caravan ball socket

[frank horton]

here's a photo of the ball socket and locking arrangement...caravan mounted on me tractor....
(new to this caravan lark)

to engage the ball u need to lift and pull back the smaller /lower center D handle.......
engage ball and drop the handle no prob there then......
BUT
the longer / bigger double sided lever I would think is the locking lever or anti weave.....????.
but it don't seem to go down any further when the ball is engaged.....tried without the ball and it goes flat....
now, I have to tow this caravan nearly 3,000 miles and want it to go well......
does this look OK.....
there is nobody to ask where I live or even compare it....
help please

 

[gordon stephenson]

I don't definitely know Frank, But I would think that the large lever provides clamping force to the ball via friction material (Anti-weave)

 

[fixerupper]

Is the the correct sized ball for that socket? .https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tow_hitch#Tow_ball_sizes
...tell me you're not towing it down here with your tractor!...

 

[TechnicAl]

The big lever is the stabiliser...anti snake device....supposed to stop the van swaying....personally I think its more of a psychological truss than anything physical...more important to have the van front heavy and nose down....but if its there you should have it connected correctly....theres a button that pops up when its located securely.
It wont fasten probably because your tractor is a 2" ball and the stabiliser is 50mm..........you need a Alko Hitch...a standard hitch doesnt leave enough room between the ball and the bolts holding it on.

 

[aguycalledsteve]

I've had a couple of caravans previously with ALKO hitch stabilisers and they looked very similar to that one in your picture. Both the ones i had, the handle had to be flat/parallel to the hitch.

That doesn't look right to me, but i am going on my own experience of caravans. You should do some googling/research on that model.

 

[octo0072000]

i agree needs a alco extended ball for starters and the handle should be flat to lock as said by Al

 

[pedrobedro]

Don't grease the hitch or the ball either as you would with normal towing hitch it will contaminate the friction material. It could be the angle stopping the hitch engaging, the lever should push down more.

 

[bricol]

A 2" ball will simply not go into a 50mm hitch unless it's very badly worn - my new Challenger had a 2" ball and no way would it go into my 15 yr old trailer hitch.

The above posts are correct - without the extended Alco ball, it will not secure properly - it will not work with a standard bolt on ball, although it probably will with gooseneck types - certainly did with the one on the back of my integrale.