Towbar wiring question for complete newbie
So we've marked our silver wedding by buying a caravan! Apart from many happy holidays in my parents van as a child, we're completely new to it all. Currently pricing up a towbar fitting to our Volvo XC60 before collecting the van in a couple of weeks and a little confused by the wiring options. Vehicle-specific wiring adds a fair bit to the cost, but do I really need this? Many local, well-established fitters are recommending their bespoke bypass wiring - what would I lose by going down this route? Will it disable the car's rear parking sensors when the van's attached? Sorry for the newbie questions!
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Personally, I would go for the vehicle manufacturer's specific wiring because vehicle electrics are so complicated these days it’s very easy, in layman's terms, to upset things.
No doubt others will have different opinions.
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I had a dedicated wiring kit fitted as everything works afterwards. some don't need the sensors to turn of as I already have a button on the dash to do that. Like Tinwheeler said, go for the dedicated as its a one off and everything should work correctly.
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I would like to add that if your vehicle is under warranty (you do't say if it is or not) then definitely go for dedicated wiring otherwise your warranty could be affected.
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Vehicle specifics recommended, it does not have to come from the dealer as many leading brands via towbar specialists will supply, and not too pricey either.
If your vehicle is an Auto then 'specifics' will alter the gear changes to suit, bulb test and indication on the dash, turn off reversing sensors once hitched and probably a few other things.
If you go for the bypass relay, also ensure you have fridge supply and leisure battery charging wired to the towing socket, not just the lights.
Basically when fitting vehicle specific wiring loom it knows you are towing, bypass hasn't a clue.
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Agree with all above, dedicated wiring every time plus, as said make it clear you want all the connections made for fridge and battery charging on 13 pin socket (assuming your van is new)
Would go for tow bar specialist, approved by your dealer if under warranty (dealers usually subcontract it anyway and add on their margin)
See:
https://www.rightconnections.co.uk/
Enjoy!
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You may also need the car's electrics re-coding. Many towbar fitters can do this but some can't in which case the car has to go back to the dealer to have the re-coding done after the towbar is fitted. This ensures that all the electrics work correctly. When I had mine done by the towbar company (P.F.Jones, Manchester) it cost an extra £70.00. The dealer would have charged more.
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When I was looking around for towbars for my XC60, I took the more expensive route of going to the fitting company as recommended by my local Volvo dealer (Trident Towing in Maidstone), who fitted the vehicle specific loom, in fact they told me they only fit vehicle specific looms and do not offer anything else.
I have to push the button to turn off the reversing sensor warning, The caravan lights are permanently on as per the running lights of the car, which in my opinion is no bad thing. The only thing worth thinking about that may save a few bob, I opted for the removable swan neck, and in all honestly I might as well gone for the fixed ball as I think I have only taken it out twice in a year. In fact a couple of weeks ago I was glad of the bar being on when some clown slid into the back of me and the towball saved any car damage!!
Not sure what caravan you have bought, but my XC60 tows our Swift Challenger 560 really really well, and would probably buy another, Volvo that is!!
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look how many times you have saved your shins when not fitted. Ow. fixed tow bars can do more damage than you think as if hit hard from behind the tow bar being fastened to the chassis twist/damages the fixing points and could be written off whereas the bodywork have zones to take the impact without chassis damage. once again its down to personal preference whether fixed or removable.
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Thanks all - time is tight, but managed to get in with a (fairly) local fitter on Monday. Fixed swan-neck, with dedicated wiring and recoding.
Pick up the van (a pre-loved Swift Charisma 535) on the 17th, all being well.
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