Does it have to be Al-ko?

[Soozywoozy]

Have a new Hymer A Class on a Alko chassis and will be fitting tow bar for motorbike. We are 4.5t, with 1000 payload
The difference in cost between Al-ko and other tow bars with chassis extender is eye watering. Is this a case of you get what you pay for or are alternatives just as good. Any experience and advice gratefully received. Thank you

 

[gus-lopez]

Post 2012 as long as it is specified for the vehicle & is homologated for it then all should be ok

 

[Speve]

Soozywoozy If you have a brand new van the tow bar has to be type approved, you also need to consider that the Alko chassis should not be drilled as it will invalidate the warranty.?

 

[MikeD]

If you have am Alko chassis I am pretty sure there is no other chassis rails to fit "extenders" too.

If they fit a Alko chassis to the body the vans are usually delivered in pairs bolted together. ie: back of cab area to back of cab area.

At least Autotrail did when we had the factory visit.

 

[Speve]

We had an Exsis on Alko and extenders were available,we had it done by a mobile fitter who sourced all the bits.?

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[Steve and Denise]

There are quite a few towbar people who supply Al-ok extensions just ask if they fit cross bracing, If they say no steer clear, I think there are some good companies out there but I used Armitages.

 

[Soozywoozy]

Soozywoozy If you have a brand new van the tow bar has to be type approved, you also need to consider that the Alko chassis should not be drilled as it will invalidate the warranty.?

Tell me a bit more about this. How do you attach without drilling?

 

[Soozywoozy]

There are quite a few towbar people who supply Al-ok extensions just ask if they fit cross bracing, If they say no steer clear, I think there are some good companies out there but I used Armitages.

Good advice. armitage have good on communications so far, quite impressed

 

[gus-lopez]

Tell me a bit more about this. How do you attach without drilling?

The extenders are fabricated to use the existing holes in the alko chassis

 

[pappajohn]

Tell me a bit more about this. How do you attach without drilling?

The chassis has pre-drilled attachment points before being galvanised.
Same now with new cars, if a towbar can be fitted (some can't have a towbar) the car has factory attachment points to maintain type approval.
Long gone are the days of drilling holes where you want.

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[Steve and Denise]

Good advice. armitage have good on communications so far, quite impressed

Maybe I was not quite clear, not the best job in my opinion, I would use some one else if I ever buy a new van again ?

 

[Soozywoozy]

Maybe I was not quite clear, not the best job in my opinion, I would use some one else if I ever buy a new van again ?

Oh good job you clarified. Thank you. Any recommendations?

 

[Speve]

Tell me a bit more about this. How do you attach without drilling?

On Alko Chassis there are pre drilled holes that have all been through the galvanising process so when you have the Alko extensions they also come pre drilled and galvanised ours even had special rubber inserts to stop bolts chaffing.?

 

[Steve and Denise]

Oh good job you clarified. Thank you. Any recommendations?

Not Armitages ? from my experience,
I did start a thread on this 2 years ago but not sure how to find it sorry.

 

[Speve]

Soozywoozy i don’t know if it’s any help but here is the mobile fitter Gary’s number as I was very impressed with his work and fitted it on my drive way.
The Towbar Company. Email : mail@thetowbarcompany.co.uk
07778 343464 it might be worth giving him a call for some advice. He might even be prepared to come up to you???

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[Happy1]

Not a tow bar but had memo bike rack fitted by armitage a few weeks ago spot on service and cost way less than Alko rack which I gave up on after emailing Alko and getting the don’t deal with the public and emailing photos to an Alko dealer with same non response.
The memo product just bolted to pre drilled holes in already extended Alko chassis (4.4t) same as the Alko rack would have presume same with a tow bar?

 

[Speve]

same as the Alko rack would have presume same with a tow bar?

The Tow bar to tow anything is a different kettle of fish as it would be pulling a larger load whereas a bike rack is only taking a light load on comparison.?

 

[Happy1]

absolutely but all bolts to the same place was the point