RV FEATURE

Look Mum , no hands ! Could a child really secure Al-Ko ’ s new 3.5t offroad coupling to the tow pin ? In theory , sure . After all , it is just a matter of winding down the jockey wheel . This new coupling , which incorporates Al-Ko ’ s ‘ Click Lock ’ system , is the first ‘ hands free ’, fully articulating , offroad coupling in Australia . It automatically completes the primary and secondary locking required for ADR compliance . It even has a ‘ positive locking indicator ’, which pops out of the coupling ’ s red head to show that it ’ s engaged on the pin . But how easy is it to fit ? Is it a DIY job ? The answer : more or less . If you have the right tools , including a torque wrench , and are a reasonably handy person , there ’ s no reason you couldn ’ t do the job yourself . Our office camper – a Goldstream Wing III – came with a V2 DO35 coupling . Now , the DO35 was quite revolutionary when it was released circa 2009 , and they remain one of the most popular offroad couplings available . But we wanted to become more familiar with a coupling that is likely to give the DO35 a run for its money .

WORDS : MAX TAYLOR

In most cases , fitting the Al-Ko coupling should be simply a matter of bolting it into place after removing the old coupling . However , because our DO35 had an integrated handbrake , we had to also fit a new Al-Ko handbrake . It ’ s reasonably straightforward : the handbrake ’ s base plate sits underneath the coupling and uses the same bolts . ( If you do need to replace your van ’ s handbrake in order to fit the new Al-Ko coupling , it would be worthwhile having it done professionally .) The coupling doesn ’ t come with its own bolts ; however , the manual specifies the types of bolts to use – and you ’ ll need to check with the bolt supplier for the recommended torque setting . This coupling also features a built-in cover that seals the inner workings from the elements ( there are no loose parts ); it has a low profile of 83mm ; and unhitching is simply a matter of pressing down on the red cover while pressing in the positive locking indicator and winding up the jockey wheel .

More information : www . alko . com . au

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