Member Since: 11 Oct 2010
Location: there's no f in point
Posts: 2137
Alko towball and spacer
Newly fitted fixed towball onto D3... the kit came with normal flange towball, nuts and bolts, and a spacer that goes between the towball and the bracket. The bolts have an unthreaded section so the spacer must be used.
The question is, now I have the Alko type ball to fit with extended neck and slightly further reach, am I still supposed to use the spacer (this adds about an extra 15mm)? If I dont then the supplied bolts would have to be replaced with shorter ones.
20th Nov 2012 6:38 pm
Madrunner
Member Since: 23 Oct 2011
Location: Dorset
Posts: 391
I fitted the spacer block to my fixed bar.
Without it the alko hitch handle would be very close to the back plate.2013 Evoque
20th Nov 2012 7:55 pm
al cope
Member Since: 08 Nov 2005
Location: Oldbury, WM
Posts: 10361
there is a bit of legislation that covers how far away from the mounting face the ball can be (but cant find it). I didnt think you needed the spacer if you had the correct "extended" alko ball.
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21st Nov 2012 9:48 am
B16 KJR
Member Since: 10 Jul 2006
Location: Rosyth, Fife
Posts: 3005
You don't need the spacer as long as there are no bolt heads protruding from the flange above the ball. The ALKO ball is designed to give the correct spacing from the flange to allow an ALKO stabiliser head to be used. Just make sure there are no bolts heads above, or the head will catch them and rip the casting to bits !! Go on, ask me how I know that
21st Nov 2012 10:24 am
NickJ
Member Since: 11 Oct 2010
Location: there's no f in point
Posts: 2137
al cope wrote:
there is a bit of legislation that covers how far away from the mounting face the ball can be
I cant find anything either, all Ive come across is a vertical distance of 350 to 420mm from ground to centre of the ball when laden.
B16 KJR wrote:
Just make sure there are no bolts heads above, or the head will catch them and rip the casting to bits
Sorry, I'm not sure I follow you, where would these bolts be?
21st Nov 2012 9:04 pm
mzplcg
Member Since: 23 Jun 2009
Location: Gone
Posts: 1087
Because you have the multi-height towbar it is possible that you could have something bolted to the holes above the towball. For example, the bracket for a MaxxRaxx bike rack. If you do, the Al-Ko hitch head will foul the bolts which are higher up.
See this. It's not a D3 (a FFRR) but you will get the idea. This is so I can tow the caravan and carry bikes at the same time. And the extra spacers are because LR designed a towbar flange which is not clear of the rear bumper. Without them the bike rack will not lock into a vertical position - it fouls the bumper. The spacer between the MaxxRaxx bracket and towball is to ensure teh hitch head clears the bracket.
Incidentally, the Winterhoff hitch head does not have the clearance issues that the Al-KO does. Vastly superior IMHO, but sadly not compatible if you have Al-KO ATC fitted.
Click image to enlarge
Click image to enlarge
22nd Nov 2012 10:19 am
B16 KJR
Member Since: 10 Jul 2006
Location: Rosyth, Fife
Posts: 3005
Also with a fixed flange towbar the holes may be too high for the van to sit level so a drop plate is used
22nd Nov 2012 12:10 pm
NickJ
Member Since: 11 Oct 2010
Location: there's no f in point
Posts: 2137
mzplcg wrote:
Click image to enlarge
Thanks for that, makes me feel a lot better about the spacer being fitted. Ultimately that's what we'll be doing, having a bike rack as sell.
22nd Nov 2012 9:09 pm
Thelo3
Member Since: 23 Feb 2011
Location: Nothamptonshire
Posts: 287
Nick
Mine is the same but without the spacer and it all works ok
Can't work out uploading a pic yet sorry D4 HSE Lux - Santorini, Privacy, RLD Protector
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Without them the bike rack will not lock into a vertical position - it fouls the bumper. The spacer between the MaxxRaxx bracket and towball is to ensure teh hitch head clears the bracket.
