How much AL-KO is in Fendt Caravans?
Fendt-Caravan is a market leader in the world of camping and, just like AL-KO VT, stands for quality and durability. This shared ambition for premium standards is what connects our two companies. That’s why the partnership between Fendt and AL-KO VT is truly valuable and enriching – and has been so since the early 1990s.
Solid chassis for long-lasting driving comfort
Much of what Fendt-Caravan and AL-KO VT, together with their subsidiaries, develop together is not immediately visible to you as a caravan owner – but it is essential for your comfort and safety while travelling. That’s why today we’re taking you behind the scenes of caravan technology, showing just how extensive the partnership between Fendt-Caravan and AL-KO VT is – so that you can travel safely and in complete comfort on your camping holidays!
100 percent of Fendt caravans are built on an AL-KO VT chassis. In total, more than 70 percent of all caravans in Europe are built on chassis from us. But AL-KO VT offers much more than just chassis: we also provide a wide product portfolio that is firmly integrated into Fendt-Caravan – from the stabiliser coupling, drawbar locks, through to state-of-the-art electronics.
Fendt-Caravan stands for quality caravans that offer maximum functionality and quality. Over the past decades, the company has developed into one of the leading premium recreational vehicle brands across Europe. From the compact, agile two-person fully equipped caravan to the luxury twin-axle models with top equipment: Fendt caravans make camping a truly comfortable experience!
Products for greater safety on the road
Safety is our top priority. That’s why AL-KO VT offers a comprehensive range of systems to help get you and your caravan safely to your destination. This includes the ATC anti-sway system, the overrun device with the AKS stabiliser coupling, and the trailing arm axle.
ATC anti-sway system
Responds reliably before swaying becomes a problem
The AL-KO Trailer Control (ATC) is currently available as an option on Fendt caravans, helping make towing a caravan even safer. Whether it’s during evasive manoeuvres, overtaking, or in gusty winds, caravans have a large cross-sectional area and tend to react more sensitively than a car. The result: risk of swaying. The ATC detects and counteracts the onset of trailer sway before it becomes a problem for you.
How does it work? The ATC is mounted on the rear axle and packed with technology including sensors. These sense when the trailer begins to sway dangerously. In this case, the ATC activates and applies the brakes of the trailer using Bowden cables. The resulting brief braking action straightens and stabilises the combination. This reduces lateral acceleration and instantly recovers a calm driving situation.
Overrun device with AKS stabiliser coupling
The perfect match with the anti-sway system
This safety feature from AL-KO VT goes by several names: stabiliser coupling, AKS, or stabiliser coupling – all refer to the AKS coupling which ensures safe, smooth, and relaxed towing. Especially when encountering road irregularities, crosswinds, or when pulling out from behind a HGV, the AKS delays and dampens the onset of swaying in the outfit.
The stabiliser coupling is fitted in place of the standard coupling head on the drawbar of your caravan. Friction linings are pressed against the towball by a spring to dampen any movement. Used together with the AL-KO ATC, your towing outfit is both safer and more comfortable. At Fendt-Caravan and many other manufacturers, the AKS now comes as standard.
AL-KO VT trailing arm axle
Counteracts centrifugal force
A real added value and therefore standard in almost all European caravan manufacturers: The trailing arm axle, as the name suggests, is slightly angled so that when cornering and during rolling movements, the inside wheel of your caravan is less likely to lift off. The inclined axle counteracts centrifugal force, providing maximum safety when:
- Cornering
- Rolling movements
- Overtaking
- Crosswinds or on bridges
AL-KO Automatic Adjustment (AAA) self-adjusting drum brake
For safe and effective braking
Brakes perform a vital function and, as a result, wear or settle over time. To ensure consistent and reliable braking distances on your travels, the brakes need regular adjustment.
The AAA self-adjusting drum brake automatically intervenes when the play between the brake shoes and the drum becomes too great due to wear. Whenever you make a firm braking manoeuvre, the system automatically reduces the play again. Of course, an initial basic adjustment and adhering to maintenance intervals at a specialist workshop are still required.
This system is as convenient as it is important, which is why it now comes as standard in Fendt caravans but can also be retrofitted to older or different models – without needing another technical inspection. Regular servicing of your caravan, including brake checks as part of maintenance intervals, does not replace the AAA.
Theft protection on the road: Safety Compact drawbar lock
Effective against thieves
This valuable optional equipment provides extra safety when travelling, ensuring a relaxed holiday for you and your fellow passengers. The >Safety drawbar lock from AL-KO V comes in two versions: the Compact version in silver, which is the entry-level model for protecting your caravan against theft. The black Premium version from AL-KO has a slightly thicker wall and a technically more sophisticated lock.
Both products can be fitted quickly and easily, providing a simple yet effective way to prevent or deter theft of your caravan. Thanks to the drawbar lock, the caravan cannot be coupled to a different towbar.
The optional Safety Ball provides even greater protection by sealing off the coupling head – so unauthorised persons cannot insert a hook into the coupling and tow away your caravan.
Another plus: The drawbar lock can remain fitted while driving.
Comfort and well-being on the road and at the campsite
AL-KO not only impresses in terms of safety but also with a wide range of high-quality systems and products for comfort. Customer satisfaction is our top priority. With lightweight chassis, jockey wheels with load indicator, premium steadies and modern electronics, we ensure your comfort at the campsite.
Fully galvanised lightweight chassis system
More payload possible
AL-KO and Fendt-Caravan focus on low weight and high comfort. And this comes with many benefits: for Fendt-Caravan, it means they don’t have to save every last gram when building a caravan with a lightweight chassis system.
And as a caravan buyer, you gain extra packing space, so you don’t have to worry about squeezing in every little item. Ultimately, less weight also means lower fuel consumption – and the environment benefits too. Fully galvanised means the chassis is coated with a protective, durable finish which also prevents rust formation.
Jockey wheel with load indicator
A convenient load assistant
A valuable helper when loading your caravan: the AL-KO Plus jockey wheel shows the nose weight as you pack your caravan. This is always a crucial issue for caravan holidaymakers, as incorrect nose weight can become a safety risk on the road.
But before the jockey wheel with load indicator does its job, you need to carry out a few one-off settings and measurements to calibrate the scaling for your specific caravan. You’ll find the individual steps clearly explained in the user manual. Alternatively, our service staff at any of our customer centres will be happy to help.
Galvanised premium corner steadies Big Foot
Stable support on any surface
The galvanised premium corner steadies come as standard in all Fendt caravan model ranges, while the Big Foot version is fitted as standard in their premium model ranges and can be optionally ordered for any caravan.
The 200 x 180 mm support surface is especially recommended for a particularly firm stand, no matter the ground. The Big Foot steadies tackle any terrain – be it sandy, particularly soft or muddy, or even snow-covered. Rolling away or sinking is now a thing of the past. Big Foot steadies can also be retrofitted to caravans with an AL-KO chassis and premium or standard steadies.
Modern electronics for your comfort on the road
Fitted as standard and largely supplied by AL-KO: Modern electronics in caravans are often black boxes that you, as a user, need not even notice. The main thing is that they work reliably in the background – for your safety and comfort throughout your camping trip. Fendt caravans include a range of electrical components from AL-KO.
The distribution box for central lighting control is one of these black boxes in your Fendt caravan. Its role is to direct electricity to the relevant light sources so the lighting you want turns on as soon as you flip the switch. There’s also the monitoring module for underfloor heating in Fendt caravans, supplied by AL-KO: This component is a safety module and is responsible for monitoring the current flow resistance of the underfloor heating system.
The voltage converter – often called an inverter – also fulfils an important function: more and more caravan owners are choosing to install a 12-volt auxiliary battery, for instance to power a manoeuvring system or for more self-sufficiency while travelling. To ensure the correct current is always supplied, the inverter converts 12 volts to 230 volts and vice versa – depending on whether you're connected to a mains supply or drawing electricity from the battery.
Every Fendt caravan also features an indoor and outdoor temperature sensor on the display of the control panel above the entrance door. We also supply all the light switches and dimmers fitted in Fendt caravans, as well as special cable adapters for connecting specific components such as the drinking water sensor. AL-KO electronic components are essential to ensure everything runs perfectly in your caravan, even if you don’t see them – as is so often the case.
Working together for our customers
As you can see, there’s a lot of AL-KO expertise in every Fendt caravan. That’s no coincidence – it’s the result of decades of working together, joint product development and testing, which are part of everyday business for both companies.
“Over the decades, our partnership with AL-KO has become ever closer – and more productive too, since we know and value each other and work together efficiently. Of course, the physical proximity of our two companies is a real plus, but even more important is the shared premium-level ambition in the field of caravan technology, which both AL-KO and ourselves are committed to,” says Thomas Kamm, Head of Marketing at Fendt-Caravan.
Jörn von Ahlen, Head of Marketing & Product Management at AL-KO VT, adds: “The expertise both partners have accumulated over many decades in the camping sector and in working with customers flows seamlessly into our cooperation. The result is high-quality products precisely tailored to the needs of campers.”
