Stability control

[Bobc163]

Hi, anyone had experience with ALKO stability control fitted to a caravan being towed by a Disco4 sd/se?
are there any things that should be looked at?
Currently have a TOWPRO Controller that is being upgraded by Redarc to be compatible with the ALKO system
Thanks
Bob

[Redback]

Hi, anyone had experience with ALKO stability control fitted to a caravan being towed by a Disco4 sd/se?
are there any things that should be looked at?
Currently have a TOWPRO Controller that is being upgraded by Redarc to be compatible with the ALKO system
Thanks
Bob

D4 already has stability control for the purpose of keeping the caravan where should be, don't waste your money.

HERE
https://youtu.be/5aDTvql4OYk

[simmo1]

Curious to understand what you think you are being offered here. The alco esc system that is on my van is completely separate to the car and the towpro only provides braking instigated from the car. Yes both systems use the electric brakes on the van but they are completely separate. And the stability control from the car I don't think uses the trailer brakes at all.
So a bit more info would be good, or are you being sold a pup?
Alan

[mowog]

Hi, anyone had experience with ALKO stability control fitted to a caravan being towed by a Disco4 sd/se?
are there any things that should be looked at?
Currently have a TOWPRO Controller that is being upgraded by Redarc to be compatible with the ALKO system
Thanks
Bob

The D4 Trailer Stability is far more advanced than the ALKO System. The ALKO system is a waste of money if you have a D4.

[Bobc163]

after having towed large trailers for many years with large Japanese products I have found that all trailers behave differently.
My trailerable yacht trailed beautifully behind the last vehicle when sway bars levellers were fitted to it. It weighs 3 tonne and has cable operated disc brakes.
This time however I cannot use that system due to the setup of the Disco ( which I must say is outstanding) however, after the last trip with our van I was deeply concerned about how the van was reacting especially going downhill at any thing more than 80 k's. It would start to fish tail slightly and I suspect that if I had let it continue it would become uncontrollable. I have checked the towball weight and that is 250-280 Kg's and well within limits allowing a margin for saftey.
Sure the LR system works but I suspect that it has it's limits hence the ALKO system which I was sceptical of at first but after researching it have come to the conclusion that it will operate as a supplement to the LR system.
The van is large 21Ft off road and has a high windage factor hence susceptible to cross winds and passing trucks.
What I would like to hear is experience from people who have used the system and yes I do understand that the TowPro system is performing a different function and it does that extremely well
Bob

[Dropbear]

I recently collected my new 20+ foot off road van which is fitted with a ALKO Stability Control System from Melbourne and made a very quick trip home to Adelaide, in very windy conditions. Being new to towing a 3+ ton van I was very impressed with the way the D4 SDV6 handled the job and had no problems maintaining the speed limit up any hill encountered however on two occasions while going downhill with strong side winds the van fishtailed, but moments later I felt the ALKO SC kick in and brake the caravan and like magic the sway was gone. Yes I admit given the conditions I should have been traveling slower however it is very comforting knowing that it is there as a safety net. I don't know if my 2011 Disco SDV6 SE has trailer stability however I am not sorry I have an ALKO fitted.
Yes the REDARC TowPro is compatible with the ALKO and I find that the Redarc Towpro works very well. I had the control knob installed in place of one of the power sockets on the console. Not intrusive and very easy to remove with no holes left to rectify.
Now have the van sorted with proper weight distribution and towball weight so haven't had any reoccurrence of sway.
The Disco recognises that I have a van in tow and flashes the little green trailer on the dash when cornering and seems to alter the gearchange point, a great tow vehicle!

[LandyAndy]

The D4 Trailer Stability is far more advanced than the ALKO System. The ALKO system is a waste of money if you have a D4.

There was a brand new caravan(first trip) and Discovery written off just outside Williams a couple of weeks ago.I didnt see the prang but have been told the Land Rover towing it was also new,it looks like mine was told by the fireys/ambos I know that attended.
For the WA folk,it was at the bottom of what we call Golf Course hill.Its the hill 5 ks north of town,there is a northbound overtaking lane there.Not a huge hill accident was at the bottom,van went across 3 lanes twice and into the scrub backwards judging by the skids on the road.Perhaps there is an issue with Landrover Stability Control and inexperience????
Andrew

[Redback]

There was a brand new caravan(first trip) and Discovery written off just outside Williams a couple of weeks ago.I didnt see the prang but have been told the Land Rover towing it was also new,it looks like mine was told by the fireys/ambos I know that attended.
For the WA folk,it was at the bottom of what we call Golf Course hill.Its the hill 5 ks north of town,there is a northbound overtaking lane there.Not a huge hill accident was at the bottom,van went across 3 lanes twice and into the scrub backwards judging by the skids on the road.Perhaps there is an issue with Landrover Stability Control and inexperience????
Andrew

I'll go out on a limb here Andy and say, most of that will be driver error:angel:

[PeterOZ]

over reliance on a black box perhaps. I grew up towing very large caravans, 30ft and over.

those with trailer brakes and many had none but we did were of the manual vacuum variety and they had no adjustment for rate of application. If you felt the van sway or needed a bit of addtional braking it was seat of the pants, you felt, you applied the brake.

Required a fair bit of experince and skill.

:cool:

[Tombie]

Likely driver inexperience combined with the design of the van...

So many vans are poorly designed / loaded that its surprising more dont go launching backwards into the roadside..

[SBD4]

tow ball weight!

[LandyAndy]

I went to the caravan and camping show today.Many of the vans had the AlKo stability control as standard equipment.Of course the dealers were very quick to say how good the system is.NONE could answer what if the vehicle has trailer stability control,does it counteract the vehicle system.One dealer was very clever,he told me AlKO had a stand,where it was and to ask them.I did.
The Alko system is actually european,and its been modified to suit electric brakes which are mainly an Australian and USA preference(perhaps why there isnt a factory electric brake controler).
The system detects any sway before the vehicles trailer stability program and applys gentle increasing brake load to all brakes on the van at once until the sway is gone.They did know of the Land Rover system and say it improves the effectiveness,also mentioned a few other vehicles that have trailer assist and say all work better with an AlKo equipped trailer.
Andrew

[Tombie]

tow ball weight!


I think it also has a lot to do with design components and materials.

Let's face it, granite bench tops, solid wood cupboards.

People are getting 3,500kg and dragging it along.

As a guide for optimum stability the tug should out weigh the towed.. And the vans need to be better designed..

[Redback]

I think it also has a lot to do with design components and materials.

Let's face it, granite bench tops, solid wood cupboards.

People are getting 3,500kg and dragging it along.

As a guide for optimum stability the tug should out weigh the towed.. And the vans need to be better designed..

For me, this ALKO system is a bandaid for manufacturers to not put any thought into making their vans stable to tow straight off the showroom floor and car manufacturers are designing cars to compensate for the van manufacturers inability to design vans that you can tow safely.

Personally I feel that not only should cars have to meet design safety rules, but Van manufacturers should also.

How many times do you see these big things swaying around behind cars, and the driver absolutely oblivious to the fact or just thinks it's normal and when you finally get to overtake them, see how badly they are set up, with the cars arse and the vans drawbar almost draging on the ground.
A single axle van I can almost understand, but when you see dual axle vans like that, that is unexcusable, if you can't set your vehicle and van up properly, you shouldn't be towing period:twisted:

Baz.