Newbie socket query

[Red_Mick]

Casting around looking for a towbar installation and I'm confused.
As I'll be buying an older 'van, it will probably have two plugs. If I get a single socket on the car, I wouldn't be able to power fridge and caravan battery when on the move, yes? The saving of fitting one instead of two is quite a bit. As it's a newish car, fitting a 13 pin socket would be 'future proof' then I'd need an adaptor cable, is it worth it?

Why do some installers push for the 'dedicated electrical system' at a cost of up to £200 over initial installation, is it so necessary?
WIll installing the tow bar electrics have any bearing on the car's warranty?

 

[JohnGriffiths]

Some caravanners go for the simple approach of chilling the fridge down and charging the battery before starting out and then trusting that it will all last until you arrive. I don't, it won't cost much more to do it properly. IMHO I would fit a 13 pin to the car, as you say future proof, and then convert the caravan to 13 pin. A 13 pin socket is about £10, and it's not much more difficult than wiring a mains plug, plenty of help available on the web and this site.

 

[Sproket]

Why do some installers push for the 'dedicated electrical system' at a cost of up to £200 over initial installation, is it so necessary?
You can have the normal set up with realys fitted, but without knowing what make & model car you have it's hard to advise

Have the 13pin socket fitted to your car & make sure to ask that the pins for the fridge are wired up as some are not, you will see on the towquipe site what is required

As for the van just have the 12n & 12s plugs removed & the wiring put back correctly into a 13pin plug
You can then say good bye to getting a adaptor cable.........

Have a look here at the towquipe site, find your car / make & model & you will see what is required

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello Mick

WIll installing the tow bar electrics have any bearing on the car's warranty?

Your warranty that you get as a direct result purchasing the car rests soley with the seller, and only covers the condition of the car at the time of sale, and any underlying defects that may take time to come to light. These are you statutory legal rights under SoGA. Provided anything you do to the car does not directly contribute to any subsequent failure, then your statoutory rigts are unaffected.

You manufactureres guarantee is an entirely seperate matter. It will be controlled by a set of terms and conditions that you agreed to accept when you purchased the car. (these can never overide your statutory rights). For total continued protection you should either arrange to have a manufactures approved tow system fitted by their dealer, or seek written confirmation from car manufacturer (noit the dealer) of their position regarding after market fitting of towing systems.