jeffacus wrote:

Right then,

Thanks guys, lots of good info in under a day! Good stuff!

1. If I go ALKO, can I go for a Detachable towbar?

2. If answer 1 is 'yes' which detachable towbar would be recommended (if as waaxh03 mentioned the landrover one will not comply ro will it?)?

3. If there are any answers to 2, does anyone have any pictures/more comments of any companies they recommend to fit install etc in the Newcastle/surrounding area?

4. If I don't go ALKO and keep with the stabiliser i've got, then I guess its a permanent towbar, correct?

Thanks again!

Just to add a couple of pennies worth of comments.

If you go for a bulldog type stabiliser then you can get brackets which clamp around swan neck towbars. However, they are a real **** to tighten enought not to move. The last one I had needed spot welding to stop it moving. The standard fit detachable has plenty of room for BPW/ALKO stabiliser. If in doubt check the towbar measurements in the handbook (there must be 60mm clearance between the ball and the back of the car).  Freelander 2.2e HSE , Privacy, Fully debadged, 19" Chrome SHadow alloys

Bulldog DOES make a clamp for their stabiliser brackets to fit to a swan-neck style towbar and it MIGHT fit onto the LR/Brink removable. See http://www.hygienesuppliesdirect.com/products/prod112248 The Bulldog/Scott blade stabilisers are notoriously poor (the friction pads glaze readily) and the ALKO ones are meant to be much better (although mine seems to get 'contaminated' and I need to clean the pads off every trip).

However, a properly loaded and well set up trailer should not need a stabiliser at all. I've forgotten to apply the friction pads on my Alko stabiliser a couple of times and not noticed any difference in its tendency to (not) sway behind the FL2.

My view on the removable towbar, in hindsight, is that I'd have saved the money had I realised the 12n/12s sockets remained so visible. I'd have gone for a fixed towbar.

Firestar wrote:

.........
However, a properly loaded and well set up trailer should not need a stabiliser at all. I've forgotten to apply the friction pads on my Alko stabiliser a couple of times and not noticed any difference in its tendency to (not) sway behind the FL2. .......

Andy131 "exceeding 85mph". Even GC wouldn't complain about that. OR would he?

waaxh03

depends on the conditions, maybe he was out of control on a long hill? At work
At home

"I can't always believe facts I read on the web" - Charles Dickens

winner by default of the tractor vs caravan race

Started to pass a coach on the long climb North bound up the M6 just past J15.
He was doing 45-50 as I started, 75+ and accelerating as I drew level, wasn't ever going to back off, but then again niether was I.

As the bow wave from the front of the bus hit the van things got "busy".

Not funny, SWMBO was not amused. Tangiers Orange - gone, missing her
Replaced by Ewok what a mistake - now a happy Disco Sport owner

damned irresponsible I say  At work
At home

"I can't always believe facts I read on the web" - Charles Dickens

winner by default of the tractor vs caravan race

I agree - you would think coach drivers would know better Tangiers Orange - gone, missing her
Replaced by Ewok what a mistake - now a happy Disco Sport owner

Andy131 wrote:

I agree - you would think coach drivers would know better

So should you, Not surprised SWMBO was not amused, when he got to 70 you should have backed off and let him get on with it 

Jeffacus - just in case you haven't read it............ here's a similar link that may be of use

http://www.freel2.com/forum/topic5735.html?highlight= 2010 FL2 XS Auto in Santorini Black with HSE alloys

Christian

You are possibly missing the point. - it's about towing with/without a stabiliser.
Towed 60mph ish to London and back, no hint of a shake, have driven many miles with van on back and it's very stable.
But
The LR doesn't notice the van, so coming up a long incline, passing traffic speed aming for a spot to pull back into the first lane. Numpty in coach thinks its fun to stop vanner from overtaking.
The increase in speed not really noticable until you actually draw level with front of coach. If you are aware that you are travelling at speed you tend to move over to the right when overtaking (left when being overtaken).
The bow wave hits the van, van starts to get interesting, look down at speedo, then floor it to smooth out the outfit so it can be brought down to normal speed in a strait line.

Follow coach for 30miles, if he had got out I would ave ended up in court/prison, wife eventually persuaded me to back off.


Backing off not really in my nature. Tangiers Orange - gone, missing her
Replaced by Ewok what a mistake - now a happy Disco Sport owner