Connections for old and new caravan towcar.

[Motobiman]

Newbie here.
If I have a towbar and electrics fitted to a car and want to tow both old twin 7 pin and new 13 pin caravans, with the appropriate ball of course and the car has can bus electrics, do I go for twin 7pin on the car and an adapater to 13 pin or the other way round?

 

[RogerL]

As 13-pin is superior to 2x 7-pin, I'd have 13-pin on the car and new(er) caravan with an adapter to use with the old(er) caravan

 

[Royston]

I have a adaptor made in Germany, the male connection is 13pin and the female connections are the old twin, plugged the 13pin male connection into my car 13pin socket and then just connected the twin caravan connections into the adaptor. I now have a single 13 pin connection on my newer caravan so the adaptor is no longer needed. The adaptor Cost I think around £23 pounds new.
Trust this info is helpful Royston

 

[Motobiman]

Thanks that makes sense.

 

[PaulT]

I have a adaptor made in Germany, the male connection is 13pin and the female connections are the old twin,

Halfords sell them off the shelf. You can also get the little adaptors that fit in the 13 pin socket so that you can tow a trailer with a single 7 pin plug.

 

[Motobiman]

Thanks again
Another quick question.
We are planning on touring europe after a season in the UK.
Apart from the obvious are there any hidden issues with towing a right hand door caravan in the UK and placing it on UK sites?

 

[RogerL]

A handful of sites won't accept your booking, but only a few - some sites will insist that you pitch nose in to have the door on the "normal" side - but most aren't bothered.

 

[Dustydog]

Some french sites don't like TAs

 

[Motobiman]

Sorry Dustydog, TAs?

 

[RogerL]

TwinAxles

 

[Motobiman]

So clearly you mention it when booking and take your business somewhere else .... 🙂

 

[Motobiman]

Oh right, sorry.
Only two of us and SWMBO doesn't take up much room.....

 

[foggydave]

Hi
Whilst on the subject of 13 pin plugs.
This week I picked up a caravan with a 13 pin plug ( I have the old plugs so used an adapter) We had trouble fitting the 13 pin because something had rotated out of position. The caravan owner used a green adapter thingy to reset it. What did he use and do I need one??

 

[Motobiman]

Can I also ask, can a 13pin socket be fitted to pre 2008 cars such as. 2005/6 Kia Sportage? I ask as the Witter site does not list one.

 

[jay1976]

u dont need the thing he had use your fingers will move the inside of the 13 pin plug ok...I got 13 pin on my transit and i converted my caravan to 13 pin saves using a adaptor all the time..i prefer the 13 pin .

 

[RogerL]

Can I also ask, can a 13pin socket be fitted to pre 2008 cars such as. 2005/6 Kia Sportage? I ask as the Witter site does not list one.

There's no technical reason why it can't be done - I've converted a 2006 car + 2001 caravan, which both had 2x 7-pin connections to a 13-pin setup.

 

[Motobiman]

Ok thanks I guess the fitter will know what he's doing (haha).