Old towbar with only one socket
I'm looking at a Skoda Octavia 2007/8 towcar to buy. It has a detachable tow bar which looks like it has been used very little (from towball wear). However, it has only one socket and it's certainly not a new 13 pin one!
Is it easy/cost effective to alter this by adding another plug (I assume to charge the fridge)? Or would I just need to get another one put on?
Comments
-
I would probably have the towbar electrics upgraded. However, to be honest, I never have the fridge on when towing, the 'van is always on EHU and so whether the battery charges or not during towing is irrelevant. I do have the trailer control feature on
the 'van so would upgrade for that purpose.0 -
There's one 13 pin socket. Otherwise the car and the van are a good match.
...if the caravan has a 13 pin plug then get the car converted to a 13 pin socket ..... far superior to the 12N & 12S regardless of the fridge supply and battery charging
0 -
I'm not clear what is being suggested here. Is it:-
A) Fit full 13 pin wiring to the car, or
Stick a 13 pin socket on the end of the existing 7 pin wiring?While both will "work" I would not want the later on my vehicle.
0 -
So - Can I still retain the (detatchable) towbar that comes with the car and just get the old socket taken off and a new 13 pin socket fitted?
The tow bar should be fine but the electrics on the car to convert to 13pin will need a reputable towbar profesional to alter, i would think
0 -
Yes, and have it done professionally so that all electrical systems work.
Edit. JVB you beat me to it - must learn to type more quickly.
0 -
Take care with the Octavia as some models have a surprisingly light noseweight limit.
If it has the 2L 140bhp CR TDi engine then it is a good idea to get the TSP activated by the installer. On my Passat the TSP becoming active when it detects the trailer is connected is two of the lights on the dials: without TSP active they go out together
but when it is active one of them stays on 2 seconds longer. I suspect your Octy will be the same.0 -
Trailer stability program (From Telegraph)
This is standard with a factory-fitted towbar on many VWs, including the Golf, Touran, Golf Plus and Passat. The wiring system confirms the trailer/caravan is present and the Electronic Stability Program (ESP) senses if it has started to weave. When the
oscillations reach a critical level, the ESP will pulse the front brakes on the opposite side to which the trailer is swinging, to reduce the effect. The bigger the weave, the bigger the braking effect; to prevent the driver making things worse, engine torque
is also reduced. There was some debate about the effectiveness of this sort of device when it was introduced on the Vauxhall Astra a few years ago. On VW's Ehra-Lessien test track, it was very effective indeed, although one journalist managed to spin car and
caravan by severely provoking it at high speed.
0 -
to prevent the driver making things worse, engine torque is also reduced.
That is not something I would see as an advantage.
0
Ah, Thanks...Gotta remember to ask the socket installer to activate it!