Help / Info on tow bar for Hymer with Alko chassis

[TeamBandS]

I have a 2015 Hymer 504 which has an Alko chassis. The chassis stops just behind the rear wheels with nothing to assist mounting a tow bar behind. I realise that I will need some extensions that mount to the existing holes in the rear most part of the Alko chassis then a cross bar and tow ball. I have tried several towbar fitting companies but non seem to want / are able to find the parts required. Anyone out with any experience or ideas, your thought would be appreciated.

 

[2bob]

have a chat with lnb at bristol they might help

 

[Lenny HB]

Might be worth giving Al-Ko a ring they may have a list of approved towbars.

 

[Clivefog]

Do Al-ko not do them? Doh that Lenny types too fast!

Get a local engineering place to make some?

 

[tonka]

Get a local engineering place to make some?

2015 vehicle so needs to be type approved.
Think the change came on April 2012.

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[Mrjenben]

If you have a Hymer Exsis then Alko produced a chassis extension pack which can then have a tow bar fitted to that.
It was an option from Hymer if you wanted to increase the weight capacity of the garage. Some UK dealers seemed to order it by default. On some of the Exsis layouts the composite monocoque garage floor isn’t strong enough on its own to reliably handle a bike rack with heavy bikes on it. Met a french van who found this out the hard way:-(

 

[tonyidle]

2015 vehicle so needs to be type approved.
Think the change came on April 2012.

And that will be checked by no-one ever. My van is rare enough that no-one offers a towbar for it approved or not. I had one made by a specialist and mentioned "approval". He made a pfft noise.

 

[Lenny HB]

And that will be checked by no-one ever. My van is rare enough that no-one offers a towbar for it approved or not. I had one made by a specialist and mentioned "approval". He made a pfft noise.

It is part of an MOT test.

 

[tonyidle]

It is part of an MOT test.

It may be but I've been through two so far without comment.

 

[TOAD on Tour]

have a chat with lnb at bristol they might help

2bob beat me to it re; LNB or SAP in Doncaster

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[tonyidle]

It is part of an MOT test.

Just checked. No mention of looking for type approval during MoT.

 

[TeamBandS]

Thanks all. Contacted LNB who are sending me a quote and did not think it was a problem. I have never had any joy trying to speak with Alko - anyone got a good number from them? I believe that there are some German companies that make extensions that are "approved" but I have not been able to find contact number for them. I am aware that the rear end is a self supporting structure for the garage and not suitable to attempt to hang anything off! My only other issue is the old chestnut of weight. Running within the 3500kg but not by a lot and I have been told that the complete towbar with extensions can weigh in at 60Kg. Planning to tow a light trailer with a scooter and also off load some of the items from the garage. Anyone know if the Alko rear suspension can be upgraded currently limited to 2000Kg?

 

[Lenny HB]

Anyone know if the Alko rear suspension can be upgraded currently limited to 2000Kg?

You can upgrade to 2240kg by fitting semi or full air cost was £2000 for semi & over £4000 for full but I think prices have gone up quite a bit recently.
Also if on 15" wheels you will need to change the tyres to 225 section to get the load rating.

 

[Spriddler]

Just checked. No mention of looking for type approval during MoT.

I had chassis extensions and a tow bar made up and fitted with electrics to my Compass for my motorbike trailer by a mate with a lockup who 'does' trailers and horseboxes.
No approval marking of any sort and never had it queried in any of the past 11 MOT's at 3 different MOT places.

 

[peterc10]

You are supposed to tell your insurance company if you fit a towbar. If you don't, or if you don't have type approval you may find you have no insurance just when you need it.

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[TeamBandS]

Thanks for all support and info. ING have come up trumps with a super quick quote and they have confirmed that the weight is only 39Kg as opposed to 60+Kg quoted by someone else! Might be able to stay under 3500Kg now.

 

[tribalbrit]

Armitage near Pontefract are very good IME. they quote from photos of the underside of the MH and fit type approved extensions and tow bar as required.

 

[TonyEmm]

And that will be checked by no-one ever. My van is rare enough that no-one offers a towbar for it approved or not. I had one made by a specialist and mentioned "approval". He made a pfft noise.

You do of course need to Inform your insurance company of the modification. Failure to do so could result in insurance being void, in the event of a claim.
The BIG problem with fitting a non type approved Towbar when one is required, is that if you do have an insurance issue and an assessor is appointed, you could, again, have your insurance invalidated. #TowLegal #TowSafe

 

[TonyEmm]

It is part of an MOT test.

Towbars are part of the MoT test but the tester isn’t required to check for a type approval label. It’s another half-cock bit of towing legislation….

 

[Huw Emanuel]

I have a 2015 Hymer 504 which has an Alko chassis. The chassis stops just behind the rear wheels with nothing to assist mounting a tow bar behind. I realise that I will need some extensions that mount to the existing holes in the rear most part of the Alko chassis then a cross bar and tow ball. I have tried several towbar fitting companies but non seem to want / are able to find the parts required. Anyone out with any experience or ideas, your thought would be appreciated.

Hi I’ve had a ALKO chassis tow bar fitted on brand new Carthago/ALKO Motorhome 2 years ago by Go European in Cannock

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[Bcollinson]

I have a 2015 Hymer 504 which has an Alko chassis. The chassis stops just behind the rear wheels with nothing to assist mounting a tow bar behind. I realise that I will need some extensions that mount to the existing holes in the rear most part of the Alko chassis then a cross bar and tow ball. I have tried several towbar fitting companies but non seem to want / are able to find the parts required. Anyone out with any experience or ideas, your thought would be appreciated.

I have a 2015 Hymer 504 which has an Alko chassis. The chassis stops just behind the rear wheels with nothing to assist mounting a tow bar behind. I realise that I will need some extensions that mount to the existing holes in the rear most part of the Alko chassis then a cross bar and tow ball. I have tried several towbar fitting companies but non seem to want / are able to find the parts required. Anyone out with any experience or ideas, your thought would be appreciated.

I had similar on my t708sl. A chap in Lytham fitted mine and he made an extension of the chassis to put the towbar on. We Use it for carrying 2 ebike. Cost about 800 8nc all electrics and tow ball.

 

[Tarby]

I have a 2015 Hymer 504 which has an Alko chassis. The chassis stops just behind the rear wheels with nothing to assist mounting a tow bar behind. I realise that I will need some extensions that mount to the existing holes in the rear most part of the Alko chassis then a cross bar and tow ball. I have tried several towbar fitting companies but non seem to want / are able to find the parts required. Anyone out with any experience or ideas, your thought would be appreciated.

This is the first time I have ever made a comment



Don’t mess about go to TAF Chesterfield S42 5UR



I have a Rapido 7065ff 2016 also with alko chassis and it stops short just like yours.

And in my case all you can see is just the tow ball and no cutting of skirting, they have done a very nice tidy job.



All the staff are 100% focused and proud of what they do.

The place might seam a bit tacky but don’t let it put you of.

They also have done my c3 picasso with an A frame.

Mine was done in 10/21 (type approved).

You can also stay overnight

 

[Rodders1234]

We have 2015 Hymer B544 with an Alko chassis and tow bar. It was there when we bought the MH but I believe it is an Alko tie bar. Try contacting Alko. If you need a photo let me know if that helps?

 

[Roger20]

I would certainly try Mick Parkinson’s at Freckleton near Blackpool. He used to do a lot of work on Hymers when the franchise was in Preston. I think you would find his price more realistic than anyone - he did a superb job for me on our previous Autotrail.

Regarding your quoted extra weigh of 39 kgs, I would be a bit wary of that unless your Exsis 504 is a short van and therefore only has short extensions. I did a lot of research on towbars before ordering our Exsis 588 in 2017 and very reluctantly came to the conclusion that despite the extra cost, the factory fit option was best (to tow a motorcycle trailer). The extra weight quoted by Hymer at the time was 63 kgs and like all Hymer weights, is likely to be very accurate.

We run very close to or just over 3500kgs when towing but that has only been possible by putting the motorhome spare wheel on the trailer.

We have looked at uprating but been put off by the cost and limitations, especially C1 licence now we are over 70. As Lenny HB says you will need 225 tyres and perhaps a change to 16" wheels, and possibly even a front spring change to uprate the axle to 2250kg (less the 30-35kgs of the conversion itself) .

 

[tonyidle]

You do of course need to Inform your insurance company of the modification. Failure to do so could result in insurance being void, in the event of a claim.
The BIG problem with fitting a non type approved Towbar when one is required, is that if you do have an insurance issue and an assessor is appointed, you could, again, have your insurance invalidated. #TowLegal #TowSafe

Where does it stop? For many years I ran a Reliant Scimitar as my daily driver. In fact my only car. The forum I frequented at the time had many similar posts about 'modifications' to the standard specification. So I thought I'd test the notion that my insurance company needed to know and listed all the changes. These included tyres, wheels, suspension components, brakes, gearbox, engine, tow bar, seat belts, lights, etc. It was an extensive list. They wrote asking me to confine future declarations to any that had a substantial effect on performance.

I could accept an insurance company refusing to cover an accident or damage caused by something I had changed. I do not believe they could wriggle out of a claim because something didn't have an appropriate label, especially something that had undergone regular Mot examination.

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[Platelet]

I could be totally wrong here, if you are as you say under 3500kgs then it would come under the “approved” bar. If it was over 3500, PHGV then technically it would be commercial so would be exempt?

 

[ivorantony]

Armitage near Pontefract are very good IME. they quote from photos of the underside of the MH and fit type approved extensions and tow bar as required.

I have one of these on my Alko chassis A class and it’s well built and been in regular use for 10 years with no problem with MOTs test

 

[Wickenman]

I have a 2015 Hymer 504 which has an Alko chassis. The chassis stops just behind the rear wheels with nothing to assist mounting a tow bar behind. I realise that I will need some extensions that mount to the existing holes in the rear most part of the Alko chassis then a cross bar and tow ball. I have tried several towbar fitting companies but non seem to want / are able to find the parts required. Anyone out with any experience or ideas, your thought would be appreciated.

LNB in Bristol, first class service at reasonable prices and very experienced. Their workshop is set up primarily for Motorhomes & ’vans and they’re very busy, couldn’t recommend them highly enough.

 

[minesapint]

I have a 2015 Hymer 504 which has an Alko chassis. The chassis stops just behind the rear wheels with nothing to assist mounting a tow bar behind. I realise that I will need some extensions that mount to the existing holes in the rear most part of the Alko chassis then a cross bar and tow ball. I have tried several towbar fitting companies but non seem to want / are able to find the parts required. Anyone out with any experience or ideas, your thought would be appreciated.

Hi we had a similar problem with out Burstner, we took it to Watling Engineers Ltd, in St Albans Broken Link Removed: Broken Link Removed who fitted an approved tow bar which goes right back to the end of the main chassis.