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Author Topic: fitting a towbar to an estate  (Read 3567 times)

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Andy B

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Re: fitting a towbar to an estate
« Reply #15 on: 08 January 2009, 19:31:55 »

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If you have bulb failure monitoring (all but GLS have it I think) then you should use a 'bypass relay' to connect the wiring, the lights will work without but you might overload the bulb monitor pcb in the passenger footwell.  
You don't need a by-pass relay. :y My trailer lights are connected directly to the Vx trailer socket loom.
You might well be OK but the Vx supplied and very expensive trailer wiring kit includes bypass relays. My 'van has 14 bulbs on the side light circuit (low level and high level lamps, side markers rear high level etc) plus two brake bulbs and two indicator bulbs per side. The bulb failure module cannot carry this load.


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If you are planning to tow a caravan and want to run the 'fridge on the move or recharge the 'van battery then I would run a new feed all the way from the battery (fused at the battery end please). There is an ignition-live feed in the trailer connector but its not thick enough to run a fridge...use it to power the bypass relay. (need to fit the fuse in the fuse box)
There is already a permanent live within the trailer loom socket intended for caravan battery charging & fridge.

The live feed is 2.5mm and is intended to supply the Vx bypass relays. It might be OK on your fridge but most 'fridges want 15A and a flat 'van battery can draw another 15 - 20A.

The red cable in the socket is fed directly from the fusebox and is labelled as 'caravan'
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Miggy24

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JasonH

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Re: fitting a towbar to an estate
« Reply #17 on: 09 January 2009, 20:50:27 »

The part number is familiar but the images aren't right for my car. My facelift has a round towbar connector.

The full genuine kit (that doesn't exist anymore) includes a bulb for the dash.
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Miggy24

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Re: fitting a towbar to an estate
« Reply #18 on: 14 January 2009, 14:02:35 »

Got the towbar this morning so now all i need to do is fit it.Might give it a lick of paint first tho just to make it look better.Any way some star drive shaped bolts come with it what are they for and also i got twin plugs for the elec one with a white cover on and one with a black cover on.What are the diffence with the white and the black
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Andy B

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Re: fitting a towbar to an estate
« Reply #19 on: 14 January 2009, 14:08:37 »

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Got the towbar this morning so now all i need to do is fit it.Might give it a lick of paint first tho just to make it look better.Any way some star drive shaped bolts come with it what are they for and also i got twin plugs for the elec one with a white cover on and one with a black cover on.What are the diffence with the white and the black

Black is the 12N for the road legal lights ie stop, tail, turn & rear fog.
White is 12S for caravan stuff ie fridge, battery charging & reverse lights.

http://www.eriba-amiga.co.uk/otr_towbar.html


« Last Edit: 14 January 2009, 14:10:55 by Andy_B »
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Miggy24

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Re: fitting a towbar to an estate
« Reply #20 on: 14 January 2009, 14:26:11 »

Ok thanks for that.I think i read on hear somewhere that i would need a 22mm drill bit for the bolts am i right.Also for the elec box with the white/grey cover do i wire it to the loom in the boot or do i need to wire it to the battery
« Last Edit: 14 January 2009, 14:31:24 by devonboy2008 »
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Andy B

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Re: fitting a towbar to an estate
« Reply #21 on: 14 January 2009, 15:20:00 »

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Ok thanks for that.I think i read on hear somewhere that i would need a 22mm drill bit for the bolts am i right.Also for the elec box with the white/grey cover do i wire it to the loom in the boot or do i need to wire it to the battery

22mm????  :o The bolts that hold a flanged ball on are only M16 I can't remember off the top of my head but I think they're all M10 (19mm spanner) bolts.
Are you wiring it for a caravan? You should be able to find a thickish red cable in with the plug that contains all the lighting already in the boot area - not really sure where it is in an estate - which will be live when you put the fuse in up front. You'll also need a split cahrge relay.
You'll be able to find loads of info on the forum e wiring for a towbar.
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Miggy24

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Re: fitting a towbar to an estate
« Reply #22 on: 14 January 2009, 16:09:05 »

Yes its for a caravan/trailer.So all of it can be wired in from the boot.What is a split charger
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Andy B

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Re: fitting a towbar to an estate
« Reply #23 on: 14 January 2009, 16:58:55 »

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Yes its for a caravan/trailer.So all of it can be wired in from the boot.What is a split charger

It's a relay that connects your car battery & caravan battery together to charge it on the move. However, you only want them connected when your engine is running, so you either energise it from a take off from the alternator, or, the usual way to do it these days is to use a Smartcom(??) relay. Electrickery in it can sense whether your engine is runnning by the voltage at it, and so switches only when your engine is running. Its advantage is, you don't need to drag a cable the length of your car. Be aware though that later caravans are wired slightly different from older vans ....... can't remember differences though. :-/ Google will know though.  ;)
It's also for your caravan fridge. You only want your fridge trying to draw current when your engine is running ... 8-10amps rings a bell ..... so would flatten your car battery in no time if they were directly connected.
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Miggy24

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Re: fitting a towbar to an estate
« Reply #24 on: 14 January 2009, 17:16:53 »

Ok well the wires on the towbar i got looks like its had better days so iv been looking on ebay for some new twin elec but not sure what kit i need.Can anyone help me
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Andy B

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Re: fitting a towbar to an estate
« Reply #26 on: 14 January 2009, 17:25:02 »

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Would this one be any good


http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/12NS-Double-Twin-Towing-Electrics-Kit-FREE-P-P_W0QQitemZ120351897723QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM?hash=item120351897723&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1301%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C39%3A1%7C240%3A1318

It'd be a lot easier to wire up a voltage sensing relay ..... and throw away the scotchlock connectors.


I bought mine from a local motorfactors ..... I'll look what mak when I get home tonight, but you should easily be able to buy one locally to you, as said, saves dragging a cable back through the car from the alternator.
« Last Edit: 14 January 2009, 17:26:46 by Andy_B »
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ffcgary1

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Re: fitting a towbar to an estate
« Reply #27 on: 14 January 2009, 17:26:52 »

The holes that you drill inside the car are for the spacers to be fitted into the chassis rails, IF YOU DO NOT FIT THE SPACERS YOU WILL SQUASH THE FLOOR AND CHASSIS WHEN YOU TIGHTEN THE BOLTS.
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Miggy24

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Re: fitting a towbar to an estate
« Reply #28 on: 14 January 2009, 18:19:46 »

Yeh i only have one spacer that came with the towbar so does anyone know where i can get some from
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Re: fitting a towbar to an estate
« Reply #29 on: 14 January 2009, 18:31:07 »

 I would  go to the person that sold you the tow bar and ask for the correct spacers. As far as i can remember there are four spacers  2 on each side but they are different in lengths to fit the chassis.
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