Towbar Extension Needed?

Hi All,

I had a towbar fitted to my 2005 Freelander for our much loved Caravan when I first hooked up the ALKO hitch handle catches on the Spare wheel. I dont want to remove the spare wheel when I hitch up so does anybody know if there is a Towbar extension to go on the freelander?

Cheers Mark

Do you the Alko (special) towball, which sitcks out further by about an inch or more ?...

Here's the difference -

you will need the alko ball, if you don't, there's not enough clearance on a standard ball, and it can force the hitch off the ball.
But that doesn't solve yer problem, you need the alko 4x4 handle 4x4 Retro-Fit Stabliliser Handle AL-KO Shop

or for those liking piccies

U don't necessarily need the Alko retro-fit stabiliser handle - in fact, it could make the situation worse !!

I have a 2001 TD4 fitted with the Al-Ko ball (part number 1385201) - the caravan has an Al-Ko hitch (I think it's a 2004, but not sure - there is one currently on E-bay, item number 251281559464). If you have the same type of hitch, the trick is to NOT line the car up with the 'van in a straight line, but have the car pointing North-NorthWest to the caravan - the little bit of off-set thus acheived makes all the difference for me. I have bought one of the retro-fit thingies, but find that it moves the handle into the centre-line of the hitch, whereas my original handle is off-set to the LEFT of the spare wheel.

Of course, I suppose that tyre size will also have an effect - I'm running 215/75-15 Grabber AT's , larger radius tyres will further reduce the available space

I have the combine one with ball and pin. but if your hitch is catching the tyre my tow bar also has an adjustment so I could lower it by about a inch.

I have a new Alko towball that I bought for the Disco but it didn't suit the towbar. Yours for a small token of appreciation if you want it

how did you catch the spare wheel it is some 8 or 9 ins away according to wheel size

i put a 1" spacer in and problem solved, but you must you must use alko towball at all time when using alko hitch, i've seen what it can do for those who choose not too!

melliott said:

i put a 1" spacer in and problem solved, but you must you must use alko towball at all time when using alko hitch, i've seen what it can do for those who choose not too!

Click to expand...

What does it do?

I had a steel plate spacer on me towball that were about half an inch thick.

If you don't use an Alko ball with an Alko hitch, you run the risk of it disengaging. I strongly suggest you switch to one.

(Might also invalidate your insurance).

Richard Martin said:

What does it do?

Click to expand...

The caravan came off the towball and made a proper mess of the back of the car and wrote a 3 year old caravan off as it slid down the M5 on it's side for 100yds (not me)

The alko towballs are taller so allows alko hitch to seat correctly

Hmmm wonder if they would give me the clearance i need to use my tow bar bike rack
And would it cause problems with parking sensors if the towball was further out

melliott said:

The caravan came off the towball and made a proper mess of the back of the car and wrote a 3 year old caravan off as it slid down the M5 on it's side for 100yds (not me)

The alko towballs are taller so allows alko hitch to seat correctly

Click to expand...

I'm pretty sure my tow ball is a proper Alko one, but I'll be checking now before I tow the caravan again

melliott said:

The caravan came off the towball and made a proper mess of the back of the car and wrote a 3 year old caravan off as it slid down the M5 on it's side for 100yds (not me)

The alko towballs are taller so allows alko hitch to seat correctly

Click to expand...

my friend had the very same problem and his insurance refused to pay out , and then he brought another caravan as he does like caravanning ,2 months later and it got nicked, insurance did just about pay out, now he is looking forward to going away next week in his new one, he has 2 wheel locks on it now the type that go through the wheel and lock it to the chassie

I have this when I use my freelander to tow my caravan. I get round it by twisting the stabiliser head to one side (clockwise as you look at front of caravan) so the stabiliser lever clears spare wheel. A bit of careful jockey wheel action as I lower the hitch onto the ball, and it seats about right.

A sharp tug of the level to vertical and the whole thing drops on a treat. Then close the hitch lock level, engage the stabiliser arm and away you go.

A word to the wise, on some versions, the stabiliser lever arm and the handbrake can interfere with each other, make sure they are not touching.

It is a bit awkward, but after a couple of goes you should have the knack.

Good Luck

I bought a alko 4x4 handle on ebay for 16.00 and 5p&p but am starting to think as I have been away camping so have not been able to read the comments! do you think I made the right decision?

PS Thanks all!!!

my towball is a alko!