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 ensuring your tyres are inflated to the correct pressure for the correct load is essential (Refer to caravan handbook).

 

Whilst towing, your weight distribution inside the caravan should be as even as possible to allow the car and caravan to tow evenly and avoid dipping between them. The maximum permissible towing weight must be checked. Removing items and placing them in the towing vehicle can affect the towing vehicle's stability. Refer to the manufacturer's handbook for towing information and limits.

 

The brakes should be inspected regularly on an annual service and should only be adjusted by a competent person. The newer type of wheel drum, called a Euro axle, has enclosed fixed bearings inside the drum. These drums are attached to 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 drum has a castle nut and a split pin.

 

Under braking, the caravan should run onto the car, pushing on the damper, which then 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 the wheels should not lock up. Special attention should be paid to long journeys to ensure that the brakes are fully off and that no excessive heat or hot smoke from the drums is observed.

 

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 when 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., silver, not black) 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 when you plug the roadlights into the vehicle, 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.​​

Pin 12 is not used.