Tow Bar Socket types
I have just had a dedicated wired towbar fitted to my new car. The socket is the 13 pin type. However, when trying to fit the plug from my caravan the pin/sockets are not compatible and also the rims are differing sizes. Do any of you know if there is a
far eastern specification that differs from the European standard? My car was manufactured in Malaysia and the kit was provided by them.The car is a Hyundai Tucson latest specification.
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Yes I have tried that, but I cannot even get the socket to start going in let alone then align with the pins. This seems to be because the recess diameter on the socket is smaller than the rim diameter on the plug.
I think I will take my car to a friend's caravan and see if it fits his. I have reported back to the car dealership but they will have to find out from HO as they are not experts in towbars.Meanwhile I can't use the caravan.
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Oh how I wish I could master posting a photo on here, as I have taken one of each component, and enlarged them. This has enabled me to have a good look in detail and there does not seem to be any damage. Thanks for your interst MollysMummy.
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I have a KIA with the factory socket.
It's the most fiddly and difficult connection I have experienced.
However it is getting a lot easier after a few dozen uses.
KIA/Hyundai....it's probably the same item!!
PS. The critical point is to actually start the rotation.
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My Hymer hand book lists two types of 13 pin plug. The first they describe as Jaeger and that's the one every one has. The second one they describe as Multikon and it looks quite different in the drawing. I personnally have never seen one but they must exist somewhere.
Edit
have look here Wikipedia never lies
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..... The second one they describe as Multikon and it looks quite different in the drawing. I personnally have never seen one but they must exist somewhere. ....
I've seen one once. A Dutch man was re-wiring his caravan plug on a site in France and that's what he had .... looks like a 12N but with additional flat spade connectors around the edge
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have look here Wikipedia never lies
. . . but it does contain much written in American language by people who know only part of the information.
This is their entry for the 13-pin connector used in UK and (most of) EU. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISO_11446
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Boff I have checked it is a 13 pin socket of the standard layout but seems smaller. I have just tried hooking up to a friend's caravan and that did not work either. Also I have found even with the flap opened fully I dont think the plug would be able to
turn due to the latch part on the plug catching on the flap. So dealership here I come.0 -
Sorry about this chaps, but I got bummed out by the site as I was correcting the link in the post above. Should be:-
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISO_standards_for_trailer_connectors
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For those interested in an update. The Sales Manager tried and failed to put my friend's trailer lead in five times. However, the installer put his test rig lead in first time. He then with some effort put in my friend's lead. Two issues were apparent. The socket inside diameter was tight and the car bodywork was preventing the socket flap to open beyond 90 degrees, causing difficulty when turning the plug due to it's flat piece hitting the socket flap. The installer suggested cutting some of the bodywork away which I refused. So we reached stalemate, as it was only my caravan plug that would not fit. So I contacted a mobile caravan service company and they fitted a new plug to my caravan and then turned the car socket 90 degrees to the left so the flap opening was not restricted by the bodywork. So now we can book our first trip. Thanks again to everyone who contributed to this post.
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=534AbREa-9w
