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Alko towball and spacer
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NickJ
 


Member Since: 11 Oct 2010
Location: there's no f in point
Posts: 2137

2006 Discovery 3 TDV6 S Auto Zambezi SilverDiscovery 3
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.
  
Post #100641720th Nov 2012 6:38 pm
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Madrunner
 


Member Since: 23 Oct 2011
Location: Dorset
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United Kingdom 2006 Discovery 3 TDV6 SE Manual Zambezi SilverDiscovery 3

I fitted the spacer block to my fixed bar.

Without it the alko hitch handle would be very close to the back plate.
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Post #100647320th Nov 2012 7:55 pm
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al cope
 


Member Since: 08 Nov 2005
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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.

Al
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Post #100670521st Nov 2012 9:48 am
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B16 KJR
 


Member Since: 10 Jul 2006
Location: Rosyth, Fife
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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 Evil or Very Mad
  
Post #100672221st Nov 2012 10:24 am
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NickJ
 


Member Since: 11 Oct 2010
Location: there's no f in point
Posts: 2137

2006 Discovery 3 TDV6 S Auto Zambezi SilverDiscovery 3

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?
  
Post #100706821st Nov 2012 9:04 pm
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mzplcg
 


Member Since: 23 Jun 2009
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England 

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. Rolling Eyes 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. Big Cry

Click image to enlarge


Click image to enlarge
  
Post #100726422nd Nov 2012 10:19 am
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B16 KJR
 


Member Since: 10 Jul 2006
Location: Rosyth, Fife
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Scotland 

Also with a fixed flange towbar the holes may be too high for the van to sit level so a drop plate is used Thumbs Up
  
Post #100729122nd Nov 2012 12:10 pm
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NickJ
 


Member Since: 11 Oct 2010
Location: there's no f in point
Posts: 2137

2006 Discovery 3 TDV6 S Auto Zambezi SilverDiscovery 3

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.
  
Post #100760022nd Nov 2012 9:09 pm
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Thelo3
 


Member Since: 23 Feb 2011
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United Kingdom 2014 Discovery 4 3.0 SDV6 HSE Lux Auto Santorini BlackDiscovery 4

Nick

Mine is the same but without the spacer and it all works ok Thumbs Up
Can't work out uploading a pic yet sorry Big Cry
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Post #100767922nd Nov 2012 10:35 pm
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