help needed on a freelander 1 detachable tow bar

[coopz]

just fitted a genuine land rover detachable towbar on my freelander,which went great .the problem i have now is,how can you use a snakemaster stabilizer bar with it as there is no where to have a mounting bracket .your help is appreciated

 

[Optimus Prime]

think maybe you don't. just a hunch, is it a flange mount device, but the demountable tow hitch doesn't have a flange ?

 

[coopz]

no it just clips straight into like a socket and snaps in upwards

 

[coopz]

heres a picture if it helps out,thanks
as you can see there is no where to use a standard stabilizer bar

 

[Pikey]

Your going to have to get it modified so that it can be bolted to the chassis.

 

[Northern Irelander]

What chassis?
does anyone have a pic of this snakemaster thingy ma jig.
Never had any probs using a detachable tow bar.

 

[Pikey]

Caravan Snakemaster Stabiliser on eBay, also, Accessories, Campers, Caravans Motorhomes, Cars, Parts Vehicles (end time 11-Jun-08 21:46:20 BST) one of these similar to an Alko stabiliser is what I think he's on about

 

[coopz]

Your going to have to get it modified so that it can be bolted to the chassis.

i think your right about the modifcation bit,if you look at the picture of the snakemaster stabilizer you put up,im thinking of having it bent down like l shaped so it goes into the welded d ring to the right of my towbar (see pic),i think i will also need a bit cutting off and a new hole drilling for the split pin, so it will allow me to get it in below the bumper as there is not much room to play with

 

[JonFre]

i

IIRC you normally use a hitch with a built in friction pad with this type of tow bar and make sure you never lubricate the ball! Look up the ALKO site for the hitch.
!

 

[Northern Irelander]

Caravan Snakemaster Stabiliser on eBay, also, Accessories, Campers, Caravans Motorhomes, Cars, Parts Vehicles (end time 11-Jun-08 21:46:20 BST) one of these similar to an Alko stabiliser is what I think he's on about

Ahh that explains it, caravan speak.

I can safely declare myself out of this thread, as I know nothing about caravans

 

[scott davies]

you never need one on a 4x4 unless you drive like a tit i see a lot's on the motorway jacked knife as im a lgv driver i laugh my socks off when you see them scracthing there heads

 

[caravanlander]

Hi there - if your stabiliser is a Snakemaster, not one of the equivalent Bulldog or Scott devices then Towsure sell a bracket to use with Swan Neck bars that clamps to the bar, here:

Snakemaster Swan Neck Car Plate from Towsure

However, it states on there also that it won't work with most detachable bars due to clearance of the mechanism, which I can understand having had a few detachable 'bars in the past.

My suggestion would also be to change the hitch on the caravan to an Alko or Winterhoff one with the built in friction pad stabiliser. If you go for the Alko AKS1300 this is not desperately expensive, and these systems are (in my experience) much more effective than the leafscreen type. You can get hitched up much faster as well and they don't squeal when you turn corners. As a previous contributor has said, just remember to keep your towball grease free.

Regards

Dave

 

[Northern Irelander]

you never need one on a 4x4 unless you drive like a tit i see a lot's on the motorway jacked knife as im a lgv driver i laugh my socks off when you see them scracthing there heads

I agree, its all down to driving styles, In work we tow a huge R.I.B with a Defender 110 the RIB has 300litres of fuel on board at times.

It only snakes when induced by over steering and over correction.

Also tow 2 tonne of water in two separate 1000litre tankers, it moves all over the show, snaking is hard to achieve.

 

[JonFre]

Ahh that explains it, caravan speak.

I can safely declare myself out of this thread, as I know nothing about caravans

Hello NI. Hope you are ok and not under too much pressure from running a Freelander!

If our friend bought a hitch from this site:Alko Caravan Stabilisers from Towsure it would fit straight on to his detachable tow bar. Unfortunately they are expensive bits of German engineering so most people end up with crude British ironmongery from the likes of Towsure.
The genuine Freelander detachable towbar is a nice piece of work, the detachable part again being German but it will not take crude stabilisers. It's a pity that unstable trailers need stabilising instead of tackling the causes of instability!

 

[coopz]

Hi there - if your stabiliser is a Snakemaster, not one of the equivalent Bulldog or Scott devices then Towsure sell a bracket to use with Swan Neck bars that clamps to the bar, here:

Snakemaster Swan Neck Car Plate from Towsure

However, it states on there also that it won't work with most detachable bars due to clearance of the mechanism, which I can understand having had a few detachable 'bars in the past.

My suggestion would also be to change the hitch on the caravan to an Alko or Winterhoff one with the built in friction pad stabiliser. If you go for the Alko AKS1300 this is not desperately expensive, and these systems are (in my experience) much more effective than the leafscreen type. You can get hitched up much faster as well and they don't squeal when you turn corners. As a previous contributor has said, just remember to keep your towball grease free.

Regards

Dave

cheers for your time and advice Dave ,this new hitch idea of yours sounds like it will sort out my little problem.the thing is ive always towed using a leafspring stabilizer,so without one im not sure if id feel fully safe towing.

NOW HAS ANYONE GOT ONE FOR SALE