Towing a caravan

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lightning

Well-Known Member
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4,163
Location
High Peak
Sooooo.....we've got a caravan on order (Basecamp 2)

My 2005 110 has a standard 7 pin trailer electric socket. The caravan has a 13 pin socket, and the dealer has provided a 7/13 pin adapter.

However, it seems that the caravans' ATC stability control won't work without "full 13 pin electrics"
The 7 pin (with adapter) only does the basic caravan rear lights.

Is there a 13 pin trailer electrics wiring harness available for the Defender TD5, so l can convert it?

My bike carrier is a 7 pin plug so l assume l would then need a 13/7 pin adapter to use my bike carrier
 
Maybe easier to just fit a 13pin to the car, seperate from the 7 pin.
It looks to me like pins 9 and 13 are the full time power most likely used to power/earth any stabiliuity control?
 
I guess that would be a good option, my trailer electric bracket has space for a second plug.

How would this be done? ls there a wiring kit available or would it all have to be wired from scratch?

lt looks like you can get a kit for the Puma, or you could.
 
Heres a link to the wiring .... https://www.towbarandtrailercentre.com/wiring-diagrams
I understand the 13pin plug has an additional live feed and a switched live along with the corresponding earths.
Earth shouldn't be an issue but I dont think you have a permanent 12V or a switched (aux) feed with enough capacity to power the ATC or the other items in your tin tent and you may need to run separate supplies for these functions.
The others can be 'T'd' off the existing wiring.
I'd agree with @lynall - fit/wire in a separate 13 pin socket
 
my trailer electric bracket has space for a second plug

Do you already have the white 7pin caravan socket (12s). I am guessing not from what you have said above as this would be what the second mount is for. If so you just need a 13pin adapter that connects to both this and the lighting socket to get the full 13pin functionality. If not you will have to decide which is the cheaper/easier option, to either fit one of these or fit a 13pin socket. Either way you will need an adapter either for the bike carrier or the caravan.
 
<snip> you just need a 13pin adapter that connects to both this and the lighting socket to get the full 13pin functionality.

The adaptor simply transferes the 7 pin connections across to the 13 pin configuration but will not add the full functionality of a 13 pin as it doesn't 'add' the permanent and switched 12V with the corresponding earths.
Caravans and other equipment use these additional connections for things like fridges and stability control systems.
 
The adaptor simply transferes the 7 pin connections across to the 13 pin configuration but will not add the full functionality of a 13 pin as it doesn't 'add' the permanent and switched 12V with the corresponding earths.
Caravans and other equipment use these additional connections for things like fridges and stability control systems.
If you have the old fashioned twin socket, black (7n) and white (7s) the white socket has the permeant and switched lives required and you then gat an adapter that plugs into both of these to create a fully functioning 13pin socket.

Link:
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The "standard 7 pin socket" is called "12N" - it's normally black ....supplying electricity for the trailer lights - nothing more.

The "other" 7 pin socket, where fitted, is called the "12S" - supplying switched and permanent lives, and associated earth returns for Supplemetary systems - usually fridges in caravans - but obviously there are a multitude of available systems, even more so now... :rolleyes: - tis normally white, or white grey, or black white o_O - but 12N plugs do not fit 12S sockets ...

Neither of the above are an MOT testable item.

The 13 pin combined "thing" is just that, both 7 pin sockets in one socket ( one less pin due to earth return redundancy ) .... And, .. is an MOT testable item....

Easy decision for me :)
 
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