Caravan ATC Explained

[@nick10018]

Thanks for the very informative video Phil, I particularly liked that you noted the two potential failures as experienced by you.

[@lostweekendscaravan]

Hi Nicholas. Thanks I try to share wins and looses. We can all learn from someone else's experience. Many Thanks Phil👍🙂

[@martinkitchin6204]

Thanks Phil. I'm still learning (and relearning) caravan 'stuff' so this is really useful. I must admit I didn't really know what ATC did.

[@lostweekendscaravan]

Hi Martin. I think its always a learning games as things change so much. Thanks Phil🙂👍

[@joedunks6515]

Hi Phil. Thanks for the information I didn't know this,now I do being a newbie.Cheers ATB Joe & Tracey

[@lostweekendscaravan]

@@joedunks6515 Hi Joe & Tracey. I have a whole playlist for newcomers if you are interested. Thanks Phil🙂

[@joedunks6515]

Hi Phil. That's great I will keep you posted cheers and thanks ATB Joe & Tracey

[@terryfielding8836]

Great video thanks Phil. ATC fitted from new and I feel much safer towing with than without.

[@lostweekendscaravan]

Hi Terry. Thanks for watching and taking the time to comment. Yes like you I feel safer and it's a great peace of mind bit of kit. Thanks Phil🙂👍

[@busterboy7505]

Thinking about it Phil I think it’s the other way round, if the red light is on it’s ok to tow, but if the red light is flashing then don’t tow, thanks again Phil 👍👍.

[@lostweekendscaravan]

Hi BB. You maybe right I got the info off Alko's site. Cheers Phil🙂👍

[@DesmondsDonders]

Great explanation as always, love these videos.

[@martinkitchin6204]

Me too. I've learnt so much from this source. I tried watching other channels but when it comes to 'learning' then generally, I'm with Phil (it must be ... a Northern thing 😉)

[@lostweekendscaravan]

Thanks David. I enjoy doing them. Thanks again Phil👍🙂

[@robswiseways5697]

Hi Phil, Good video on an important subject 👍. Our caravan came with ATC as standard but I don’t think it has ever intervened in 10 years of towing, thank goodness 😀. Cheers, Rob

[@lostweekendscaravan]

Hi Rob thanks for watching. Im glad you have felt it. You must be a steady tower. Thanks again Phil🙂👍

[@philipwilliams3674]

Very informative vid, thanks Phil

[@lostweekendscaravan]

Hi Philip. Your are welcome. Thanks Phil👍🙂

[@caravanmatters]

Nice video as always, we didn’t have ATC on our older van but our Major 6 does I think it’s worth the extra for the added peace of mind at least it the worst was to happen we know it would help but completely agree the caravan still has to be well loaded and speed appropriate to road and conditions

[@lostweekendscaravan]

Hi CM. We had it fitted when van was new peace of mind was our thought when paying for it. Yes loading and your speed do help with a safe tow. Thanks Phil🙂👍

[@Coffeevaners]

Great video Phil. 👍 We have ATC on our 8ft wide caravan as we had on our earlier 7ft caravan and since it was fitted as standard, that assisted in our decision to buy the caravan. In our opinion, it's like a seat belt in a car. You may never use it but on that one time it kicks in, which we've never experienced; it could save a serious incident. We would say, all new caravans should have it fitted as standard. Safety isn't a compromise and manufacturers should make it a standard fit. Just our opinion.

[@lostweekendscaravan]

Hi Alan. I could not agree more. I feel that ATC should be standard on all vans. As you say one day it just might prevent a bad incident. Thanks for commenting and watching. Phil🙂👍

[@colinrimmer789]

You can’t have too much safety kit Phil. 👍

[@lostweekendscaravan]

Hi colin. I'm pleased with it and the safer the better. Thanks again Phil🙂👍

[@busterboy7505]

Cheers Phil, our caravan is fitted with ATC , we have had a couple of issues with the led light, once the light was flashing red, so disconnected the electric plug from the car and then reconnected back to the car and it worked perfectly, and on another occasion it did exactly the same thing but this time the light was flashing no matter how many times I unplugged and reconnected it back to the car, so my wife goggled it and it said if light is flashing red it’s ok to tow, so I did and a few minutes later I pulled over checked the ATC light and it was green, but goggle said if it’s a red light and not flashing don’t tow, 👍.

[@lostweekendscaravan]

Hi BB i got the info from alko it might have got lost in translation. 🤔 Phil👍🙂

[@paulhilling6208]

I was speaking to a traffic cop, and he believes it should be standard on all new caravans. Was enough for me to add it to my order.

[@garydavis1528]

It’s useful when it works and doesn’t play up as it often can witnessed on contacts Cara’s experiences, can be trouble just like Alko shocking brakes since 2017! A lot of cars including ours comes with inbuilt stability control where car adjust itself to pull a trailer back into safe line so not a must especially when some people think it makes them accident proof (which it doesn’t at all) and they drive even worse than they already are!

[@lostweekendscaravan]

Hi Paul. If you load your correctly and stick to the speed limits all is fine. We bought for peace of mind. Thanks Phil🙂👍

[@paulhilling6208]

@@lostweekendscaravan indeed likewise , and a tow car correctly matched. I guess he had seen a few after the worst had happened.

[@lostweekendscaravan]

Hi Gary. You quite right there so many idiots towing vans and they wonder why they have an accident. The Alko brakes are shocking I had mine replaced. I did a video about it the old ones were a sorry state. Thanks Phil.🙂👍

[@paultraynorbsc627]

there is a new version?

[@lostweekendscaravan]

Thanks Paul. My video is a few years old now. Maybe an update is due. Thanks Phil 👍🙂

[@Lee-zg3gx]

My ATC is not going on - Travelling back from Scarborough to Scotland yesterday, I left the 13pin black wire trailing along the ground, eventually stopped to check and it had gone through all 11 wires apart from 2. Managed to cut fresh ends and splice all back together and use insulation tape, but before starting I removed the positive from the van battery then attached after, and it sparked which makes me think I burnt out a fuse on delivering power to the ATC, can you advise where this fuse is? thanks :)

[@lostweekendscaravan]

Hi Lee. From what I have found out is, the fuse should be on the fuse board which should be located on the inside front bulk head it is not on the consumer unit. Hope this helps and good luck repairing it. Phil🙂👍

[@Lee-zg3gx]

@@lostweekendscaravan Ok thanks Phil, my caravan is the Swift Challenger SE Grande, so I will pull up all the seat cushions from the door side seating, and the fuse box should be at the bulk head, basically behind the front locker wall. Think I remember them all being like a mustard yellow colour. So are these special number fuses, or will just any car fuse work if one is burnt out, so I can repalace it? :)

[@lostweekendscaravan]

@@Lee-zg3gx I’m not sure I would imagine it is a spade fuse. It is 25 amp. If it’s not there check the battery cables it may be there. It depends on who the dealership fitted it. Cheers Phil 🙂👍

[@philldownes8685]

ATC is good BUT, it realy is over opriced gimic for notice towers. it gives a false sense of safety. peopel need to know how to get a trailer out of a sway instead of relying on something that can often not work correctly...

[@lostweekendscaravan]

Hi Phil you could be right. I have only ever felt it working once and it did its job. I agree that some people think its a licence to speed and tow like a Prat. Thanks Phil👍🙂

[@scotchegg6422]

Thanks. We had it fitted to our brand new caravan, haven’t noticed it working. No issues as such, however a couple of times I have connected the electrics, the LED has turned green however there’s been no self test whirring sound. I’ve disconnected and re-connected and it’s performed the self test fine. Any ideas?

[@lostweekendscaravan]

Hi. This happened to me sometimes the memory screws up as long as it releases the brakes it does self correct itself. Hope this helps and thanks for watching. Phil🙂👍