Towing Electrics

[Les_5110534]

Hi All

Hi all

Do anybody use a coiled flexible leads from the van to the car when towing if so what method do you use? is it just an extension lead type or a hard wire version?

If hard wired, where is the best place to purchase or perhaps make my own if I could buy the coiled cable?

Regards

Leso

 

[RonD]

Towsure (www.towsure.co.uk) have a curly lead with plug and socket fitted. It's

 

[Les_5110534]

Thanks Ron

I did see the ones you mentioned but i thought they were extensions. This would make mine even longer. I would like to be able to stop twisting mine to prevent them rubbing on the floor, unless of course i cut the van leads shorter and then just do a straight forward connection.

Thanks again Ron

Regards

Leso

 

[RonD]

Ah, see what you mean Les...Well, I give my grey and black cables one turn round the jockey wheel pillar and hey presto! No scraping on the floor and still enough for turning/reversing etc

 

[WatsonJohnG]

I use the curly cables but found that screwing a socket to the A frame cover caused splitting so I replace the socket with a trailing lead socket.

The existing plug is plugged in to the trailing socket and that is fastened inside the front of the chassis with nylon ties and the excess in the original cable is tied in a loop to take up the slack.

You then have the curly cables coming out where the old van cable were and no more dragging.

I have had my curlies for over 10 years and swap them from van to van.

 

[WilliamTups]

There was a article done in a issue of practical caravan last year (poss Jun / Jul) that showed how to fit the curly cables to your caravan, we found that by fixing a small 5mm piece of wood to behind the part of the panel where you wish to fit the socket to your A frame helps prevents cracking.

All in all it took me about an hour to change both cables over - would not be with out them now - surprised that they are not fitted on new caravans as standard since!!

 

[Les_5110534]

Hi Guys

Thanks for all your good advice.

I'm off to buy two curlies and fit them this weekend.

Another problem solved, must think of another one.

Regards

Leso

 

[WatsonJohnG]

Hi William

I still found splitting/crazing after a period of time even with wood behind the plastic.Maybe you made a better job tham me or have thicker plastic !

If it works OK for you then you have the facility of removing the curlies as an anti theft measure that I don't have.

On the other had once the plug at one end of the curly has been changed for a trailing socket it is there for easy removal and installation when changing the caravan etc and leaves no holes in the plastic. The cable also follows a more natural straight line to the car sockets.

Regards

 

[WilliamTups]

Hi John G

I only changed to the cables about July 06 dur to doing the novice trick last year whilst going away where sone of the cables dropped and burnt through (luckily on the 12 volt supply and not the lights - but the wife added her two pence worth of stick!!)

So I had to replace the leads whilst on site and met some very helpful fellow caravaners gave their advice. But I agree that since the cables come out of each side of the A Frame you get a more straighter and better looking finish (providing that the tow bar has one socket on each side of it)

The only downside with theses leads if when I change the Caravan the leads have to go with the caravan

 

[BJ]

I plait my cables and use a 'bungee' cord to loosly tie them to the handles on my towbar.

 

[Ernest_5084714]

I was shown an easier way with the leads and that is just twist them before plugging them in and they will coil on their own.

 

[colin-yorkshire]

hi all

I twist mine from the a frame to about 6in from the plugs then ty wrap the cables together this has the effect of shortening them and makes a single stiffer cable that wont catch the floor