It’s no exaggeration to say that Al-Ko saved my bacon. I will be forever grateful to the company’s ATC stability control system, which saved my blushes, caravan, French holiday, quite a few thousand pounds, and possibly even my life. (If the major autoroute accident I avoided hadn’t finished me off, Mrs S almost certainly would have!)
When a speeding panel van sent my tourer into a terminal ‘wobble’, only the caravan ATC pulled things back from the brink – its clever sensor detected the unwanted sway and slammed the caravan brakes on. Phew! Thank-you, Alois.
Yes, my saviour that day was Alois Kober. In 1931, he was a 23-year-old master locksmith who opened a small forge in the Bavarian village of Großkötz. From those modest beginnings, he laid the foundations for what would become one of Europe’s most respected names in engineering – Al-Ko Kober. It’s a name you’re likely to be familiar with, for instance if you’ve been looking for the best caravan hitchlock, a motor mover, and even caravan self-levelling systems.
The company name is drawn from its founder, and Kober’s early focus on innovation, craftsmanship and quality set a tone that continues to define the brand today.
After the Second World War, Al-Ko grew rapidly, shifting its focus from agricultural metalwork towards more specialised mechanical components.
By the 1950s, it was producing overrun brakes and trailer couplings, soon followed by complete caravan chassis and running gear. These innovations secured Al-Ko’s place as a key player in Europe’s burgeoning leisure-vehicle industry.
Who are Al-Ko?
The firm’s UK arm, Al-Ko Kober Ltd, was established in 1951 to serve the British trailer and caravan markets.
From the company’s base in Warwickshire, it has supplied axles, chassis, towing and suspension technology to manufacturers and consumers across the country, becoming a trusted name among caravan and motorhome owners.
Through the 1970s and 1980s, Al-Ko diversified into air-technology and garden machinery, broadening its reach beyond leisure vehicle technology.
In recent decades, the company has continued to expand globally, while maintaining a strong family ethos rooted in precision engineering and safety.
Today, following its merger with Dexter Axle, under the DexKo Global umbrella, Al-Ko remains synonymous with reliability and technical excellence – a company that has evolved constantly, while staying true to its founder’s original values.
Al-Ko’s UK customer service centre
Al-Ko’s new UK Customer Service Centre in Southam, Warwickshire, is a good example of the company’s hands-on, customer-first philosophy. It’s far more than a workshop: it’s a one-stop hub where owners, dealers and fitters can get advice, technical support and professional installation of Al-Ko and E&P products. From the precision fitting of HY4 hydraulic levelling systems to the set-up of ATC or chassis upgrades, everything is handled by trained specialists.
The site even offers free customer parking with power hook-up, making visits easy and relaxed.
Foundation
It’s fair to say that Al-Ko provides the foundation for many UK caravan holidays these days. Its modular chassis technology, and numerous products that make touring safer and easier, are found on all new, mainstream caravans.
Not only do Al-Ko’s products make an appearance on every caravan expedition, they can also increase towing confidence and even extend the years that a caravanner can continue to enjoy their hobby.
Here’s a list of leisure vehicle products made by Al-Ko and available in the UK, which are aimed at caravans:
Al-Ko chassis and axles
Al-Ko chassis and axles hide beneath countless caravans and motorhomes, providing the strength, stability and precision that make every journey smoother. Engineered from lightweight, high-tensile steel, each chassis is hot-dip galvanised for long-term corrosion resistance, so it should stay solid for decades.
Al-Ko’s modular chassis design means that wheelbases, overhangs and layouts can be tailored to suit each manufacturer’s needs, giving flexibility without compromising strength.
Al-Ko-based caravans come with either one or two axles. Many people believe that twin-axles (usually found on bigger tourers) provide a safer and more stable tow.
Al-Ko chassis designs are available with and without shock absorbers. The with-damper option offers better towing manners and stability and typically comes on tourers that are mid-spec or higher. Of course, these dampers have to be checked for wear and tear and leakages at every annual inspection.
Its rubber suspension torsion axles, and these optional shock absorbers, soak up rough surfaces, keeping the caravan composed and its contents intact.
Al-Ko chassis have weight limits, a summary of which is provided on the weightplate near to the caravan door. An ‘empty-vehicle weight limit’ (MiRO) is given, along with a max weight limit (MTPLM). The difference between the two is your payload – the allowance for all the contents you carry. The MTPLM should not be exceeded. See our guide to caravan weights for more on these.
If you fit several heavy caravan upgrades, such as a motor mover, air-con and satellite dish (which eat into your payload), you can often pay a modest sum to have your caravan replated with a higher weight limit. In addition, you could find a leisure-vehicle technician who will upgrade your axle rubbers to support extra weight.
Should the galvanised finish on your chassis be damaged by an impact, it can be treated to maintain the anti-rust protection that the original coating provided.
Many chassis also incorporate Al-Ko’s stability systems, such as ATC and the AKS hitch stabiliser. The result is a platform that can feel taut, balanced and confidence-inspiring, whether you’re towing down the motorway or threading through winding lanes.
ATC (Al-Ko Trailer Control)
Al-Ko’s ATC (Al-Ko Trailer Control) electronic stability system for caravans has been fitted to Al-Ko chassis for almost 20 years. It’s one of those quiet heroes of towing – an invisible safety net that can turn a potential drama into a non-event.
Developed for caravans and trailers fitted with Al-Ko chassis, ATC constantly monitors the outfit’s behaviour, sensing the earliest signs of instability or sway. If its G-sensor detects an abnormal movement, it automatically pulls on the Bowden cables and applies the brakes. This deceleration of the caravan (not the tow car) pulls it back in line and the vehicle combination is immediately stabilised and under control.
The Al-Ko Trailer Control brakes gently, but can still be felt by the driver. However, the brake lights do not come on. This typically all happens before the driver even realises something is amiss.
The system works seamlessly with the tow car’s own stability controls, adding a layer of reassurance that’s especially welcome in crosswinds or during sudden manoeuvres.
Once you’ve towed with ATC, it’s hard to go back, as the confidence it inspires is tangible. I know this!
Simple, reliable and maintenance-free, Al-Ko ATC has become a benchmark for towing safety and a must-have for many caravan owners who value peace of mind.
ATC can usually be fitted to Al-Ko chassis made from 1998. Most mid-spec-upwards tourers have it fitted as standard, but it can also be retrofitted.
Al-Ko Secure Wheel Lock No.47
The Al-Ko Secure Wheel Lock No.47 is a serious piece of caravan security engineering, designed to keep your tourer exactly where you left it.
Precision-machined to fit specific Al-Ko chassis and wheel combinations, it slides neatly between the wheel and into the receiver that’s attached to the chassis, immobilising the caravan completely. Make sure you know “Which Al-Ko wheel lock fits my caravan?” before buying one, too.
With its hardened-steel construction and anti-drill, anti-pick locking mechanism, Wheel Lock No.47 meets the Sold Secure Diamond Standard, which is the highest rating in caravan security.
It’s relatively quick to fit to single-axle caravans, but, as the spokes need to be aligned, it’s a little trickier to fit two locks on a twin-axle caravan. It does, however, offer the highest level of security, and is specified by some insurers. It’s also compact to store and visually acts as a strong deterrent to would-be thieves.
Al-Ko’s Secure system doesn’t just protect your pride and joy; it can also lower insurance premiums, making it a financial investment, too.
You can find a fitment/suitability guide online at al-ko-secure.co.uk.
Al-Ko AKS hitch-stabilisers
Al-Ko’s AKS hitch-stabilisers are the link between the tow car and caravan, and are designed by the company to deliver smooth, confident towing. Using precision-engineered friction pads that are tensioned to clamp firmly onto the towball, the AKS system actively dampens snaking and pitching movements before they could become a problem.
Available in versions such as the AKS 1300, 2004 and 3004, each stabiliser is tailored to different weight ranges, but built to the same exacting standards. The result is
a more composed outfit, less susceptible to swaying caused by passing lorries or crosswinds, and noticeably calmer at speed.
In my experience, AKS stabilisers are easy to couple and uncouple, with clear visual indicators, and they also have an ergonomic handle. When pad-wear is indicated, the DIY caravanner can change the pads in a minute or two, or clean them if they have become contaminated (and squeaky!).
Al-Ko specific hitch locks are available, with branded locks from £120, while cheaper makes can be half that.
Al-Ko Mammut motor mover
The Al-Ko Mammut is a premium motor mover system, designed specifically for tourers with Al-Ko chassis. I’ve found that the system turns the tricky job of positioning a caravan into a simple, fingertip-controlled exercise.
Using electric motors mounted directly onto the chassis, Mammut provides precise, variable-speed movement in any direction – even on inclines or rough ground. It’s controlled via a wireless handset, and it allows millimetre-perfect parking, whether you’re lining up on a pitch or reversing a caravan into a tight storage space.
Because the drive units are built ‘into’ the Al-Ko chassis, rather than bolted underneath, the system sits higher for much better ground clearance and protection from dirt or damage. This means that kerbs and speed bumps are much less likely to impact the unit, thus ensuring its longevity.
E&P Hydraulics
Al-Ko Vehicle Technology Group took full control of levelling company E&P Hydraulics UK in December 2021.
Here are some of the leisure-vehicle products from E&P Hydraulics available on the UK market:
Level C
A fully-automatic hydraulic levelling system for caravans, with two powerful axle jacks, plus four corner-steadies. In a couple of minutes, the system delivers side-to-side and front-to-back levelling at the press of a button.
Level C Compact
A version of the LevelC system focusing on side-to-side levelling via two axle cylinders, leaving the jockey wheel for manual front-to-back adjustment, and the original corner steadies for full stabilisation.
Contact
Al-Ko Customer Centre
Unit 7&8 Sucham Park,
Northfield Road,
Southam CV47 0AB
01926 818500
Don’t miss what I had to say about caravan towing electrics either, as I explain the different types, how to connect your cable, and share maintenance tips.
Future Publishing Limited, the publisher of Practical Caravan, provides the information in this article in good faith and makes no representation as to its completeness or accuracy. Individuals carrying out the instructions do so at their own risk and must exercise their independent judgement in determining the appropriateness of the advice to their circumstances and skill level. Individuals should take appropriate safety precautions and be aware of the risk of electrocution when dealing with electrical products. To the fullest extent permitted by law, neither Future nor its employees or agents shall have any liability in connection with the use of this information. You should check that any van warranty will not be affected before proceeding with DIY projects.
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