More tips required
So, the first weekend away was mostly a success. 40 miles from home on a test run, which was fortunate as I left the awning poles behind and needed to return home for them. The Mrs not best pleased, but all was fine after 3 hrs of getting the awning up, which made a HUGE difference to the experience.
I did manage to make a balls up of it on the way back however. Our house is a corner plot, the caravan has a remote control motor on it. So, park across the driveway to unhitch the van, get distracted by the neighbours, the children, the dogs, attention gets diverted by a couple of cars trying to get round us, the Mrs is instructed to move the car....BANG!
I've released the caravan from the towbar, I haven't unhooked the electrics or the safety cable. The electric cable fitting that fits into the power socket of the towbar is ripped out, so I can see the 7 bare cololur coded wires; the adaptor to the 13 pin power socket on the towbar I'm not happy with, can anyone suggest a replacement (more later), the safety cable from the caravan that loops roud the towbar has snapped at the carabiner. So, can anyone suggest replacements, and what i may need to look out for. Also, wiring up the caravan to the car without moving either would be advantageous, is there an extention cable I can get?
The list distilled:
1. recommendation for replacing the car-end of the 7 pin electric cable. I should be able to wire this
2. replace the safety cable - any recommendations
3. anything i should check on the caravan when the cales snapped?
4.is there an extention cable to run from the car to the caravan?
5. the caravan came with a bottle of butane, there is space for another bottle - I was thinking of using propane (got the regulator and can already), but will this operate with the cooker / hot water system ok? Seem to remember that some appliances cannot use both? I am unlikely to be winter touring, but you never know.
6. a 7 pin caravan to 13 pin adaptor. Bought one on ebay for £8, when it is locked into position on the car and the caravan cable inserted, the wires are all wrong. Brake lights flashing as indicators, no indicators at all, no reversing. Plugging in the adaptor to the car in the clearly 'wrong' position gives me what i need, but the join isn't secure, one serious enough bump and the cable will separate. Any recomendations?
Thanks all
Comments
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I suggest doing away with the adapter and getting your car wired to a 13 pin set up.
You can buy breakaway cables in any caravan accessory shop.
I can’t work out what you need an extension cable for. 🤷🏻♂️
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Sorry if I wasn't clear -
the car has a 13 pin supply
the caravan is a 7 pin socket
the adaptor is needed for the interface between the 2. We will upgrade at some point, ther 13 pin option seemed the best long term choice.
When i wire up thre new 7 pin socket, i don't want to need to move the caravan in front of the car when checking the connection. So, a long, loooooong extention from the car to the caravan?
Ta
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ESC the first thing I will say is don't worry about this; this type of thing has happened to all of us. May I suggest that you prepare a check list, there is one in the Club's handbook which covers everything. Moving on to you questions:
1 and 6 - these are linked points. I assume there are 2 x 7 pin connectors on the caravan; you refer to only one connector from the caravan!. When both 7 pins are connected the various lights etc should work, if they don't then the wiring is wrong and needs checking. If you need new connectors any dealer should have them (think Halfords also have them). There is a wiring diagram in the Club handbook. As you say you should be able to do this yourself but if it does not work after any corrections a quick trip to a tow bar fitter may be necessary. You should not be able to connect the adapter to the car 'in the clearly wrong position'! All the connectors should fit together in the correct position only.
2 and 3. Yes, replace the breakaway cable. They are quite cheap and available from any accessory shop, Just make sure it is threaded correctly through the guide 'hole' in the A Frame - look at the existing one and follow it should be in a straight line from the bottom of the brake to the end of of the tow bar. As the cable broke all should be ok on the caravan, just check the operation of the handbrake.
4. No
5. Most people have 2 bottles of the same type to be on the safe side. No need to have the different types of gas and as you seem ok on Butane just get another bottle - this may be a bit difficult at the moment but supply should be sorted soon. I have 2 x Propane to cater for any temperature.
You did exactly the right thing going on a local holiday first. Don't worry you will soon get used to packing and ensuring all is ok. Getting distracted is fairly common so if it happens again just start your checks again. When I have done everything and connected up just before I depart I walk around the caravan checking everything again - Stabilizer on, handbrake off, breakaway cable connected, corner steadies up, all external cupboards closed and locked, Mover off wheels (lost track how many times I have tried to drive off with mover on wheels and I have bee caravanning for many years!), door locked and finally all lights on caravan working ok.n
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Just seen your second post. Are you sure the caravan has only one connector. There should be 2!!!! Not sure what you mean about moving the car when checking the connection. You should have hitched the caravan to the car before connecting the electrics etc. If you mean to check all ok after you have done any wiring alterations - well sorry but that is what you have to do, but you then know all ok so just the every trip check I mentioned in my post above is all that is needed. Suggest you ditch the adapter and wire the caravan side to a 13 pin connector. You should have no need for a very long cable and anyway wiring it up would be difficult.
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I agree, but there are 13 pin plugs with a double cable entry gland 🙂
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/323329059192?hash=item4b47e9e978:g:BB0AAOSwFN9d1QJ6
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If you are getting a second gas bottle don’t forget to check that the nose weight of the caravan does not exceed the maximum for the actual hitch (if Alko usually 100kg) or the maximum loading for the car, some are as low as 75kg even for some bigger cars. My caravan has fittings for two gas bottles but it is very difficult to get the nose weight low enough if I have two bottles in place and I have a car with a 90kg maximum. Checking should, of course, be after you have put everything else in the caravan and ready to set off. For safety and outfit stability it is usually recommended that the nose weight is as near to the maximum as possible but without exceeding it. Incorrect loading is one of the main causes of caravan accidents.
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