SUCCESSFUL INVENTIONS

There is no sudden release of stored energy from a spring.

Also, unlike the LEAS, which uses a sensor at the rear of the trailer, the AL-KO and BPW devices have their sensors mounted on the axle. This is logical as these companies also manufacture the axles and chassis so the exact performance of the systems can be known in advance.

the ETS Plus. This is bolted to the axle tube and acts on the brake rod mechanism in a similar way to ALKO’s ATC. Indeed, it can even be fitted to an AL-KO chassis. The ETS Plus was the first electronic stabiliser to come with a remote display and smartphone app. Following the acquisition of BPW Fahrzeugtechnik by AL-KO’s parent, DexKo Global, in 2017 the iDC device is no longer being made. In 2019 AL-KO updated its ATC device to be ‘even faster and more sensitive’. The new device is claimed to be the lightest on the market, weighing in at just 4.5 kg.

In 2013 Knott introduced their ETS (Elektronische Trailer Stabilisierung) system for stability control. It was unique in that it used a hydraulic valve block with actuating cylinder to activate the trailer brakes ‘in milliseconds’. Meanwhile a two-colour LED display showed the status of the device. For the 2017 season the ETS202, as it became known, was replaced with

The ATC-2 device is distinguished from the previous one by being horizontally, rather than vertically, mounted. It can also communicate with AL-KO’s 2LINK system to display its status via a smartphone app.

AL-KO says ‘The system is adapted to the respective trailer weight, recognises critical swaying movements earlier and at the point of origin, and is thus more likely to intervene in time. The car stabilisation system with trailer recognition in the towing vehicle is generally no longer needed.’

Whilst we have Wolfgang Lubs to thank for the original invention, we have to thank AL-KO, BPW and Knott for engineering these stabilisers to a high level of overall performance. Active stabilisers have now become so popular with end users that they are either standard equipment, or an option, on virtually all new caravans in Europe.