The German Automobile Club ADAC reported in the Motorwelt 9/1998 edition on 4 tested stabilizers. The WS 3000 was the test winner with a positive total average rating of 1.8.
Reprint of ADAC motorwelt 9/98
Trailer stabilizers are designed to improve the tracking stability of caravans:
The ADAC tested four of them.
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Tests on the proving ground showed that the four stabilizers greatly improve tracking stability. |
An unstable combination of car and caravan can cause anxious moments for a driver. Wrong reactions can really make things dicey. Trailer stabilizers reduce instability and dangerous swerving to a degree - as earlier tests have already shown. Now the ADAC has tested four new stabilizers, all of which work on the same principle: friction used to reduce the trailer's tendency to sway. |
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Manufacturer |
AL-KO |
ORIS |
WESTFALIA |
WINTERHOFF |
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Handling |
1,5 |
3,0 |
1,9 |
1,5 |
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Tracking stability |
2,0 |
2,2 |
2,1 |
1,9 |
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Damping of pitching motions |
2,6 |
2,3 |
2,6 |
2,0 |
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Overall rating |
1,9 |
2,4 |
2,1 |
1,8 |
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Suggested price DM |
552 |
550 |
442 |
499 |
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Official acceptance / Entry in vehicle papers |
Only for trailer hitches not listed in the assembly instructions |
Not required |
Only for trailer hitches not listed in the assembly instructions |
Assembly inspection by authorized technician, modification to vehicle papers not required |
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Key: |
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Three of the four devices tested transfer the frictional forces directly to the trailer ball on the towing vehicle through special couplings. The Orismat 2001 has rails on the left and right of the hitch which act upon the friction linings. |
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AL-KO AKS: Requires somewhat more effort to operate |
WESTFALIA SSK: not exactly easy to use |
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ORISMAT 2001: definitely more difficult to use |
WINTERHOFF: easy, handy operation |
All four devices cost - if not included as standard - around £ 170.00 and earn an ADAC rating of "Recommended". All demonstrate good damping characteristics and thus contribute greatly to increasing the tracking stability. Only the Orismat and Winterhoff models were able to noticeably dampen pitching motions however.
Photos: Dieter S. Heinz
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