Little green tool

[Raywood]

The idea of buying the tool is to ensure the problem does not happen. It only happens when you have no tool and no knowledge of how to correct it!

 

[Hutch]

The idea of buying the tool is to ensure the problem does not happen. It only happens when you have no tool and no knowledge of how to correct it!

Not being PC but It's Murphys law It will go wrong at the worst time when you havent got the bits to fix it.

 

[grumpy2447]

I picked up my very first van last Friday. During the handover the guys could not get the 13 pin to connect to my car's socket. After many attempts a discussion was held between the 2 guys handing over and a green cap was called for. I watched them use it and they explained that the pins were out of alignment. Hey presto the cap was used and I was connected. I assumed this was a first time use issue because my van was brand new.

Connected and disconnected without issue on Friday and Saturday but on attempting to leave site yesterday, I couldn't connect. The guy in the next van who is also new to caravanning, told me he had experienced the same issue and now carried a green cap. However many times we tried, we still couldn't connect.

In the end I had to call out recovery. The technician hadn't come across the issue before and didn't know what a green cap was, however he used a little more force than I had dared to and the connection happened at his first attempt!!

I was a tad embarrassed but took it as a learning and ordered a green cap as soon as I got home last night.

Clearly the manufacturers have not sorted the problem although reading this very useful thread, perhaps it is something some of us will just have to live with.

 

[Thingy]

told me he had experienced the same issue and now carried a green cap

Here endeth the lesson for today. Most of us carry a "little green parking tool".

 

[chrisn7]

I use the green tool all the time - whenever my caravan is unhitched I connect it to the caravan plug rather than just stowing the plug in the A-Frame recess. The green thing has a rubber seal so keeps moisture out.

I do exactly the same. It also means that on removal of the green cap, the socket is bound to be correctly aligned to fit.
Even with the cap on I also keep the plug tucked under the A frame cover to keep water off it.

 

[WayneS]

Hello, My van has the older twin 7 pin plugs: does anyone know if a similar tool is available for these? looked online but found nothing............ Doesn't need to be green!
Thanks Wayne

 

[Thingy]

Dont need one for standard twin electrics, and it only works if its green.

 

[Hutch]

Hi there Wayne the 7 pin connectors do not require a " green thing " it as thay are a straight push in the 13 pin connectors are a Twist fit, And require to be fully twisted to the left to remove, as long as you do that they are fine,

 

[WayneS]

Thanks ever so much Hutch and Thingy- was thinking from the protection from the elements point of view.- plastic bag and bit of string or even a rubber glove would do the job!!!
Cheers Wayne

 

[chrisn7]

Thanks ever so much Hutch and Thingy- was thinking from the protection from the elements point of view.- plastic bag and bit of string or even a rubber glove would do the job!!!
Cheers Wayne

That's more faffing about with stuff that will get lost or blow away. Just put the connector under an A frame cover that will also keep the weather off all the gubbins and stop fading of plastic parts

 

[Hutch]

Thanks ever so much Hutch and Thingy- was thinking from the protection from the elements point of view.- plastic bag and bit of string or even a rubber glove would do the job!!!
Cheers Wayne

That's more faffing about with stuff that will get lost or blow away. Just put the connector under an A frame cover that will also keep the weather off all the gubbins and stop fading of plastic parts

The little green plug can be used as a blank to protect the caravan connector. I don't use an A frame cover, cannot see the point of them, except for advertising.

 

[Anseo]

The little green plug can be used as a blank to protect the caravan connector. I don't use an A frame cover, cannot see the point of them, except for advertising.

My A-Frame cover is plain - no advertising on it, so it is a very posh one; I purchased it from Aldi for £4.99, so there 😛

P.S. Used it once and once only, sits in the locker taking up precious weight allowance 🙁 , waste of space too.

 

[chrisn7]

The pink faded handbrake handle, JW winder handle and hitch plastic all made the van look uncared for, which it isn't. Replaced those and covered the whole lot and plug with a hitch cover, which admittedly does have unwanted advertising, but who cares when it does the job?

 

[Craigyoung]

The pink faded handbrake handle, JW winder handle and hitch plastic all made the van look uncared for, which it isn't. Replaced those and covered the whole lot and plug with a hitch cover, which admittedly does have unwanted advertising, but who cares when it does the job?

Exactly , keeps my plastic handle safe from sun fade and my hitch lock from rusting with the weather .