Towbar electrics
Printed From: Yachts and Yachting Online
Category: Dinghy classes
Forum Name: Dinghy development
Forum Discription: The latest moves in the dinghy market
URL: http://www.yachtsandyachting.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=2758
Printed Date: 18 Aug 25 at 11:14pm
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 9.665y - http://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Towbar electrics
Posted By: m_liddell
Subject: Towbar electrics
Date Posted: 07 Mar 07 at 1:07pm
|
Sorry for the offttopic post. I have a cheapo towbar on my car and need to install some electrics so that I can use a lighting board and tow a boat (legally!). the wiring kits I'm finding online are like £90!? There must be a cheaper way to do this. Any ideas? |
Replies:
Posted By: dics
Date Posted: 07 Mar 07 at 1:17pm
| A motor spare company near me called Big M supply a prewired socket that you just bolt behind the towing ball. It cost £8. Or the socket alone was £4.50 but you then need a bit of wire to contect it. Should think any motor spare company nrea you should be able to supply the same. Halfords do one for £17. |
Posted By: Adds
Date Posted: 07 Mar 07 at 1:54pm
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Try Towsure they are cheap and do loads of bits and mailorder
------------- Cheers Dudes |
Posted By: radixon
Date Posted: 07 Mar 07 at 2:06pm
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I have fitted two towbar kits to my cars (with the assistance of a mate) and have found it really easy. You have to take the rear light off from your car so you know which is the correct colour lead to fit the cables to using a voltage metre. ------------- |
Posted By: HinExeter
Date Posted: 07 Mar 07 at 2:23pm
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Make sure you bung up the hole where the wire goes into the socket with silicone or it will get wet inside and cause trouble, or buy a decent one which will have a gromit. Not a difficult job on an older car but if you have an emobiliser you may upset it. H |
Posted By: redback
Date Posted: 07 Mar 07 at 8:24pm
| I seem to remember Towsure sold me a complete kit for about £10. Socket, cable, buzzer and diagram. |
Posted By: m_liddell
Date Posted: 07 Mar 07 at 9:31pm
Thanks, looks exactly what I need and it's now reduced to £6.95 too. No idea if my car has a CAN/multiplexed system but since it is a bottom of the range punto I guess not? |
Posted By: CurlyBen
Date Posted: 07 Mar 07 at 9:40pm
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I'd imagine even if it was multiplexed the demux would be before the lighting cluster anyway - easiest way to check would be to take the cover off the cluster and have a look. I've installed towing electrics to two 306s, the phase one was easier as the left indicator wire wasn't easily identifiable on the phase 2! I can email you some instructions I found on the web if they'd help.
------------- RS800 GBR848 Weston SC |
Posted By: tornado435
Date Posted: 08 Mar 07 at 7:17am
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I know that problem. There are four pink wires in a Laguna loom and you need to join to three of them. Car design engineers are such w**nkers, making things so hard.
Oooooooooooops I am one of them |
Posted By: Pesmo
Date Posted: 08 Mar 07 at 8:11am
| Before you go cutting into any wires just follow the loom back a foot or so from both car lighting housings and have look under the car as well. Most well designed cars now have a small plug built into the wiring loom at the rear to work towbar wiring and the cars main dealer can sell you the bits including the main 7 pin socket to slot it straight in so it works. It won't be £10 but it will be a 15 minute job without the risk of getting bad earths and blowing fuses and it should include a proper buzzer so that the trailer indicators buzz as a tell tail that they are working. Far easier than messing about doing proper joining and soldering of wires. My last 3 cars have had correct wiring position already in the main car loom so you just plugged in a two or three foot extension to add the main trailer 7 pin plug. |
Posted By: m_liddell
Date Posted: 08 Mar 07 at 12:33pm
| Thanks for the info guys. My trusty Haynes manual seems to give a pretty good description of how to do this I'll find out how good once the bits arrive! |
Posted By: CurlyBen
Date Posted: 08 Mar 07 at 1:22pm
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Good luck! Took me ages to sort out mine first time round. Instead of cutting the wires I'd recommend using scotchloks, if they don't come with the other bits, they're available from Halfords for not very much. They let you tap a wire without breaking it, they just cut the insulation.
------------- RS800 GBR848 Weston SC |
Posted By: radixon
Date Posted: 08 Mar 07 at 1:53pm
Yep used them too. They are fool proof for penies. If you make a mistake, get the sparky tape out. ------------- |
Posted By: Merlinboy
Date Posted: 08 Mar 07 at 11:40pm
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If your car is fairly new i wouldnt do it myself, with newwer multiplexed wiring systems itcan cause real issues it will also invalidate your manf warranty, if you balls it up (i have worked in the motor industry for 6 years before some gob sh*te contras me) ------------- |
Posted By: Blobby
Date Posted: 09 Mar 07 at 9:55am
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Warranty = official looking paper that sounds good but has more holes in it than a piece of swiss cheese so the manufacturer has no risk of paying out... ------------- One step forwards, 2 steps back... |
Posted By: olly_love
Date Posted: 09 Mar 07 at 10:18am
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i am off to the scrap yard for my towbar. lookin for a nice front end colission. then just knick everything and get a local car sparky to do i. total cost of bout 45 ------------- TWO FRANK-Hunter Impala |
Posted By: Merlinboy
Date Posted: 09 Mar 07 at 6:53pm
Your actually talking about used car warrantys Blobby new car manf warrantys are very could and very comprehensive ------------- |
Posted By: redback
Date Posted: 10 Mar 07 at 11:19pm
| Look out olly-love, I think I got a new one for about £50 from Towsure. |