Twin 7 Pin Car Electrics to 13 Pin Caravan

[Tourer-Jez]

Hi,
A friend of mine has just upgraded her caravan to a 2018 Lunar.
However, her car has twin 7 pin electrics.
I've seen converters such as the below which I assume provides the needed conversion, but is there any downside to running this set-up, compared to upgrading her car electrics to a matching 13 pin configuration?

I am guessing the reversing light, battery charging and fridge should operate OK using such a conversion cable, but what about Alko ATC trailer control?

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Pin-Caravan-Adaptor-Connects-System/dp/B073YD3D55/ref=sr_1_17?crid=1QU8BMHR0X3EE&keywords=13 pin caravan socket to 12n/12s car plugs&qid=1569261381&quartzVehicle=29-403&replacementKeywords=13 pin socket to 12n/12s car plugs&s=automotive&sprefix=13 pin to 12n 12 ,automotive,152&sr=1-17
Thanks.

 

[Damian]

There is nothing wrong with using this setup apart from the extra length of cabling and securing it whilst in transit.
As far as the ancilliary items working, then as long as the two 7 pin sockets are properly wired then they should work ok.

The downside to this setup is that you still have the potential for centre pin burn out on the 12S side of things and the closing up of the pins in both plugs which is a nuisance.

The advantage of the 13 pin socket and plug is a much better connection and removal of the centre pin burn out problem, and of course no need to carry around the adaptor.

My personal advice as a caravan engineer is to have the 13 pin setup .

 

[Tourer-Jez]

My personal advice as a caravan engineer is to have the 13 pin setup .

Thanks.
Any idea what a conversion from twin 7 pin to 13 pin electrics might cost?

 

[Hutch]

It took me less than an hour to do it to a friends car, so whatever the going hourly mechanics rate is plus the cost of the plug. Less than £100 I would hope, but worth the money.

 

[Lutz]

Another advantage of converting to a 13 pin instead of using an adapter is that you reduce the number of potential bad connections.

 

[Tourer-Jez]

Thanks for your advice. Seems that making the conversion is obviously the best option and should not be overly expensive. We'll get some quotes

 

[Raywood]

When we upgraded our caravan we had the same problem and simply bought the convertor and left it on the caravan ready to plug in but covered by a plastic cover. This was absolutely no problem and was used until we changed the car. Provided you buy a decent make of convertor I see no reason to bother with changing the electrics on the car. There are some very cheap convertors on the internet and many are very poor though so these should be avoided.
Possibly anyone who has just changed the car might want to upgrade the electrics but otherwise I would live with the convertor.

 

[Tourer-Jez]

Provided you buy a decent make of convertor I see no reason to bother with changing the electrics on the car.

Any recommendations on a decent make at all?

 

[Hutch]

Provided you buy a decent make of convertor I see no reason to bother with changing the electrics on the car.

Any recommendations on a decent make at all?

I bought one from Halfords, probably made by Ring.

 

[JTQ]

Should you inadvertently not get your 'van securely on the hook, the 7 pin plugs are far more forgiving if the van comes uncoupled !

The 13 pin jobs are easily able to rip all cores out of the plug, making an embarrassing few minute job into a good half hour, even if doable.

 

[Tourer-Jez]

Should you inadvertently not get your 'van securely on the hook, the 7 pin plugs are far more forgiving if the van comes uncoupled !

The 13 pin jobs are easily able to rip all cores out of the plug, making an embarrassing few minute job into a good half hour, even if doable.

Ha ha... hopefully this will never happen in my case, as I check and check again that all is secure once the caravan is attached to my tow ball and I re-drop the jockey wheel and wind both the caravan and car up an inch or so to prove it's all safe before going anywhere. Will be recommending my friend also does the same

 

[Raywood]

Should you inadvertently not get your 'van securely on the hook, the 7 pin plugs are far more forgiving if the van comes uncoupled !

The 13 pin jobs are easily able to rip all cores out of the plug, making an embarrassing few minute job into a good half hour, even if doable.

Ha ha... hopefully this will never happen in my case, as I check and check again that all is secure once the caravan is attached to my tow ball and I re-drop the jockey wheel and wind both the caravan and car up an inch or so to prove it's all safe before going anywhere. Will be recommending my friend also does the same

You should not have the caravan come off but there is always unhitching when it is easy to forget the plug. I have only done it once, but I was lucky as someone shouted a warning before any damage was done. May be we should all tick off the jobs from a check list.

 

[JezzerB]

just a word of caution, we towed our Avondale-7 pin with a Dacia Duster and then bought a new Pegasus-13 pin; we bought a converter and the car kept 'switching the van electrics off' ie no indicators usually. Switching the car on and off reset it for a while till it would trip out again. Went to our local towing specialist and he said the relay and loom are different too-so we had to upgrade that too.

 

[Robert_374373903]

On our car it has the 13 plug but the caravan has the 2 set up. Just recently I have had problems connecting into the car using the twin leads one .Usually I just insert and twist and connect and it is done..It appears the plug has to be twisted to a certain position which at moment am having problems.

 

[audiorob]

Most people carry one of these to re-align the 13 pin plug, in fact when the van is not in use I leave mine connected into the above under the hitch cover, then always aligned and ready for use.

https://www.towsure.com/alignment-tool-suits-13-pin-plugs

 

[Beehpee]

Following the good reviews and discussions on here about the Ford Kuga I have recently bought a 2litre diesel 4wd Kuga as I’ve been contemplating changing to a better tow car for a while, it has a braked max tow limit of 2100 kg so plenty for what I need, absolutely chuffed with the car and as I doubt I’ll be towing until next spring I haven’t had a towbar fitted yet but I did enquire with Towtrust about the cost, quoted £575 and they told me they no longer fit the separate grey and black plugs but they only fit the 13 pin so if having a towbar fitted by them your left with no choice.

BP

 

[otherclive]

Following the good reviews and discussions on here about the Ford Kuga I have recently bought a 2litre diesel 4wd Kuga as I’ve been contemplating changing to a better tow car for a while, it has a braked max tow limit of 2100 kg so plenty for what I need, absolutely chuffed with the car and as I doubt I’ll be towing until next spring I haven’t had a towbar fitted yet but I did enquire with Towtrust about the cost, quoted £575 and they told me they no longer fit the separate grey and black plugs but they only fit the 13 pin so if having a towbar fitted by them your left with no choice.

BP

Not surprised as 13 pin has been commonplace now on new vans fir a good number of years, and the 13 pin is a superior fitment.