BMW Towbar Electrics
I have a 2014 BMW X5 with factory-fitted towbar. It does not have a fridge relay to run the fridge on 12V whilst towing. BMW and my local towbar specialist (Tow-Rite) say one cannot be fitted because the car's wiring loom is not designed to take it, others tell me it can be done at great expense by replacing part of the loom (so must be done by a BMW specialist), still others say it is possible to cut off the BMW supply to the 13-pin socket and start again (although I fear this might mess up the car's computer controls, including the camera which focuses on the tow-hitch when reversing with the towbar out). Do members have any advice?
Comments
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Have you read your cars handbook?
My Audi has an Audi towbar, or if you go by what names moulded into the metal, Westfalia, it says the fridge will only be powered if the car has spare electric.
Now mine has a second lithium battery in the boot to power such things as air con which takes a charge.
We cooled the fridge down on mains, turned it off completely, then set off, 5 hours later still cool in there, and more importantly the ATC was powered, which was my concern.
You could always put freezer blocks in the fridge as a work round.
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As per previous post cool fridge right down with contents at home use some ice and your fridge will stay cold for a good ten hours, we do this for ferry crossings. These fridges/car systems vary on 12V anyway, one fridge we had was too cold on 12V whilst our current only just holds the temperature on a run even though the fridge indicates all is well.
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This subject has been well covered recently. There is no point paying to have those two circuits wired as for most of the time they are not powered anyway on recent cars (regenerative braking and all that).
the only time to be careful is if you have been off grid for a while and you are going to a place where you need your motor mover. Just needs a bit of planning ahead.
My advice is to just forget it!
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