Stephen Ward
Caravan & Boats

Wheels, Brakes, Tyres

 

Stabilising Hitches and Chassis.

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Most touring caravans have Al-Ko chassis, braking systems and stabilising hitches, but there are BPW, Knott, etc. Regular inspection of your wheels and tyres should be done before any journey, and the correct inflation of your tyres (Refer to caravan handbook) for the correct load is essential. Whilst towing, your weight distribution inside the caravan should be as even as possible to allow the car and caravan to tow evenly and not dip downwards between the car and caravan. The maximum permissible towing weight must be checked. Removing items and placing them in the towing vehicle can affect the stability of the towing vehicle. Refer to the manufacturer's handbook about towing and towing limits. The brakes should be inspected regularly on an annual service and should only be adjusted by a competent person. The new type of wheel drum, called a Euro axle, has enclosed fixed bearings inside the drum. These drums are attached the the axle hub by a large one-use only tapered nut that should be marked every time a new one is fitted. NEVER RE-USE AN OLD ONE. The older type of drums have a castle nut and split pin. Under braking, the caravan should run onto the car and thus push on the damper, which then, in turn, pulls on the caravan brakes, known as the overrun braking system. There should be no noise or squeaks, the caravan should not slide or pull unevenly to the left or right and should not lock up the wheels. Special attention should be paid to long journeys to check that the brakes are fully off and that no excessive heat is observed or hot smoke from the drums.

 

Stabilising Hitch

Using stabilising hitches, do not force or drop the caravan hitch onto the towball as this can damage the pads inside the hitch. Noise from a stabilising hitch when towing, especially turning, means that the pads are worn or, more often, dirty with grease or paint on the towball. The tow ball on the towing vehicle must be paint-free, i.e., not black, but silver, and grease-free when using these hitches. Additionally, ensure the tow ball cover is also clean.

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ALKO ATC

The AL-KO ATC (Automatic Trailer Control) system is an electronic anti-snaking system for touring caravans that automatically counteracts critical swinging movements, braking the caravan as required. Installation involves connecting the ATC to the caravan's 12V power supply, typically via a 13-pin or twin 7-pin plug, and ensuring proper wiring and fuse protection are in place. The system's operational readiness is indicated by an LED on the front fairing, which should illuminate green after a self-test is completed upon connection. You will hear the ATC activate upon plugging in the roadlights to the vehicle, and then check for the steady green light. Sometimes, if the caravan has not moved for a long time, the green light will flash, which is not a fault. This indicates that no movement has been detected on the self-test. Once the caravan has moved forward a little, re-check for the steady green light. 

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Electric Connection to ATC

Using twin grey and black plugs, on the grey 12S plug, pin 4 is positive live and pin 3 is earth.

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Using a 13-pin connection, Pin 9 is the positive live, and Pin 13 is the Earth.​​