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NEWS
Hyland hitch ‘tribute’ from AL-KO
New 50mm ball coupling fills off-road gapAL-KO Australia has picked up the ball from where former Brisbane-based Hyland Trailer Couplings left it early last year, with the release of its own new low-profile off-road ball coupling.
Resembling the now defunct Hyland in many ways, the new AL-KO coupling offers the same advantages for off-road travel of extreme articulation, quick hitching, secure locking and a low-profile design that allows it to be cleared by most 4WD tailgates – a problem for many bulkier, articulated off-road couplings.
Hyland Trailer Couplings, which along with Treg and Trig, were for many years the only off-road hitches that Australians could fit to their caravans and camper trailers for extreme off-road use because of their 360-degree swivel.
However, the Hyland coupling uniquely dropped straight onto a standard 3.5 tonne-rated 50mm ball of the type used to haul most trailers. Its other advantage over conventional ball couplings was its over-centre locking action that kept its profile low.
Hyland’s closure, after more than two decades of local manufacture, caught the caravan and trailer industry by surprise, with reports that the founding family of Darren and Sheree Hyland had at that stage refused offers to sell the business.
Hyland’s withdrawal from the market left AL-KO as the only Australian supplier of an off-road, 50mm ball-based hitch with its Australian designed and developed, but overseas manufactured, 2-tonne and 3.5 tonne rated off road coupling.
AL-KO insists that despite the similarities, their new coupling is their own patent-pending design and has been brought to market after extensive testing at the Australian Automotive Research Centre in Anglesea, Victoria.
AL-KO’s Marketing Services Manager, Brad Hooper said that the company’s original off-road ball coupling has been popular for many years, as it avoided the inconvenience of pin or hole alignment that is associated with many off road couplings.
“However, it was time for an upgrade,” he said.
“Over time we have taken feedback on board from both manufacturers and caravan owners. Our Australian engineers have incorporated these learnings into a new generation product that provides further improved ease of use and durability for serious off-road use.”
Unlike the Hyland, which was only available with a 3.5 tonne rating, the new AL-KO coupling follows its predecessor in being offered in two configurations - 2000kg mechanical override and 3500kg fixed electric and is backed by a two-year warranty.
The 3500kg version is expected to have a list price of around $450 – almost line-ball with Vehicle Components’ popular DO-35 V2-I, which has a RRP of $437.50.
The AL-KO coupling is designed for both new caravans and campers and as it employs a common four-bolt mounting plate, can be retro-fitted in place of a conventional ball coupling on most A-frames.
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Written byMichael Browning
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Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.
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