New coupling release

[jdog]

I received this information thru camper deals in an email today.

Looks to be a competitor for the DO-35 coupling with a shorter overall length.

www.alko.com.au/home/al-ko-off-road-pin-coupling/?utm_source=caravan_camper_classifieds&utm_medium=EDM&utm_campaign=pin_couplinghttps://www.alko.com.au/home/al-ko-off-road-pin-coupling/?utm_source=caravan_camper_classifieds&utm_medium=EDM&utm_campaign=pin_coupling





Not so sure on the longevity of the Anderson plug and related wiring  in the video demo 

cheers
Jdog

[Old Techo]

G'day JD,

Interesting and thanks for posting

Slightly disturbing from time 2:05 to 2:10 is the amount of movement of the hitch shank in the hitch receiver

[jdog]

Yep, that too OT 😳

Looks like the standard LC shank too.

[Will Barrow]

Interesting

[enjoy]

Thanks for the post

[collyn]

Aug 26, 2019 19:01:18 GMT 10 Old Techo said:

G'day JD,

Interesting and thanks for posting

Slightly disturbing from time 2:05 to 2:10 is the amount of movement of the hitch shank in the hitch receiver

One can only agree - but that is very common with most hitch receivers.


I used a Treg coupling for my TVvan and 4.2 litre TD Nissan Patrol for three return Broome to Sydney trips via the Tanami etc. That initially had similar movement but I made up full length shims and replaced the normal slide-in retaining pin by a  marginally larger hi-tensile stud retained by a Nyloc nut. 

I do like that the AL-KO hitch introduces minimal overhang as the ratio of tow vehicle to hitch overhang is a major factor in caravan/tow vehicle stability (and 'critical speed'). Sadly, one on the market (that people buy for its 'ease of coupling) adds unneeded overhang. This new AL-KO unit may hopefully change that. 

(There is also many caravan that is borderline in its need for a WDH - that then requires it if fitted (as the WDH has increased hitch overhang!!). 

Collyn

[jdog]

Sept 4, 2019 14:31:04 GMT 10 collyn said:

(There is also many caravan that is borderline in its need for a WDH - that then requires it if fitted (as the WDH has increased hitch overhang!!). 

G’day Collyn
I’m not so sure I understand what you are saying here, Would you mind explaining this more please?
Many thanks 
regards
Jdog

[collyn]

Jdog

A WDH (Weight Distributing Hitch) is a device that addresses a situation that would better not exist. It partially enables a tow vehicle to support the (essential) nose weight of a trailer that is heavier than that tow vehicle is intended to support. Whilst a WDH does so, it inherently reduces that tow vehicle's ultimate cornering power. In such situations, it is far better to avoid fitting a WDH. Increasing the tow vehicle rear tyre pressure by 50-70 kPa is all that needed but never the front tyres - leave those as is - or if mainly towing - reduce them by about 20 kPA. Doing that is adequate.

The need for a WDH is also substantially related to the ratio of the tow vehicle's wheelbase (distance between front and rear axles) and the distance that the actual (articulating point) of the hitch is behind the tow vehicle's rear axle.

Addressing your query - there are often marginal areas where the weight of the laden caravan is much the same as that of the laden tow vehicle. In such cases, a WDH is only rarely needed. Here, adding a WDH often results in that rear overhang being extended (thus creating an unnecessary need for that WDH!).

This is a complex issue that cannot really be covered in a general forum - but by and large the need for a WDH (and tow weight issues generally) is not so much the laden weight of the trailer (versus the tow vehicle) but the length of that towed vehicle and where that weight is distributed. That is why the often massively heavy camper trailers rarely (if ever) have stability issues.

That a WDH introduces stability issues as well addressing others is rarely discussed (or realised) but that it does (and why it does) has been understood since the 1970s. In essence, it removes weight from the tow vehicle's rear tyres - thus reducing their 'cornering power' - yet the far more important yaw forces remain the same (or are actually increased if that WDH extends the point of articulation. These forces increase with the square of the rig's speed and become truly major above 100 km/h.

(I cover this matter elsewhere in considerable depth but forum rules preclude my stating where.)

Collyn

[jdog]

Thank you Collyn, very interesting