Hello all, drove down to Coombe Martin for a holiday and on the way there the tow hitch was making a dreadful sound every time i navigated around a bend, when we arrived on site the hitch was very reluctant to part company with the car, During our stay i checked the tow ball and the pads and there was a deep score on the tow ball and the surface of both friction pads were pitted. I had taken some wet and dry paper and a can off brake cleaning spray with me so i set to work polishing the tow ball and roughing up the pads (in situ), then flooding the tow hitch and ball with brake cleaning fluid.
The Journey home was great, no noise what so ever but once home again the Eriba did not want to part company with my car, i tried the usual ,moving the car slightly to get the ball in the center of the hitch, eventually with me on my back looking up checking position and my wife holding the locking handle up we managed part company of the car using the jockey wheel. i need to replace the pads but i am very tempted to get a new tow ball and a new alko aks 1300 hitch as this is such a pain after a long journey. I don't think the pad/ tow ball issue and the problem getting the van off the car are related. Do any of you people have trouble unhitching? many thanks Brian.

It is important to make sure that the hitch is neither compressed nor extended when trying to unhitch the caravan. The problem you describe is often experienced because of this. Check that the rubber gaiter is not squeezed up or stretched.

You don't mention which type of hitch your van is fitted with?

Zitat

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i tried the usual ,moving the car slightly to get the ball in the center of the hitch,

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The forward movement of the car is also to extend the draw bar to release the caravan brakes after reversing and make sure there is not undue pressure holding the ball on the hitch

Stabiliser hitches will have some means of applying and releasing the pads with the AL-KO-AKS1300 you raise the handle and then wind out the pads with the red knob until you feel a slight resistance (Important do not try to wind out any further)

Applying the pads is the same in reverse ...... with the ball in the hitch wind in the pads until you hear and feel one or two clicks (again important not to over wind) then lower the red handle

Over tightening or over loosening will cause damage.

Always wipe the tow ball and stabiliser pads with a bit of rag to remove any grit, clean tow ball with sandpaper if rusty then wipe off any grit.

There is a topic here for changing AKS 1300 pads

How to: Change the Pads in an AL-KO AKS 1300 STABILISER

And another on how to Service the Alko 3004 Stabiliser here

How to: Service the Alko 3004 Stabiliser

Note New tow balls will come painted to stop them going rusty between production and point of sale it is important to remove paint on the actual ball before using with a stabiliser hitch.
AL-KO make tow balls with a different profile below the ball to prevent them fouling their hitches, so if getting a new tow ball specify an AL-KO one.

The tow hitch is the Alko AKS 1300, I changed the pads 6 months ago.

Thanks very much for all suggestions, I will try all tips and see if it releases easier at the next holiday which is rhe Summer meet.

I have an also and when first out couldn't disconnect and was lifting the tail of the car up. I had forgotten to slacken off the tensioner to allow the tow ball to separate.

Here are the instructions
http://www.al-ko.co.uk/edit/files/handbo...tabiliserlr.pdf