Caravanning with the new Honda HRV

MDCox
MDCox Forum Participant Posts: 4
edited May 2016 in Towcars & Towing #1

We have been unable to source a towbar and electrics from Honda or another manufacturer which is capable of powering the fridge and recharging the caravan battery for our HRV. Honda state ‘that the capacity of the alternator with the HR-V is not high enough,
meaning that during towing …….. the caravan can drain the battery’.

Has anyone successfully fitted a towbar to a Honda HRV 2015- ?

If you are considering a HRV for caravanning check carefully before you buy that a suitable towbar is available and you may avoid the expensive mistake we made. For us the new HRV is not suitable as a tow car.

Comments

  • Bakers2
    Bakers2 Forum Participant Posts: 8,196 ✭✭✭
    2,500 Likes 1000 Comments Name Dropper
    edited May 2016 #2

    Oh dear, an expensive mistake.  So many things to think about.

  • dinker
    dinker Forum Participant Posts: 31
    edited May 2016 #3

    P F Jones may be able to help;

    http://www.pfjones.co.uk/tow-bars/honda-towbars/honda-hr-v-towbars.html

  • MDCox
    MDCox Forum Participant Posts: 4
    edited May 2016 #4

    Thanks. Unfortunately we have already contacted P F Jones. A suitable towbar is still in development with no date for when it might be available. 

  • xtrailman
    xtrailman Forum Participant Posts: 559
    edited May 2016 #5

    I find that hard to believe what the OP has been told.

    A tow bar will always be difficult to source for a niche car new on the market, but fitting bypass electrics isnt, and as the permanent supply and fridge supply is often separate anyway with VS kits, i don't see why it can't be fitted, even with a smart charger with low output.

    I'm not convinced the car battery will be drained, infact i very much doubt it.

  • MDCox
    MDCox Forum Participant Posts: 4
    edited May 2016 #6

    Thanks for all who replied to this thread. We have decided to go ahead and fit a Honda towbar without the ability to charge the caravan battery. It appears that although other manufactures have a towbar listed for the HRV they are not yet actually
    available. We are grateful to several suppliers and posters for advice. The Camping Club have contacted Honda on our behalf but not yet had a response. The Camping Club have explained the technicalities and that a full electrics kit is not available for the
    HRV, although in development.

  • MDCox
    MDCox Forum Participant Posts: 4
    edited May 2016 #7

    A quick update. We had our HRV booked in for the towbar to be fitted on 31st May, but today, 26th May, we have been informed
    by our Honda dealer that the electric kit for the towbar is not available. They have placed the electrics on back order and it will not be available until mid July, if then.

    I have emailed Honda's Managing Director, again expressing our frustration and dissappointment. 



    Even if Honda can fit a towbar by the end of July we will have missed most of the caravanning season.


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