Hi all, Pick up my 4x4 Elegance on Wednesday, As I bought if for towing a caravan one bonus was that it was already fitted with a swan neck towbar, no expensive surprise there, but it has the old twin electric sockets on it. My caravan is just a year old and has the 13 pin plug fitted.

I fitted the towbar and electrics to my current Superb1 and wired in a 13 pin socket on to the original 7 core cables when i got then new caravan , I was hoping that the wiring configuration was the same and it was just a case of having to do this again. does that sound ok?

I was wondering if anyone knows how the car detects there is a Caravan connected to disable the sensors fog light, etc and show on the Columbus display?(I admit im presuming my new car does these things), is there an extra contact in the plug or is it just voltage drop across certain circuits its looking for, is it the same for small trailers or just trailers with twin electrics?

Cheers all

I belive it is looking for continuity down certain wires, a low amperage is sent down the wires and when the current is detected coming back then the car goes into trailer mode. I have it heppen on my car with a trailer board connected and the caravan. If you are not so sure then why not get a twin 7 pin to 13 pin converter. I know towsure do them and most caravan shops should too.

Ian

Hi

I regret I cannot help you with your specific query, but just to say it is well worth getting a 13pin socket fitted, rather than simply using a converter lead. When I bought a new caravan last year, my then Mondeo estate had twin sockets and I initially used a converter lead. It was a bit of a pain, needing to be held in place with a bungee to stop it dragging etc. Once I got the car converted to a 13 pin socket, it was so much better - easy connection and everything worked every time - as opposed to many years' experience of problems with twin socket connections!

Cheers

Paul R T

The wiring configuration is pretty much the same. The first seven pins in the 13 way correspond to the 7 pin for the lights. It's the second 7 pin that's different to the 13 where there are extra earths in the 13 pin. If it were me, I'd get a length of 13 core cable to replace the wires to the 7 pin, and connect together inside the boot. It will make getting a waterproof seal much easier.

And as has been suggested, the trailer module detects the presence of the trailer by seeing the bulb loads when it's plugged in. Assuming there's a trailer module fitted.

Hi all, Pick up my 4x4 Elegance on Wednesday, As I bought if for towing a caravan one bonus was that it was already fitted with a swan neck towbar, no expensive surprise there, but it has the old twin electric sockets on it. My caravan is just a year old and has the 13 pin plug fitted.

A twin 7 pin to 13 pin adapter will be easiest way to start with. I bought a new caravan in 2010 and have just had a towbar fitted to my new Superb with dedicated 13 pin electrics I've got an adapter that is surplus to requirements. If you need it you can have it for £15 including postage.

Just PM me if needed.

cheers Simon

A twin 7 pin to 13 pin adapter will be easiest way to start with. I bought a new caravan in 2010 and have just had a towbar fitted to my new Superb with dedicated 13 pin electrics I've got an adapter that is surplus to requirements. If you need it you can have it for £15 including postage.

Just PM me if needed.

cheers Simon

Yes the easy way is this. I did a similar thing with our new van which is 2007 so still 2x7, but the car is 13 pin. Long term though I'd still change it over which is what I did with the van. A new piece of 13 way cable into the van and join it in there.

I thought about it and even though the way cars can be wired internally different all caravan after a certain date are wired to the same regulations and pin configuration, so all sockets on cars must ultimately be wired to match the standard caravan reg, so took the leap, got the info of the net and wired a 13 pin socket on to the 2 cables and thankfully it worked.

Cheers for all your replies.