XSeries-forum

We've had our x5 around three months now and when we tow our caravan (1800kg top weight with alko 3004 hitch) it was fine on its first trip out but on the return the hitch started squeaking and after abit of research it turned out the pads were dirty so thought I'd change the side pads and took it away again and it was fine one the outward trip but awful on the return so decided to change all four pads, took it out again and it did the same so I just cleaned the pads with white spirt and some sand paper and it was fine until we got to the site where it started again, does anyone else with the factory tow ball have this issue as it never happened when we used to tow with our L200.

Have you cleaned all the protective paint from the tow ball ?? all of it must removed - Its the same with any tow ball that is being used with a hitch head stabiliser like the alko and its the paint etc that creates the noise.

I have had the same issues on previous factory fitted bar cleaned the finish off and replaced the pads
Decreased etc but still comes back after a long run

I took my Dremel to my new Westfalia tow ball with a sanding drum on it, I also have the AlKo hitch . The caravan dealer advised me to do that as it stops glazing the pads in the hitch.