So, my 1999 puck came fitted with an alko AKS1300 hitch. However the last few trips out the hitch got stuck on the towball and would not release easily without some serious jiggling and heaving.

Then on our trip two weeks ago around Yorkshire it got totally stuck. No amount of jiggling, moving the car/van backwards and forwards to release pressure on the pads made any difference and I could not unhitch the van at all, despite the fact that the entire campsite gathered round to watch my efforts and offer helpful suggestions!!

Thankfully I have a detachable tow bar and was able to drop the ball and release my van. Once off the car, a slight wiggle and the ball was released. I had to use this method over three campsites and on my return home.

I have arranged to have it looked at (and to replace the damper), but have been advised that the stabaliser hitch is not needed for a puck as they are very light weight and inherently stable. I have been told that refurbing the current hitch is costly and fiddly and that I would be better off changing it for a standard hitch.

I must admit, most of the Pucks I have seen do not have a stabaliser hitch fitted.

Any thoughts welcome before I take this (drastic?) action.

Thanks

Ralph

My 2005 Puck has never had a stabiliser hitch and I have experienced only one thing to make me think it would be an advantage so far. That is the tow ball grease that I need is messy.

Steve

Quote: Steve and Debbie wrote in post #2

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the tow ball grease that I need is messy.

Steve

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Up until the later noughties a stabilizer hitch was a cost option and the Pucks were offered Winterhoff and the other ranges could choose an AlKo. I doubt had any bearing on your problem. The pads wind off the towball and can't really stick as much as described. The towball is actually held in place by sort of shutter devices that lock around the neck and are controlled by the first smaller lever that clicks as the shutters cmose around the ball neck. Now you have the hitch off the van you can fiddle with the small control handle and check that it opens and closes properly.

The hitch is still on the van, just not still attached to the car. I know the little shutter thing of which you speak and I can see that it moves, but perhaps not quite as much as it should? I will ask the caravan repair place to look at that before abandoning the whole hitch.

I suppose the question is, if it will cost several hundred pounds to fix or replace the stabaliser hitch against less than £50 for a standard hitch, is it worth it/necessary to tow a Puck?

How to fit easy peasy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Vlug2qZDfY

Replacement cost £362
https://www.leisureshopdirect.com/carava...avan-stabiliser

Non stabiliser alternatives circa £45.
https://www.leisureshopdirect.com/chassi...pling-ak160-300

We had this headache with our Triton. I seriously thought I would be taking the caravan to work every day! We changed the hitch. Marvellous!

Quote: Islay Corbel wrote in post #7

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We had this headache with our Triton. I seriously thought I would be taking the caravan to work every day! We changed the hitch. Marvellous!

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We sometimes had that problem with our first Eriba but the second one always worked OK, but we changed the Alko 1300 for an Alko 3004 anyway as Obelink were doing a good deal on them at the time, easy to fit and easy to use,
Dave

Thanks Dave.

Your troll is a slightly different beast to our little Puck and I would not be considering anything other than a stabaliser hitch for that model. But is the 3004 worth getting for the Puck?

Without wishing to upset you you have lifted the lever and unscrewed the tensioner of course ? As my daughter would say #just saying :)

Quote: mr_underhill wrote in post #11

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Without wishing to upset you you have lifted the lever and unscrewed the tensioner of course ? As my daughter would say #just saying :)

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Hi Ralph79.

We've had our 1992 Puck close on 18 years, we changed the standard hitch soon after for the Al-ko 1300 and the tow ball for the compatible Al-ko long-neck tow ball. I see you say you have a detachable tow ball reading your post, where you said that after removing the ball along with the hitch you were able to detach the two parts.

After lifting the stabilizer lever and rotating the wheel (4 to 5 clicks) to fully open the hitch should lift using the jockey wheel unless the pads are not releasing due to ware or ingress of dirt and road grime.

I'd be very interested to know the outcome of your finding Ralf, being a Al-ko 1300 user too as our is well getting on in its life span.

Phillip.

Hi Phillip

My issue was resolved with a good clean and all is now working as it should. However, I was advised that the stabaliser hitch was not really needed for the Puck as it is very light and inherently stable.

Still as all is working I am hoping that the hitch will be fine for some years to come.

Ralph

As I was thinking ingress of dirt and road grime, had to be one or the other.

Glad all is well.