What's the difference between dedicated electrics and universal ? Do I really need them? Is it worth an extra £100 or so.

Matt

A universal kit will only do lighting. There will be wires tapping into each of the lights at the rear clusters to a relay box which will then control the trailer lights. The car does not know anything about a trailer being attached.

 

For a genuine dedicated kit, it will instead connect to the canbus directly so the car will 'know' when a trailer is attached and can make adjustments to ESP to take the trailer into account. Other functions include:

- bulb warnings for the trailer

- disabling the rear fog on the car (to avoid glare)

- disabling the rear reversing sensors

- showing up on the headunit when reversing

 

Personally, as your car has ESP I'd suggest the dedicated unit to benefit from the trailer stability function but either will be good enough for lights only.

Thanks for the replie, I've got a small trailer to pull but we are considering a 4 berth caravan next year so going along the dedicated route is that still advised ?

A universal kit will only do lighting. There will be wires tapping into each of the lights at the rear clusters to a relay box which will then control the trailer lights. The car does not know anything about a trailer being attached.

 

For a genuine dedicated kit, it will instead connect to the canbus directly so the car will 'know' when a trailer is attached and can make adjustments to ESP to take the trailer into account. Other functions include:

- bulb warnings for the trailer

- disabling the rear fog on the car (to avoid glare)

- disabling the rear reversing sensors

- showing up on the headunit when reversing

 

Personally, as your car has ESP I'd suggest the dedicated unit to benefit from the trailer stability function but either will be good enough for lights only.

the alarm goes of aswell if the trailer is unpluged and the car is locked.

I would go for the dedicated electrics myself, but then again I am biased as my last and current car had them. main reason is the caravan, if you are going to get one of those then I would without doubt go for the dedicated as the bypass relay could well have an undesirable effect on the canbus system the car uses. Also the car then knows you will have a trailer/caravan attached so will make the set up changes including the trailer stability control.

Ian

I have picked up the VW dedicated electrics module and 13pin plug but need the tow bar preparation wiring that takes it from the fuse box to the boot. Does anyone know the part number for this wiring?

 

As above for going the dedicated route. My previous car just had the relay fitted so reverse sensor were never disabled nor the fog light. The sensor were very annoying especially when concentrating on moving a trailer/caravan into a tight space. I know on the Octavia you can switch them off on the dash but it is much easier if the wiring does this for you. 

Dedicated it is then so what's best gonna be fitting it myself along with my bro who kinda knows what he's doing I've got full vcds hex can lead, so do I buy it all in one go from pfJones seems to be cheapest or just buy towbar and separate electrics else ware ? Detachable with 13 pin dedicated electrics is coming in at £316 ?