Changing caravan electrics to single 13 pin plug

[Daveg1]

I shortly collect my new car fitted with 13 pin towing electrics but unfortunately my caravan, which is 450 miles away, is fitted with the older 12N & 12S plugs. My intention is to convert the caravan to a 13 pin plug and cable but, as a temporary measure when we travel to the caravan next month, I was going to replace the 12N plug with the 13 pin plug. This would then allow me to carry out the full rewiring at home.
Okay I will not have the fridge when travelling but apart from that is it a straightforward practical idea?
Thanks,
Dave

 

[colin-yorkshire1]

hi dave,
not sure exactly what you mean, your new car will have the 13pin plug, the van has twin plugs, but is not yet been towed home is that right?.
if the object of the exersise is to bring back the van via the new car so it can be converted to 13pin at home you can get away with one of these, http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CONVERTER-13pin-Towbar-Socket-7pin-Trailer-Plug-Adaptor-/360389163801?pt=UK_Car_Accessories_Touring_Travel&hash=item53e8de3b19
it allows the black road ligths plug to fit the 13pin socket of course the fridge and the charging circuit will not be connected by the grey plug but it will make the van towable,
ps converting the van to 13pin is quite straightforward it is a job I have just done, it is best to buy a plug prewired with 13 core cable and take the electrics on the van right back to the 2 connector blocks and rewire the whole lot,, I tried the double entry plug and using the existing wires but it was very bulky and fiddly to do I used one of these. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Caravan-Towing-Trailer-Prewired-Black-13-Pin-Plug-/320900520576?pt=UK_Campervan_Caravan_Accessories&hash=item4ab7295a80 the job took about an hour,
edit. pps. if you get one of the converter plugs mentioned earlier and keep it in the boot it gives you the option of towing other trailers with just a black plug if required.
colin

 

[Tukums]

My new car has a 13pin socket and the caravan 12n/12s, have not yet had the time to rewire the caravan into a 13 pin plug. Using an adaptor as already stated and just using the 12n, all the caravan road lighting works which is the legal part.

 

[Stephen1956]

Just fit one of these plugs made to take 2 - 7 pin cores to the van they come with instructions http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/13-Pin-Conversion-Plug-Caravans-2-Cables-/200749448372?pt=UK_Trailers_Transporters_Parts&hash=item2ebd997cb4

 

[Sproket]

I shortly collect my new car fitted with 13 pin towing electrics but unfortunately my caravan, which is 450 miles away, is fitted with the older 12N & 12S plugs. My intention is to convert the caravan to a 13 pin plug and cable but, as a temporary measure when we travel to the caravan next month, I was going to replace the 12N plug with the 13 pin plug. This would then allow me to carry out the full rewiring at home.
Okay I will not have the fridge when travelling but apart from that is it a straightforward practical idea?
Thanks,
Dave

The easiest & most practical way would be to buy one of these you plug it into your 13pin socket on your car & then plug the 12N into the rear, no messing with any wiring untill you get the van home

It will come in handy

 

[Daveg1]

Thanks folks. One of those adapters will do me fine.
Dave

 

[colin-yorkshire1]

Just fit one of these plugs made to take 2 - 7 pin cores to the van they come with instructions http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/13-Pin-Conversion-Plug-Caravans-2-Cables-/200749448372?pt=UK_Trailers_Transporters_Parts&hash=item2ebd997cb4

hi stephen1956, yes it is the cheaper option BUT if you read my post it says " I tried the double entry plug and using the existing wires but it was very bulky and fiddly to do" the problem is getting the two wires into the plug, the grey one is much fatter than the black, at the a frame end of the wires the two cables are not the same length, so have to be trimmed and when the two cables are tied together they are very stiff,

 

[Stephen1956]

Fair enough I have fitted 3 of these now for myself and friends only took me about 15 mins for each.

 

[colin-yorkshire1]

Fair enough I have fitted 3 of these now for myself and friends only took me about 15 mins for each.

hi Stephen, I'am not knocking your suggestion far from it, in fact if the OP had wished to have the grey wire connected for the journey home I would made the same suggestion get to the van change the plug and away you go,
however seeing as how he wants to rewire the van at home to 13 pin, a converter fits the bill better.
it can also be used at a later date for ordinary trailers, the main problem for me anyway was the double entry plug uses the old wires so there are 2 reds, 2 blacks, 2 browns, 2 whites, ect, while a 13 core cable has the new wiring colours and is in total more supple and easier to work with than the old 2 cables into 1 plug.

 

[Scotland_fan]

I retro fitted a 13 pin to my 2005 Lunar Clubman and I never looked back! Those adapters are nasty, messy and just add extra points to play up. It is well worth the hassle of fitting it despite the fact people (the workshop lot) saying you couldn't!!

Now I have 13 pin on my Elddis and continue to love the fault free connection over and above the nasty nasty 7 pins.

 

[jongeorge1]

we also pick up our new tow car next week and have just changed over the van to change over the plugs to just one 13 plug and it only took 10 mins and the plug was only £10

 

[joeby]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/13-Pin-Conversion-Plug-Caravans-2-Cables-/200765431798?pt=UK_Trailers_Transporters_Parts&hash=item2ebe8d5ff6 ---------------------------------------------------------------
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you can buy a 2 cable conversion plug , saves any wiring to caravan , just take your existing plugs off and wire the the grey and black cable into the 13 pin plug , i done it in 15 mins , save all the mucking about with adaptors and wiring into the van , i done it in 15 mins

 

[colin-yorkshire1]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/13-Pin-Conversion-Plug-Caravans-2-Cables-/200765431798?pt=UK_Trailers_Transporters_Parts&hash=item2ebe8d5ff6 ---------------------------------------------------------------
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you can buy a 2 cable conversion plug , saves any wiring to caravan , just take your existing plugs off and wire the the grey and black cable into the 13 pin plug , i done it in 15 mins , save all the mucking about with adaptors and wiring into the van , i done it in 15 mins

hi you should not have to alter the wiring in the van as the power cables 12s/12n terminate just under the front of the van into 2 strip connectors one has 7 the other 5 it is a simple matter to split the 13core wire into 2 groups one for each connector,
I still think by the way that a single 13core wire is better than one plug and the old wires stuffed into it,