Towbars

[annierich]

Hope I have posted this on the correct forum. We have just ordered a new Honda CRV with the intention of buying a caravan in the nearish future. At the dealership we enquired about having a detachable towbar fitted and were advised that if we took the car to a towbar specialist to have one fitted we would invalidate the Honda warranty. Honda have quoted £400+ for a single socket towbar and £600+ for a double socket - with 10% discount if we have it fitted before we take deivery of the CRV. Do we go for a single or a double and is this a rip off by Honda?

Help - any advice please?

 

[cooky1]

Sorry but I don't know about warranties and towbars, but if you intend towing a caravan you will need double electrics. The black socket is for the lights on the back of the caravan and the grey socket runs the fridge while towing, charges the van battery, powers the reversing lights etc. The cost of fitting the extra socket and wiring is normally only about

 

[rob_jax]

Hi Annie,

This requires a reasonably long reply:

1. The physical part of the tow bar - by law - is now required to be constructed according to the demands of the type approval process.

Type approval effectively means that anyone can fit the tow-bar and NOT invalidate the warranty. The car manufacturer will have pre-drilled all of the mounting points in every car before they leave the factory.

Type approval also means that you need to comply with the physical limits stamped on or near the tow-bar - things like nose-weight limits

2. The electrical wiring side of the tow-bar can fall foul of the manufacturer warranty, mainly because modern cars have complex electronic systems that provide bulb failure warning systems, and the car may also have a distributed canBUS wiring system.

There are three ways to make the tow-bar connection:

a) The right way - using the manufacturer specific plug-in cable - this is the most expensive (cost of the dedicated cable) but is a simple plug and fit (and has the lowest labour cost)

b) Another right way - using a relay board - this is almost as good - but some systems (like car fog-lamp auto-cut off) may not be possible. Used if the dedicated cable is not available.

c) The totally wrong way - Scotlocks jumping the lights to the caravan - this will trip all the bulb failure warning systems - and almost certainly will invalidate the warranty.

3. Single or Double electrics?

If you have a European caravan - Eriba / Hymer, Hobby, etc., - then you should consider fitting the ISO 11446 "Euro" connector - this is a weatherproof, corrosion resistant 13 pin socket and connector that has all of the caravan needs in one twist lock connector.

Most German caravans (for the past ten years) have been supplied with this connector, and the UK industry apparently will fit this as standard in 2008

If you have a UK caravan - then the much older 12N and 12N+S connectors hold sway. The 12N connector carries the caravan road lights, and the 12S connector carries caravan fridge and battery recharging power.

4. Detachable tow-bar

We have a Bosal detachable on our E-class - and it's just great - easy to plug in and remove - it's securely locked to the car unlike the ugly flange plate tow-ball - doesn't get dirty

Summary:

Fitting a tow-bar will NOT invalidate the Honda warranty

Fitting the tow-bar electrics MAY invalidate the Honda warranty - it depends how the job is done and what was used

UK style electrics - 12N+S twin is required if you want a cold fridge when you arrive

Euro electrics - it's a single socket for everything

Check if your Honda has TSP (trailer stability programme) which is an extended function of ESP+ (car stability) - and note the very necessary PLUS symbol - this needs to be activated by the dealership (or possibly by the tow-bar fitter). I believe that our TSA (Mercedes TSP system) is activated / deactivated in the car ESP+ system when the Euro 13 pin connector is plugged in to the car - Again you need a switched on tow-bar fitter.

And most (all?) car dealerships will use a local specialist tow-bar fitter to do the job - but they'll go to one who does a good job - so you may want to ask the service people who fits their tow-bars for them.

Robert

 

[RichardS1]

Hi Annie. I drive an Accord Tourer as a company vehicle which is used for towing in the business. We had a Witter detachable fitted when the car was new. At six months old the car was hit from behind and replacing the towbar was part of the repair. The Honda approved replacement was a Bosal towbar, fitted not by the dealer but by a towbar specialist who the garage call into carry out the work. The garage told me that all Honda dealers use a specialist for fitting the towbars and electrics. My advice would be to go directly to a specialist where you will probably save a substantial amount of money.

I recall from one of your previous posts that you are in the Wetherby area, I live in the area and if you are interested I can give you the name of a Witter agent near Thirsk who I have used over the years to fit towbars on several vehicles who has always done a first class job with no issues.

If you would like his name and number e-mail the moderator for my e-mail address.

Regards

Richard

 

[Alexander_374295091]

Hi Annie

I have the new 2007 CR-V Diesel, I called each of the general managers of Honda dealerships within 100 radius of my home and get a cracking deal on the CR-V at the same level as the target price in What Car Mag. In addition I got a genuine Honda Detachable towbar with twin electrics and an I-pod adaptor thrown in as well with the deal, The Dealer we bought from told me there was only

 

[annierich]

Thanks - you have all given me some brilliant advice. I'm not sure I understand it all but I'm sure my husband will (at present he is out walking the dogs -hopefully he will be back before the rain starts.)

Richard S I have e-mailed the moderator for your address - thank you.

 

[Angus1]

Annie, give EECO a ring, they`re midway between Halifax and Bradford and manufacture and fit bars.

They did a superb job on my new Passat and charged me

 

[Rodone]

Hello Annie,

I have just bought a new CRV EX and the Honda dealer advised me to use an independent approved tow bar fitter - which he named for me in front of a witness!! Cost of fitting a Witter detach. including electrics is

 

[Craig_5040129]

Hi There,

Never go to your dealership for Towbars,because they simply rip you off,thats where the name Stealership comes from,I have had many towbars fitted at Independants,and all have done a wonderful job at a third of the cost,So look in your local Yellow pages and you will be surprised at the saving you will get from shoping around,All towbars today have to meet upto British standards,so theres no worries there,So Good- Luck with it anyway,Craig

 

[dominic]

Hi There,

Never go to your dealership for Towbars,because they simply rip you off,thats where the name Stealership comes from,I have had many towbars fitted at Independants,and all have done a wonderful job at a third of the cost,So look in your local Yellow pages and you will be surprised at the saving you will get from shoping around,All towbars today have to meet upto British standards,so theres no worries there,So Good- Luck with it anyway,Craig

i am told that 12s wireing for van fridges is different on pre 1998 vans the functions on the car plug were altered.does anyone know if this is true or why it was done?