Member Since: 28 Aug 2007
Location: East Yorkshire
Posts: 3292
Dixon Bate Hitch Question
Hi, swopped my tow ball over at the weekend to a Dixon Bate with a jaw/removable pin (ball is fixed) so I could tow an old trailer that has a circular loop hitch rather than a ball.
Daft question...
Can I use it for my caravan with an Alco hitch? If I look at the ball I took off, it has more of a U shape to it whereas the Dixon Bate one is flatter... wondering if the alco hitch will foul on it?
Clearly I can hitch it up and test, but am wondering if there’s a quick answer?
Thank you!2020 SDV6 D5 HSE, Carpathian Grey +
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28th May 2019 10:22 pm
JackNorris
Member Since: 06 Jul 2012
Location: Beds/Bucks Border
Posts: 1877
You can get alko specific ones so possibly not if its generic.
Alko do have dimensions on their site somewhere if you fancy getting the ruler out.
Think issue happens at certain pivot points.MY2023 Discovery 5 R-Dynamic 3.0
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28th May 2019 10:32 pm
PCT3
Member Since: 13 May 2017
Location: Kent
Posts: 144
The Alco hitch is larger all round than a standard hitch, hence why some tow bars need to change the tow ball, if you have the Dixon Bate ball and pin hitch I think it should be ok as the ball is a little distance further back from the mounting, compare with your old hitch.
You also need to check your ball height the ball and pin hitch’s tend to have a higher position for the ball than a normal ball hitch, not so important on trailers but caravans ideally travel level.Discovery 3 HSE 07
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29th May 2019 7:04 am
John C
Member Since: 28 Aug 2007
Location: East Yorkshire
Posts: 3292
Thank you - thanks for the tip above about the combined one - might see if I can track down one of those. Thank you!2020 SDV6 D5 HSE, Carpathian Grey +
2022 Tesla Model Y LR... almost Carpathian Grey
Previously : 2005 TDV6 SE Auto, Cairns Blue (288K) - ours for 16 years
29th May 2019 8:34 am
leeds
Member Since: 30 Aug 2010
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 4312
The Al-ko tow ball has a longer neck to allow for the bulkier head of an al-ko style hitch.
Now on a D4 fixed tow bar seemed to have a symbol saying no combined pin and tow ball fixture to be attached. Must admit I do not understand the reasoning behind that or I might have misread the symbol. Will have to doa bit of digging to find out what that symbol actually means.
Brendan
29th May 2019 8:44 am
UNG
Member Since: 20 Jun 2008
Location: Lancs
Posts: 753
Unless Dixon Bate have changed their ball and jaw hitches in the last 10 years then they are not compatible with Alko hitches.
Tried this 10 or more years ago and while travelling noticed some issues and even after removing the pin the Alko hitch still fouled on the body of the jaw where the pin should be when approaching an incline or going over aggressive speed humps"Never keep up with the Joneses. Drag'em down to your level. It's cheaper".
29th May 2019 9:48 am
John C
Member Since: 28 Aug 2007
Location: East Yorkshire
Posts: 3292
Really helpful - thank you again!2020 SDV6 D5 HSE, Carpathian Grey +
2022 Tesla Model Y LR... almost Carpathian Grey
Previously : 2005 TDV6 SE Auto, Cairns Blue (288K) - ours for 16 years
29th May 2019 9:50 am
D4-Russ
Member Since: 28 Jul 2017
Location: Lincoln
Posts: 208
leeds wrote:
The Al-ko tow ball has a longer neck to allow for the bulkier head of an al-ko style hitch.
Now on a D4 fixed tow bar seemed to have a symbol saying no combined pin and tow ball fixture to be attached. Must admit I do not understand the reasoning behind that or I might have misread the symbol. Will have to doa bit of digging to find out what that symbol actually means.
Brendan
It is a strange one for sure but it is allowed in the top holes of the fixed tow bar just not the bottom holes.
Also not allowed through the 4 countersunk holes on the additional drop plate, but the pictures from Land Rover have it bolted through the countersunk holes!
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29th May 2019 10:16 am
MorganD379
Member Since: 29 Sep 2016
Location: SA62 3PP
Posts: 425
I had this problem with the fixed towbar on my pathfinder... Made a spacer and all was fine, I'm sure I still have it somewhere.
Your welcome to it if you want it, let me know and I will have a look over the weekend
29th May 2019 8:14 pm
Oswiperus D3 Decade
Member Since: 02 Apr 2010
Location: Chelmsford, Essex
Posts: 1590
I never had a problem, I don't have the drop plate fitted. However I had to remove the pin as it would foul the Alko hitch when turning tightly.
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29th May 2019 8:36 pm
leeds
Member Since: 30 Aug 2010
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 4312
D4-Russ wrote:
leeds wrote:
The Al-ko tow ball has a longer neck to allow for the bulkier head of an al-ko style hitch.
Now on a D4 fixed tow bar seemed to have a symbol saying no combined pin and tow ball fixture to be attached. Must admit I do not understand the reasoning behind that or I might have misread the symbol. Will have to doa bit of digging to find out what that symbol actually means.
Brendan
It is a strange one for sure but it is allowed in the top holes of the fixed tow bar just not the bottom holes.
Also not allowed through the 4 countersunk holes on the additional drop plate, but the pictures from Land Rover have it bolted through the countersunk holes!
This gets even more interesting and even more
I asked one of the regional sales manager for the OEM supplier of these tow bars. The answer was that he did not know.
If I manage to get a definitive answer I will let people know!
Brendan
29th May 2019 11:13 pm
mse
Member Since: 27 Jun 2005
Location: Shropshire
Posts: 2702
You can use a dixon bate with the alko hitch we did - the space between plate and ball needs to be checked and on one device i had to position the pin upside down and cable tie as the top would have fouled the hitch - but i wanted to retain the strength
Ill see if i have a picture - but it worked on both the d4 and the defenderMike
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