13pin caravan lead

[peter_374410740]

Has anyone experienced trouble with this sort of lead, as I am having difficulty in connecting this lead to my 13pin socket on my car, also I am having trouble when I try and connect it to my motor mover socket. Any feedback would be appreciated.

Thanks
Peter

 

[colin-yorkshire1]

hi Peter, not sure exactly what you mean as the as the question details are a little vauge,
is this a new piece of equipment that you are unfamilier with or was it ok before and now causes problems please explain,
as a start are you aware the the 13pin plug does not just push in like the 7 pin 12n /12s plugs it has a outer screw .
to engage the plug you have to offer the the plug to the socket with the flat bit positioned at a quarter to or horizontal facing left, then when it is in place twist the flat bit upright so it is at the top it should now be locked in place with the flap on the socket covering the flat bit.
second point is the motor mover socket also the 13 pin configuration 13 pin plugs are specific to the same type of socket and the only way to connect with any other socket is with an adapter,
hope this helps untill further details are forth comming
colin

 

[peter_374410740]

Thank you Colin for replying to my post. My problem is that the location pin has moved out of position and does not line up with the corresponding part. I have tried to push in the two sides locking tabs without success, have you any suggestions on how this may be achieved.

Thanks

 

[JonP]

I had exactly the same issue as you Peter - we have a TA caravan, and thought we'd quickly unhitch it to turn it around, rather than trying to do a complicated 100 point turn at the end of our close.. well, this great idea turned into a minor disaster when, somehow during the unhitching process the 13 pin connector somehow became slightly twisted inside the barrell and wouldnt line up with the corresponding car connector again when i came to re-connect...i tried to push it in as far as i could and twist, no luck... got a couple of different screwdrivers and tried to force it round.. nothing.... after a lot of head scratching there was nothing for it, but to try to take the 13 pin plug apart - i was lucky in that mine had a plastic nut on the back which the cable comes out of, and a couple of screws through the body of the fitting, so, with care, i took one half of the case/ body off, and managed to rotate it enough with my fingers, and then screwed the case back together carefully.. that seemed to do the trick, but was a bit fiddly... our 4 am start turned into a stressful 6am start

the only thing i can think of is that we uncoupled the electrics in too much of a hurry, and somehow twisted it... since then i have always done it nice and carefully, twisting it quite hard as far as it will go both when coupling and un-coupling, and so far have had no repetition of the problem... i hope this helps...

 

[colin-yorkshire1]

hi Peter, ah things are a little clearer now,
obviously something has gone amiss with either plug or socket, and got twisted preventing the two mating up, I would suggest looking at both starting with the socket.

if it is correctly aligned looking at it front on there should be 3 fixed lugs one at 20 to one at 12o clock and one at 20past.
in the centre of the socket where the pins holes are there should be a square locating groove at half past, if this is not alligned the plug will not connect,
however if this is correct look at the plug this should be a miiror image of the socket exept instead of a fixed pins there will be grooves on the outer thread and a square peg at half past that locates in the groove of the socket, if anything is out of line it should be obvious, and will require the component to be stripped down to rectify the problem,
one other point on the plug make sure the the outer screw is fully unwound anti clockwise as even just a bit will stop the plug locating in the socket ,
if you require more help just say so I will post a couple of photos of the correct alignment.
colin

 

[Sproket]

The easy way is to use one of these green parking covers but i have never seen them for sale as a seperate item.
The parking cover is also a alingment toll for re-setting the plug to the correct position or you can use a 50p between the pins

it does not have to move a long way to be out of position.......
As you look at the pins in the plug the square pin should be at the bottom & the mounting plate lug at twenty past the hour as in the second photo

data:image/jpeg;base64,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

 

[JonP]

wow, its easy when you know how isnt it !!! in my defence, it was 4am, my second outing with a new caravan, and my dearly beloved was standing over me telling me to "be careful", and "dont poke that in there - you might break it and make it worse"... to be fair, knowing how clumsy i can be, if i tried to turn the barrel with a 50p using the pins, i dont think we'd have working lights or Alko ATC by the end of it... For me though, the problem is now solved - we have gone back to twin electric sockets on the landrover, so i can tow my other trailer with a light board, so we use one of those Y adaptors which i keep plugged in to the caravan electrics the whole time we are away, and connect it the day before we are due to depart, so we dont have any last minute "marital issues"...

 

[colin-yorkshire1]

hi Jon, yes it is easy when you know but that is the point in asking, not much help at 4am but that is usually how one finds a problem,
Regarding the plug position as can be seen clearly from Sprokets photo on the right, the flat bit on the plug should be a quater past with the locating "square" peg at half past in order to locate the socket properly.
I have recently just converted to 13pin using the full kit and as a precaution while assembling the socket and plug used a dab of araldite on the pin plate to component body to stop any future movement,
regarding towing other trailers I bought one of these,
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-13-pin-Towbar-Socket-7-pin-Trailer-Plug-Adaptor-/290596242799?pt=UK_Car_Accessories_Touring_Travel&hash=item43a8e2c56f
and keep it in the car, alternatively you could use one of these. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HELLA-Towing-Socket-Adapter-13-Pin-2-x-7-Pin-12N-S-/110709056409?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item19c6c62399
much better than the tails and all that spare wire?.

colin

 

[Lennie]

Just bought a Green Cover from my local dealership for my new caravan. It cost £1.99. I kept moving the plug insert out of line as they were showing me how to connect and disconnect it. So I thought "better safe than sorry"

 

[colin-yorkshire1]

wow, its easy when you know how isnt it !!! in my defence, it was 4am, the end of it... For me though, the problem is now solved - we have gone back to twin electric sockets on the landrover, so i can tow my other trailer with a light board, so we use one of those Y adaptors which i keep plugged in to the caravan electrics the whole time we are away, and connect it the day before we are due to depart, so we dont have any last minute "marital issues"...

hi, yes it is easy when you know how

but we have all had the 4am senario at some time or other thats how we learn to adapt and expect the unexpected,
we all find our own way of doing things glad you found yours,
personnaly I use one of these for other trailers, http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Truck-Waterproof-Towbar-Towing-Socket-13-7-Pin-Trailer-Electric-Adapter-Plug-/261022671077?pt=UK_Car_Accessories_Touring_Travel&hash=item3cc629e0e5
and if I had to tow a twin socket van would use one of these. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HELLA-Towing-Socket-Adapter-13-Pin-2-x-7-Pin-12N-S-/110709056409?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item19c6c62399
as the tails are a little cumbersome

 

[Surfer]

This is a very common problem as manufacturers use the cheap and cheerful Chinese crap. Previously we had a 13 pin adaptor lead and never had any issue with it fitting into the socket on the car.

 

[iwoo55]

I had my 13 pin plug adapter go out of line recently, a quick slice with the pen knife and it does not matter how out of line it goes it still works. (more new rubbish to go wrong in craravans and catch punters out)

 

[iwoo55]

I had my 13 pin plug adapter go out of line recently, a quick slice with the pen knife and it does not matter how out of line it goes it still works. (more new rubbish to go wrong in craravans and catch punters out)