MOT Towiin Electrics

Hi All

MOT is comming up very soon and I now have a quick release tow bar fitted.

Not towed anything yet and havent got round to checking the electrics.

Can anyon tell me, If I take it in without the drop tow ball fitted, I don't need tow electrics????? Makes sence to me They don't know if a have a tow ball!!

They cant test the tow lights without also having a trailer attached...so you'll be fine.

When i say ''fine'' i mean it will fail on something else.

13 pin gets tested

storm99 said:

They cant test the tow lights without also having a trailer attached...so you'll be fine.

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Actually we can, all MOT centers have a test rig for trailer sockets...

lorri789 said:

13 pin gets tested

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.. but this is correct and so a 7 pin won't get tested, only the euro 13 pin.

Never had mine tested at an MOT, is it a fail???

Bad luck if you have no trailer and no intention of towing and a 13 pin socket!

Theres not that many landys about with 13 pin sockets, they are generally used on newer caravans (2001 onwards??) most will have the 7 pin arrangement.

storm99 said:

Never had mine tested at an MOT, is it a fail???

Bad luck if you have no trailer and no intention of towing and a 13 pin socket!

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Is yours a 7 pin? As said only 13 pins get tested, if they show a fault then yes its a fail but if you just happened to have a 13 to 7 pin adapter plugged in it wont get tested either

they now use 13 pins?

only just getting used to 7 pins sometimes working...


oh well, I`ll have to buy a new range rover I suppose then..
















then I woke up after a very bad dream.
dreamed I had to wire up a newer trailer socket.

13 pin gets tested 7 pin doesn't,

Ok Cheers dudes. Think it's 7 pin. Will have a look later.

Didn't know they only tested 13 pin sockets though.

storm99 said:

When i say ''fine'' i mean it will fail on something else.

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Ah yes. But least this is one not to have to worry about

Just bein a arse here, but, I "might" have a standard 13 pin socket wired alternatively for my personal needs EG radio, cameras, computer, and laser canon. Who is responsible when they plug their "official" test box in and take out the local school,several overflying Jumbos, and automaticly post the resulting carnage to LZ and facebook. Is there a legally binding way of wiring any thing, if so a lot of us are in the doo-doo

livers said:

Just bein a arse here, but, I "might" have a standard 13 pin socket wired alternatively for my personal needs EG radio, cameras, computer, and laser canon. Who is responsible when they plug their "official" test box in and take out the local school,several overflying Jumbos, and automaticly post the resulting carnage to LZ and facebook. Is there a legally binding way of wiring any thing, if so a lot of us are in the doo-doo

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You has a damned good point especially if you use a towing socket as the 240v ac output of an inverter for when you is camping

livers said:

Just bein a arse here, but, I "might" have a standard 13 pin socket wired alternatively for my personal needs EG radio, cameras, computer, and laser canon. Who is responsible when they plug their "official" test box in and take out the local school,several overflying Jumbos, and automaticly post the resulting carnage to LZ and facebook. Is there a legally binding way of wiring any thing, if so a lot of us are in the doo-doo

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If the socket is elsewhere on the vehicle it wouldn't be tested, if its by the tow bar it would, if this caused further issues then its the presenters problem as the vehicle he has presented is not fit for testing, same as when a cambelt snaps during the gas test (and it hapopens, has happened to us a few times), its not our fault, the vehicle isn't up to the required test paramaters, we only do what is asked by the governing bodies...

Jongould said:

If the socket is elsewhere on the vehicle it wouldn't be tested, if its by the tow bar it would, if this caused further issues then its the presenters problem as the vehicle he has presented is not fit for testing, same as when a cambelt snaps during the gas test (and it hapopens, has happened to us a few times), its not our fault, the vehicle isn't up to the required test paramaters, we only do what is asked by the governing bodies...

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just following on with logical Q's, the towbar thing was done last year but people were only talking Visual then, what about 24V landys? just askin

Best piccy I could find. Both sockets are that snowy lump above the fog light

Just an afterthought but if the cap of the 13 pin socket is locked shut with a screw it can't be tested without dismantling so can't be failed. There is always a side step before the hammer comes out

livers said:

just following on with logical Q's, the towbar thing was done last year but people were only talking Visual then, what about 24V landys? just askin

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The test gear does 12/24V so would still be tested...

Bromsgrove Defender said:

Best piccy I could find. Both sockets are that snowy lump above the fog light

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If a socket is present then its tested (unless it obvious its not a towing socket i.e. on the rook or inside).

livers said:

Just an afterthought but if the cap of the 13 pin socket is locked shut with a screw it can't be tested without dismantling so can't be failed. There is always a side step before the hammer comes out

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Not sure on that one, would have to check the exact wording but I suspect it would be a pass and advise.

also a 13 pin socket is only tested on vehicles after (I believe) 2001 so all these are pretty pointless questions, also like I said before plug an adapter in and its not tested.

Or just have a working bloody socket, its there for a reason and should work!

Jongould said:

If a socket is present then its tested (unless it obvious its not a towing socket i.e. on the rook or inside).

Or just have a working bloody socket, its there for a reason and should work!

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Playin devils advocat really cos it is a socket but it obviously is nowhere near the tow bar. ( I didn't want them getting full of water/mud everytime I went off road)

Caravan is 13 pin so use an adapter at the mo. Had considered fitting 13 pin socket and using existing two 7 pin sockets as 240 volts output from inverter for camping