13 to 7 pin adapter

billandelaine

I am collecting my first ever caravan, an 18-year-old Swift Challenger 480 next week - it is of course fitted with twin 7-pin connectors, and my X3 is about to be fitted with 13-pin. What is the best adapter to make these two compatible? I see Halfords sell one with a foot or so of leads between the connectors but there are also neater looking jobs that just have input/output in the same body, i.e. no trailing leads to get tangled or have to secure.

Thanks in advance - a complete and utter novice here, sorry if I'm asking dumb questions!

Tinwheeler

Better still is to rewire the van into a single 13 pin plug. It’s a fairly simple job and you can find instructions online. I’m a firm believer in there being less to go wrong if you have fewer connections.

I doubt there’s much to choose between the two types of adapter you mention. 

SteveL

Agree with TW. Get it replaced. Ours was the other way round, 13 pin caravan, 7 pin car. Because we were replacing the car I didn't bother getting the wiring changed and bought an adaptor, the lead sort. Worked very well, everything inc the ATC working as it should. Trouble was, it was difficult to secure and dropped down so the cable was rubbing on the road, wearing through. Unfortunately it was the bit attached to the new caravan rather than the adaptor.☹️ If you do go for an adaptor, I would opt for one with no leads.

billandelaine

Thanks for your thoughts - I hadn't thought about the re-wire but yes, I can see that would be pretty straightforward, and be one less connection to go wrong.

Thanks again

RedKite

Yes agree with TW and even our two trailers now have 13 pin plugs on as well as the caravan, but OH still has 13pin and 7 pin on the car.

Rufs

You can buy a very simple adapter Eric Jaeger made in germany no leads it fits firmly into your cars 13 pin socket there is a small lever at rear that locks it on one 7 pin connection is coloured white one black, with a nice hinged cover over each socket  job done, had mine for approx 7 years, never take it off, stuff a bit of vaseline into sockets each year job done , £25 on ebay

Amesford

The conversion 13 pin plug to 2 x 7 in sockets are on Ebay for under £11. we used one of those with the short lead with one of our vans  and it was a pain 

Rufs

you pays your money you takes your chance, the one i described is £25 but does what it says on the tin, no leads, just plugs straight into your 13 pins socket and presents you with 2x7pins and it is very robust

Vulcan

Personally I would put a 13 pin plug on the van however as Rufs said the easiest way is to use one of these.

hitchglitch

I used a conversion lead for many years with my BMW which came fitted with a DIN plug a long time before they became fashionable. I recall that the Club was opposed to DIN  plugs at that time, believing the pins were too small and close together. Those of us who had used them for years begged to differ and eventually the industry saw the light.