How much AL-KO is in Fendt-Caravans?
Fendt-Caravan is an established name in the camping world and, just like AL-KO VT, stands for quality and durability. It's this premium claim that unites our two companies. That’s why the partnership between Fendt and AL-KO VT is so valuable and enriching — and has been since the early 1990s.
Robust chassis for long-term driving comfort
Much of what Fendt-Caravan, AL-KO VT, and their subsidiaries develop together is not immediately visible to you as a caravan owner – but it’s essential for your comfort and safety when travelling. That’s why today we’re taking you behind the scenes of caravan technology and showing you how diverse the partnership between Fendt-Caravan and AL-KO VT is – so you can travel safely and comfortably on your camping holiday!
100 percent of Fendt-Caravans are built on an AL-KO VT chassis. In fact, more than 70 percent of all caravans in Europe are equipped with one of our chassis. But AL-KO VT offers far more than just the chassis: our comprehensive product range is an integral part of Fendt-Caravan, from the stabiliser coupling to drawbar locks and state-of-the-art electronics.
Fendt-Caravan stands for high-quality caravans that deliver maximum functionality and quality. Over the past decades, the company has become one of Europe’s leading brands for premium recreational vehicles. From a small, agile two-person complete caravan to a fully equipped luxury twin-axle model: Fendt-Caravans make camping a comfort experience!
Products for greater safety on the road
For us, safety is the highest priority. That’s why AL-KO VT offers a comprehensive range of systems to help bring you and your caravan safely to your destination. This includes the ATC anti-snaking system, the overrun device with the AKS stabiliser coupling, and the trailing arm axle.
ATC anti-snaking system
Responds reliably before swaying becomes a problem
The AL-KO Trailer Control (ATC) is currently available as an optional extra on Fendt-Caravans, and provides more safety when driving with a caravan combination. Whether it’s evasive manoeuvres, overtaking or gusty side winds: Caravans have a large surface area and tend to react more sensitively to such forces than cars. The result: a risk of snaking or swaying. ATC detects and corrects a developing sway before it becomes a problem for you.
How does it work? The ATC is mounted on the rear axle and is equipped with a range of technologies, including sensors. These detect when the trailer starts to sway dangerously. In that case, the ATC is activated and, using Bowden cables, applies the trailer’s brakes. By briefly braking the trailer, the combination straightens and returns to a stable position. This reduces lateral force, immediately calming the driving situation.
Overrun device with AKS stabiliser coupling
The perfect match for your anti-snaking system
This safety feature from AL-KO VT is known by several names, but whether you call it the stabiliser coupling, AKS or stabilising coupling — it ensures a safe, stable and relaxing journey. Especially when dealing with bumps in the road, side winds, or emerging from a lorry’s slipstream, it reduces and dampens the onset of swaying movements.
The stabiliser coupling is fitted to the drawbar of your caravan in place of the standard coupling head. Friction linings mounted against the towball are tensioned by a spring and dampen any developing movement. In combination with AL-KO ATC, your caravan combination is safer and more comfortable on the road. For this reason, the AKS now comes as standard on Fendt-Caravans and many other brands.
AL-KO VT trailing arm axle
Counteracts centrifugal force
A genuine added value, and that’s why it comes as standard on nearly every European caravan: the trailing arm axle is, as the name suggests, angled. So, when cornering or during body roll, the inner wheel of your caravan is less likely to lift, because this angled axle reduces the effect of centrifugal force at this point — providing maximum safety in:
- Cornering
- Body roll
- Overtaking
- Side and bridge winds
AL-KO Automatic Adjustment (AAA) self-adjusting drum brake
For safe and effective braking
Brakes perform a vital task, but that naturally leads to wear and tear as well as settling. In order to ensure consistent braking distances throughout your travels, brakes need to be adjusted regularly.
The AAA self-adjusting drum brake automatically intervenes whenever the play between brake shoes and drum becomes excessive due to wear. At the next harder brake application, play is reduced automatically. This requires the brake to be initially adjusted and the regular service intervals to be maintained by a specialist workshop.
This system is as convenient as it is important and is now standard on Fendt-Caravans, but it can also be retrofitted to older or other models — without the need for another MOT. Regular service, including a brake check during maintenance intervals, remains necessary and is not replaced by the AAA system.
Theft protection on the road: Safety Compact drawbar lock
Effective protection against thieves
This valuable optional feature gives you and your fellow travellers greater security for a more relaxed holiday. The >Safety drawbar lock from AL-KO VT is available in two versions: The Compact version, finished in silver, is the entry-level version and protects your caravan against theft. The Premium version from AL-KO VT comes in black, has a thicker wall and a more technically sophisticated lock.
Both products are quick and easy to fit and offer a simple, yet effective way to prevent or at least deter possible theft of your caravan, as the lock prevents the caravan being connected to someone else’s towbar.
The optional Safety Ball provides even more protection by closing off the coupling head, preventing unauthorised persons connecting a hook to the coupling and moving the caravan away.
Another bonus: you can keep the drawbar lock fitted even while driving.
Comfort and well-being on the road and at the campsite
AL-KO stands out not only for safety, but also for a wide range of high-quality systems and products designed for your comfort. Lightweight chassis, jockey wheels with load indicators, premium steadies and modern electronics all help enhance your well-being at the campsite.
Fully galvanised System lightweight chassis
Greater payload possible
AL-KO and Fendt-Caravan focus on minimising weight while maximising comfort. This brings many advantages: Fendt-Caravan, for example, does not have to worry about saving every gram thanks to the System lightweight chassis in the caravan structure.
And for you as a caravan buyer, you can pack more without having to worry about every last detail. Ultimately, less weight means lower fuel consumption – which is also good for the environment. Fully galvanised means that the chassis is finished with a robust, long-lasting protective coating that also prevents rust from forming.
Jockey wheel with load indicator
Convenient loading assistant
A valuable helping hand when loading your caravan: The AL-KO Plus jockey wheel displays the nose weight while you are packing your caravan. This is a sensitive issue for many caravan owners, as an incorrect nose weight can be dangerous in road traffic.
Before the jockey wheel with load indicator can do its job, you only need to make a few initial adjustments and measurements to individually calibrate the scale for your own caravan. All the necessary steps are explained clearly and conveniently in the user manual. Alternatively, our service staff are happy to help at one of our customer centres.
Galvanised Big Foot corner steadies
Stable on all surfaces
The galvanised premium corner steadies come as standard on all Fendt-Caravan model ranges. The Big Foot version is fitted as standard on the premium ranges but can be optionally ordered for any caravan.
The 200 x 180 mm footprint is particularly recommended if you want even more stability, whatever the ground conditions. Big Foots handle all surfaces, from sandy to very soft or muddy ground and even snow. Sliding or sinking are a thing of the past. Big Foots can be retrofitted on caravans with an AL-KO chassis and standard or premium steadies.
Modern electronics for your comfort on the road
Factory-fitted and largely from AL-KO: Modern electronics in caravans are often black boxes that you as a user won’t even notice (nor need to). The important thing is that they work in the background — for your safety and comfort on your camping holiday. Fendt caravans are equipped with a range of electronics from AL-KO.
The distribution box for central light distribution is one of the black boxes in your Fendt-Caravan. It directs current to the relevant lights so that the desired light comes on when you press the switch. In addition, the monitoring module for floor heating in Fendt-Caravans is from AL-KO: this component is a safety module that monitors the resistance of the current flowing to the underfloor heating.
The voltage converter, often referred to as an inverter, also plays an important role: More and more caravan owners are choosing to fit a 12-volt auxiliary battery, for example to power a manoeuvring system or for greater independence on the road. To ensure the correct current flows to the device you wish to use, the inverter converts the 12-volt power to 230 volts and vice versa — depending on whether you are connected to mains (shore) supply or running on battery power.
Every Fendt caravan is equipped with an indoor and outdoor temperature sensor displayed on the control panel above the entrance door. We also supply all the light switches and dimmers installed in Fendt-Caravans, as well as special cable adapters for connecting certain components, such as the fresh water probe. Electronic components from AL-KO are indispensable in ensuring everything in your caravan functions perfectly — even if, as is often the case, you never actually see them.
Working together for our customers
As you can see, there's a great deal of AL-KO in every Fendt-Caravan. This is no coincidence, but the result of decades-long cooperation, joint product development and testing — all core parts of our daily business.
“Over decades of working together, the collaboration with AL-KO has become ever more intense and, as a result, more productive: we know each other, value each other, and work efficiently together. Of course, the geographical proximity of our companies is a clear advantage, but above all, it’s the shared premium standards in the field of caravan technology that unites both AL-KO and us,” 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 gathered in the camping industry and through contact with customers over many years can be combined brilliantly in our joint work. In the end, this results in high-quality products that are precisely tailored to the needs of campers.”
