Towing Guide - Flipbook - Page 13
THE TOWBALL ASSEMBLY
Care must be taken when matching
the towball type to the coupling head.
Generally, it is best to use the towball
supplied with the towbar (if the ball is
not integrated into the design, as in the
case of a swan neck or detachable bar).
However, some caravan coupling
heads, e.g. those fitted with AL-KO
AKS stabilisers, MUST be used with a
compatible towball. These are special
AL-KO bolt-on towballs which are
available from AL-KO or reputable
towbar fitters, or with a fixed or
removable swan neck type towbar.
This ensures that these relatively
large coupling heads can articulate
freely without interfering with the neck
of the towball. Failure to use the correct
towball in these circumstances can
lead to towball and coupling damage
and potentially cause inadvertent
detachment.
Very important for detachable
towballs
If your car is fitted with a detachable
towball and you have removed the
towball from the connecting socket,
you should ensure that it is fully
engaged, and the lock mechanism has
worked correctly when you replace
it. Ensure that the lock is ‘set’ and key
removed
Ensure that any road dirt or
debris is cleaned thoroughly from
the engagement receptacle prior
to refitting and always follow the
manufacturer’s assembly instructions
precisely. Check that the ball has fully
locked home after refitting. Failure
to follow the towball manufacturer’s
instructions could result in the towball
disengaging unexpectedly.
NCC Caravan Towing Guide 13
