Plug advice.

[Red_Mick]

Forgive the newbie ignorance

but I've read about post '99 changes to the electrical plug and socket on caravan connections.
Obviously, when I get my car fitted with towbar and electrics, it will be to current specification. When I but a 'van, it may well be fitted with a pre '99 plug. Is it a case of disconnecting the old plug and rewiring, or is there an adaptor?

 

[Gafferbill]

……you can do both.
Wiring up a 13 pin plug would be the best solution but an adapter like this is readily available

 

[Damian]

The "standard" towbar wirng is 2 x 7 pin sockets, if you want a single 13 pin socket you must ask for that.
The 2 x 7 pin system has been discontinued by caravan manufacturers and all new vans from around the 2008 / 2009 time come with 13 pin plugs.
If you opt for 13 pin system, which is far superior to the 7 pin system, you must ensure that you ask that it is FULLY wired as many car specific 13 pin socket systems do NOT have the feed for the fridge or charger circuit as standard and must be wired in at the same time.

 

[xtrailman]

Don't use the adapter, when i had a 13 pin fitted to the car i got an adapter in the deal, its way too heavy and cumbersome.

also when i took it apart some of the wires were not 2.5mm but smaller, then you have the extra connections.

so my advise is forget the adapter, when you buy the caravan fit a 13pin plug, both the original cables can be made to fit, I've done it, and towed for a year with that set up. If you buy from a dealer get it done in the deal.

 

[TD42]

I assume you are refering to the august 1998 changes to the 12S (grey)socket regards to the caravan battery charging & 12v fridge supply?
pre 98 pin 1=reverse light,pin 2 =aux battery charging,pin 3 =Earth,pin4= permanant live feed,pin 5=sensing device,pin 6 =fridge supply,pin 7 =spare
post september 98 pin 1=reverse light ,pin 2= spare, pin 3=earth, pin 4aux battery charging & live feed, pin 5=sensing device, pin 6 = fridg, pin 7 =earth,
I would recommend Haynes's caravan manual to all new caravaners.its a mine of vanning info.
it would be just a matter of changing the pin connections on the car & caravan grey sockett