Alternative Trailer Plug

[JCNUFC1991]

Hello all

Finding the 13 pin trailer plug on our car/caravan very annoying. The outer housing has fell off ours at the minute exposing the terminals and although this does make it plug in much easier, it’s got nothing preventing it from potentially falling out.

Is there an alternative way of connecting them?

 

[Martin_E]

This type are very good

https://www.screwfix.com/p/maypole-mp128-13-pin-european-trailer-board-plug-12v/80486?tc=YT4&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=19823510113&gbraid=0AAAAAD8IdPyF4lfH-P5ZEPJMXA5gDXLHU&gclid=CjwKCAjwiezABhBZEiwAEbTPGKvWB7BWF1r4SpOKv7eNs3U5ASUp6jzJWpfp_F8tfYU5movFTR-F4xoCHyIQAvD_BwE

No idea why but the link button never seems to work 🙄

 

[Mr Plodd]

When you say the outer housing has "fallen iff" what exactly us it thats come off? A picture would certainly help.

To answer yiur question in two, no make that three words....
No not really.
It's a system that has worked just fine for many thousands of people fir many years, so its pretty reliable and up to the job
. I would suggest you purchase, and fit a new plug.

 

[IanB1485]

You probably have the Sargent type which IMO is not a good design, get it replaced with the Maypole tye as shown in the link above , they are a better design and will last many years and be easier to connect up remove and as they have rubber gland /strain relief on the top will not let water in which the Sargent ones do.

 

[toad a caravan]

Try europarts,, they have a wide selection of maypole towing accessories, also as a trade outlet usually a few bob cheaper.

 

[birdman101]

I now have a Maypole one as some low life B decided to chop my wire off flush with the A frame. I therefore had to rewire with a new cable back to the caravan fuse box. The Maypole is fine just as good to connect as the original Swift fitted one.

 

[otherclive]

Occasionally the plug body moves and then goes out of alignment and will not fit, so I always carried one of these.

Amazon.co.uk

 

[JCNUFC1991]

It’s the alignment of it thats causing a regular issue, is the maypole one better for that or just the same?

Would both the plug and socket need replaced or would the maypole plug into any 13pin socket?

When I say the housing has fallen off, I mean the but that clips in place to hide the terminals

 

[otherclive]

It’s the alignment of it thats causing a regular issue, is the maypole one better for that or just the same?

Would both the plug and socket need replaced or would the maypole plug into any 13pin socket?

When I say the housing has fallen off, I mean the but that clips in place to hide the terminals

The Maypole one will interface okay with your cars 13 pin. They are all designed to a specified standard. No idea if the Maypole one will be better on retaining alignment but they are a well recognised make. But the green cap/ alignment tool in my above post makes it very much easier to regain alignment if it occurs. Must admit having the plastic cap/alignment tool meant I never suffered any problems 🙈

 

[Ferrodo]

When not plugged into the car I always fit the alignment cap to the socket. It ensures that the socket is always aligned and acts as a type of dust cap as well.

 

[Beachball]

+1 for the Alignment tool we always carried one just in case it was needed.

 

[Hutch]

The alignment cap are really useful, but if you just put the vans connector into the cars one by about 1/8th of an inch then turn the outer casing it all will line up.