comments and support. Martin 👍

Thanks Stew, the tap made me laugh 😂 cheers, Martin 👍

Thanks for watching

Hi Howard, thanks for the feedback. I always lift the stabiliser off when manoeuvring, less wear and easier to move. Thanks for watching. Martin 👍

Welcome back to caravanning, Yes the Alko stabiliser is a great bit of kit. Much easier than the leaf spring. Enjoy your caravan, thanks for watching 😊

Thanks, easy job for Jodi to do! Looking forward to your next vlog. Cheers Martin 👍

The Caravan Nut ha ha i think she would have to do it - smaller hands than me ha ha -

Cheers, I’m always playing catch-up. 👍

Great advice there, I knew the screwdriver wasn’t best thing to use being pointed at the end. I use silicone spay on most seals and also brake cleaner on the pads. Thanks for the feedback on the channel, Martin

How do you put silicone grease on the o ring before removal ?

Hi Colin, didn't think about the O rings. Might have to check them out, my hitch started groaning last time we went out. Thanks for the info, cheers, Martin.

Thanks for the feedback and watching 😊

Some service centres may check them but it’s worth checking yourself. They should check the torque on the hitch but pads may be missed. I was surprised what a difference it made putting new pads in. Quite an easy and not time consuming job. Thanks for comments and watching, Martin

Hi Paul, an easy job to do. I think the hitch handle has a retainer to hold it up but think mine is slightly worn. Still attaches ok and is safe. I always check the hitch by raising the car when attached with the jockey wheel. Cheers 😊

Thanks for that I'm happy it's still safe

Cheers Phil 👍

Yeah I know 🤔🤣

Cheers Oliver. No, storage has been made bigger and in new bay, well spotted though! Martin 👍

Hi Keith, just get the ones for the AKS 2004/3004 stabiliser. Cheers 😊

Hi Phil, welcome to caravanning! If the pads are new it shouldn’t need the shims in, the handle should have some resistance when putting it down which shows good contact with the pads. Cheers, Martin

Hi, thanks for your comments. If you look up ‘Here we tow’ they have recently done that job. It’s a different hitch to mine. Cheers 😊

Yes they are really easy to change. As for how long they last, depends how much you tow. Our last set lasted a couple of years, regular cleaning of the hitch head and tow ball will help prolong the life. Hope that helps, cheers, Martin

@@TheCaravanNut Thx Martin, think I'll do it myself as was quoted £56 off the storage facility who also do servicing

Not sure what you mean by 'can't get the hitch to move' From what I remember they can be removed with they handle up or down. Cheers

@@TheCaravanNut Hi, sorry if I was not clear. I will put my query another way. I have a new car and tow ball. Tow ballfits into Alko unit but I cant get the stabaliser arm to lock in position. Investigation found shims on friction pads. Is it OK to remove these, cheers

Ah right, if it’s too tight to put the stabiliser on yes you can remove the shims. As the pads become worn you can put the shims back in. I use break cleaner spray on them and the tow ball to get rid of any contaminants. Hope that helps, cheers

@@TheCaravanNut many thanks

Hi, yes that’s similar to what I heard when I last changed them, it’s worth taking them out to have a check. Not sure they get checked on service! Thanks for comments and watching, Martin 👍

@@TheCaravanNut ..Yes I don't think they get checked i agree. This morning I called Alko. They technical department was amazingly helpful, even though they say they don't take calls from Joe Public...only dealers.. Given the noise they advised to properly clean the Tow Ball wet n dry, also wet n dry the Stabilisers. and thoroughly clean inside the hitch etc.. Have done so this afternoon..vans not going out till November.. Weather permitting.. will report in due course watch this space..

Nice to hear they were helpful, let me know how you get on. cheers Martin 👍

Hi Martin, well here's the update on my grinding noise when towing, as you know I've spoke to Alko and following there advice I have cleaned the friction pads and the tow ball with wet n dry maticulously I thoroughly cleaned with clean white cloth. Upon venturing out this weekend....well what a difference .. totally quiet not s whisper..after 5 miles noise cam back but higher pitch. So for return journey cleaned with white cloth thoroughly again..getting a little rusty mark off, guess what 25 miles home totally quiet...you couldn't hear the caravan at all... so the moral of the story has to be if you can get everything immaculately clean, then your away.. Ps Andrew Morley happened to be 3 pitches away from me, all weekend, trialing his borrowed Bailey Phoenix now wasn't that interesting...

Glad you have got it sorted, you can use brake cleaner on the tow ball and hitch to clean them up now and again. I use it when I’ve not been out in the van for a while. Thanks for the update, I bet the Phoenix looked good. Cheers Martin 👍

Yes you can, Protec covers do one and Specialised covers do one. You have to put press stud limpets on the bone awning rail side. I have done a vlog on it, just check through the vlogs, cheers

yes they did, they have now been done 🙂

Yes, best to check them as well

Hi David, I can assure you that no screwdrivers were hurt in the making of this vlog. Thanks for watching 👍