Towbars

[chris_374564940]

I have a Renault Grand Scenic and have just acquired my first caravan, a small 3 berth piper 1200 ct.

I am trying to buy a towbar kit and am a bit confused as to what i will need with this kit, as some include wiring but some sites say that double electrics are needed for caravans???

Can someone please help me out and let me know exactly what i will require and whether vehicle specific electrics are best, and whether i need to buy a reley of some escription.

Any help very much appreciated.

Chris

 

[ProfJohnL]

Hello Chris,

I definitely recommend having the electric loom supplied and fitted with the tow-bar, as the whole job will be covered by the fitters liability if its wrong. Modern cars often have dedicated wiring systems for towing, and if the new loom is not fitted properly, it can affect other functions in the car, and engine management.

As for the loom you require, that is really dictated by what your caravan has, If the caravan has two 12V, 7 pin plugs then you need the double electrics. If the caravan is relatively new and has a 13pin plug then you will need the single electrics,

But simply tell you fitter what your caravan has, and he should fit the correct loom for you. - if you don't tell him, he will fit the wrong one.

 

[chris_374564940]

My caravan has got 2 7 pin plugs at the front so I guess this means i require a twin electrics kit?

I plan to fit the towbar myself and was wondering if vehicle specific electrics are worth paying extra for and make fitting easier?

thanks

Chris

 

[Jaydug]

I also fitted my own towbar and electrics to my Citroen. Fitting the bar is the easy bit - the electrics require a bit more care; particularly if your car is multiplexed. This page will give you the general layout for the two sockets:-

http://www.towitall.co.uk/trailer_wiring/instructions.htm
Have a look at Towsure's website and consider getting a seven way relay to handle the road lighting. When I did mine I didn't bother with the Citroen wiring kit because it was very expensive. Instead I wired directly to the rear of the light units. Use the 7way relay and your car's BSI won't know that you've added extra load.

To power your caravan fridge and charge your onboard battery you also need a Smartcom relay. When wiring the Smartcom use wire that will carry 17amps and it's best to wire directly from the battery. Rather than make holes in the bulbhead and take the wire through the cabin, I passed it down under the car, enclosing it within the fuel line conduit.

 

[DerektheSecond]

Hi Ive wired up two scenics one an auto the other a 15 dci both 2004 plates both are great for towing.

as said take the constant live from the battery via a relay and fuse on the auto there was a square rubber gromit on the passenger footwell quite high up, I put it through that in the diesel I drilled a small hole in the plastic "circle" which secures the wiring loom on the bulkhead again in the passenger footwell, in both cases I sealed the holes with silicone and ran the wires along the passenger side along with the switched live which I took from the cigarette lighter feed. for the lights I used the adaptors from towsure rather than scotchlocks and cutting into the loom at the rear, for the earths if I remember rightly there are two both were earthed via chassis bolts which can be seen in the rear, I crimped a washer onto them and secured them with a suitable nut, if you use towsure or a similar company they will supply dedicated wiring kits with instructions.

The tow bar will take about 2 hours to fit the time is taken up with removing the back bumper and rear strut(keep that unless you sell the car with the towbar)the towbar slots into the chassis and bolts on.