Trailer electrics - no fog lamp with bike rack

[pearce_jj]

Hi All

I've got a Thule 9403 tow-ball mounted cycle carrier and have changed the plug to 13-pin, including the bridge between pins 12 and 3 to allow the car to sense the attachment. Factory fitted removal tow-bar by the way.

Any way all works fine (and reversing sensors are disabled and a picture of a trailer attached appears on the screen in reverse), except that the fog lamps on the car do not light. Obviously it's expecting a fog on the trailer light board, but it doesn't have one.

So: is a fog light now required on the trailer?

Many thanks!

[The PM]

It seems it is if the trailer is wider than 1.3m, i.e. it will obscure the tow vehicles rear lights, this, if you can understand it (!), is the Law regarding it:

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2005/2559/contents/made

Also this is simpler and mentions a 1.3m width:

http://www.ntta.co.uk/law/trailers/lights.aspx

Not sure re trailer boards or bike racks, but I'd have thought that if it has a fog light on it it should work, however if it doesn't then there's not a lot you can do, I know the trailer board i used to use doesn't have a fog light! Just don't use your fog lights!

Edited 7 June, 2011 by The PM

[pearce_jj]

Many thanks for the reply! This was the conclusion I was coming too... the Highway Code says "may use a fog light" so maybe it's not such an issue.

Cheers