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bulldog blade stabiliser

Over the years the face of caravan stabilisers has change but the truth is the first design of these items still remains available along side the more modern designs. As technology has moved forward so has the types and styles of the caravan stabiliser changed. Nearly all caravan stabilisers fall into two distinct categories, either blade type stabilisers or ball type stabilisers.

The friction blade types of caravan stabiliser are the simplest and cheapest form available. It comprises of a single leaf spring arm where one end is placed in a saddle that has been attached to the caravan's 'A' frame (sometimes called drawbar). The other end of the arm stops in a pivoting friction damper which is attached to the car's tow bar.

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This system works by dampening the movements of the caravan snaking or pitching.
Snaking is prevented by the blade pivots on friction-damping discs that, when the caravan articulates, take most of the energy out of the movement. The damper consists of two friction discs sandwiched between steel plates and clamped tight by a central bolt. The bolt is used to adjust the force needed to turn the spring blade and it should be remembered that checking the friction setting from time to time and readjusting as necessary is important. The curve of leaf spring helps reduce pitching of the caravan as this should be parallel with the road at all times, any pitching will be dampened with the force required to straighten this bar or leaf again. Modern blade stabilisers feature a quick release cam to release pressure from the central bolt for easy removal and fitting of the blade to the saddle.

alko_stabiliser

Alko Stabiliser AKS 3004

The ball type caravan stabiliser works by applying pressure from friction pads against the sides of the tow ball. There are three things you should remember about the ball type stabilisers and they all revolve around the friction pads.

  • First are the pads which act directly on the tow ball it self so should always be kept clean and free of grease at all times.
  • Second is that since the area occupied by the pads is relatively small they wear out fast. Although you cannot adjust these pads there is a wear indicator and they are easy to replace.
  • Third point is to give your caravan the greatest stability you should avoid the type with only two friction pads acting on the sides of the tow ball. Choosing one with four pads will ensure the pressure is applied to the four main points of the tow ball, top, bottom, left and right side. These stop not only snaking but pitching as well.

There are a few minor complications with the ball type stabilisers but they are all easy to work around. Your main issue will be to have a long neck tow ball fitted to help accommodate the large stabilisers but often they are supplied with the new ball type caravan stabiliser.

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If you have read the three important points already discussed in driving without a caravan stabiliser, (if you havn't seen that post yet you should really take a look at it) namely getting a matching outfit, loading the caravan correctly and checking tyre pressure, then you could be forgiven for asking why then do I need a caravan stabiliser? Furthermore there is an assumption that because of their inherently greater stability twin axle caravans don't need stabilisers.

While it is true that with better towing skills and properly packed and checked outfit, and indeed a twin axel caravan, you do not need a caravan stabiliser. You should however not consider a caravan stabiliser as just something that will make your caravan easier to tow but something that will make your long journey with a caravan behind you a safer one. There is no replacement for good caravan towing skills but a caravan stabiliser can be a welcome addition as simply a safety aid that can help improve the comfort of towing caravans or trailers and even horse boxes for that matter.

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