Caravan & Trailer Tow Electrics of the future
My prediction of possible changes regarding Caravan & Trailer Tow Electrics within the future.
Sometime ago, I briefly mention this subject upon another members forum but did not want to hijack the thread by going into great detail, now is my chance.
Introduction;
If I was to say to you that around the year 2035 there will be no such thing as 12n/12s or the 13 pin euro-plug as these were going to be replaced by a two-pin tow plug. There will be no overrun braking systems or Al-ko ATC or simular systems as these will
be replaced by an Electronic Braking System (EBS) inclusive of Stability Control & ABS etc. The rear stop-lights upon the caravan/trailer will operate proportionally to the percentage of braking applied, in other words, the more harder you brake the more LED's
or the more brighter the stop-lights will illuminate, this proportionate will be controlled by the said EBS system. Having said all this, you will probably think I'm off my Trolley, true maybe, but how would you feel having possibly prejudged me if all or
some of my predictions became true within the disdant future?
Explanations in more detail;
Caravans and trailers within the future will be manufactured incorporating Can-bus/multiplex wiring and signalling etc to control and operate all road lighting, EBS and all electrical auxiliary functions ie, fridge, leisure battery charging, electrical winches
etc, just to name a few, hence only requiring a two-pin tow plug. It will be a legal requirement for all caravans and trailers (above 750kg GVW) which have brakes fitted as standard to run with a battery connected, as the said battery will operate the caravan/trailer
brakes in an emergency should a break-away happen. Caravans & trailers (whatever size) must be fitted with an ECU to allow communication between themselves and the towcar, even if they don't have brakes fitted.
So how will electrical communication between the towcar and caravan/trailer be able to function with only a two-pin tow plug? Well one thing is for certain, Can-bus/multiplex wiring & signalling etc could not be connected through pins within a tow-plug as
any corrosion, oxidization, dirt or loose fit etc could corrupt the digital signalling, bearing in mind that this would not only affect the road lighting and auxiliaries, it could cause the trailer to loose it's brakes and possibly activate the emergency break-away
circuit. Which now brings us back to the origional question again, how will reliable electrical communication between the towcar and caravan/trailer be achieved?
This will be achieved via Wi-fi/Bluetooth communication. The towcar and caravan/trailer will have to be paired together (just like pairing a hands free set to a mobile phone) the caravan/trailers' ECU will be manufactured with a security code, this code
will have to be used when pairing said vehicles, this will also ensure that your towcar and caravan/trailer only accept communication signals between themselves and no other vehicles. This secirity code will also act as an anti theft device as a protential
thief would not know the pairing code, therefore not being able to have the road lighting or braking system operating upon the stolen vehicle.
Conclusion;
The said two-pin tow plug would be a direct power supply from the towcars battery (via a fuse) to the caravan or trailers ECU, from this point, the ECU upon communication from the towcar would power and control everything upon the caravan & trailer as explained,
it would even know when the towcars engine has been started, so it could control a caravan fridge and leisure battery charging, it would also give warning if you tried to drive away with the motor-mover still engaged upon the caravans' wheels.
Compatibility;
This is going to be the big problem within the future if and when this all happens. If you have an older towcar and a newer caravan or a newer caravan and an older towcar, one of each is going to be Can-bus/bluetooth controlled and the other not, so what
happens within this scenario? Well it would be quite simple for a manufacture to produce modules that would fit into an older caravan or towcar to allow them to function with the new said Can-bus/multiplex Wi-fi/bluetooth ststem, this within it's self, would
not be rocket science to achieve. However, there is one big fly in the ointment with this situation, it is intended that within the future, motor vehicles are going to have 36 volt electrical systems or even possibly 48 volt systems, this will pour more fuel
onto the fire with regard to the possibility of the manufacture of said modules.
This is something to think on 
Colin