13 pin to 13 pin extension lead

SPR1968
SPR1968 Forum Participant Posts: 29
edited April 2022 in New to Caravanning & Touring #1

I don’t know if anyone else has this issue, but the 13 pin electric socket on my car is hidden away out of sight under the rear bumper. It’s a detachable tow bar so I guess that’s the idea

My current way of comfortably connecting this to the caravan, is to lay down on a yoga mat so I can connect the plug without getting gravel rash!

I’ve seen some long extensions leads you can buy, but basically I want something that I can leave plugged in for the season, sort of around 6 inch long hanging down (i have a Range Rover so fairly high) so I can easily just plug the caravan in without practising yoga!!

Any ideas, preferably not involving making it myself?

 

Comments

  • Amesford
    Amesford Forum Participant Posts: 685
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    edited April 2022 #2

    The only 13 pin socket to 13 pin plug  lead I could find for sale is a metre long on sale at amazon , perhaps a local towbar fitter could knock you something up if you don't want to do it yourself 

     

  • GTrimmer
    GTrimmer Club Member Posts: 169 ✭
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    edited April 2022 #3

    https://www.towingandtrailers.com/product/trailer-parts/trailer-electrics/extension-cables-2/euro-13pin-extension-lead-6mtrs-plug-socket-2/

    https://www.ebay.co.uk/b/13-Pin-Plug-Extension-Cables/36632/bn_7117053544

    Not everything comes from Amazon.....

  • Amesford
    Amesford Forum Participant Posts: 685
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    edited April 2022 #4

     But at Amazon at its cheaper at £27.99, half the length and is a curly lead but perhaps still a bit long for SPR1968 requirements 

  • GTrimmer
    GTrimmer Club Member Posts: 169 ✭
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    edited April 2022 #5

    So what's wrong with those on eBay ?

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,134 ✭✭✭
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    edited April 2022 #6

    I feel an extension lead and socket will need supporting. Best to speak to a towbar fitter or auto electrician with a view to permanently mounting a second socket or moving the original. 

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited April 2022 #7

    ... the sockets on the cars I've had with detachable bars have swivelled up & down for access and to be hidden. 

  • SPR1968
    SPR1968 Forum Participant Posts: 29
    edited April 2022 #8

    Thanks for all the ideas and replies guys they are all very helpful and pointed me in the right direction.

    Getting the electrician to modify it was probably the best solution but I needed it quickly 

    Ive ordered this one, simply because although its 2m its coiled up which means it’s shouldn’t be to long and I can zip tie any extra length up and out if the way somewhere behind the bumper and then probably zip tie the connector end underneath/at the side if the tow bar so I can easily connect it up  Oh the joy!! Lol   Its amazing what you can do with zip ties!

    https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/B093FKTZDG?ref=ppx_pt2_mob_b_prod_image

    We are new to modern caravanning and it’s something that never occurred to me, but we’re starting to move site every few days and the thought of scrambling around under the car every time…..

  • SPR1968
    SPR1968 Forum Participant Posts: 29
    edited April 2022 #9

    My wife has a range rover evoque and on that the socket drops down as you say.  

    Mine is the big range rover vogue, and the electrician said it should drop down the same but it doesn’t its just fixed in place, typically!

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,425 ✭✭✭
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    edited April 2022 #10

    I was about to post the same, after a while of non use it does get a bit stuck in the up position, a few sprays loosens it,  I wonder if SPR might have the same problem?

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,425 ✭✭✭
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    edited April 2022 #11

    Sorry just seen this, see my reply to ED, over time if not used ours gets very firmly stuck in the up position and appears to be fixed and it takes some WD40 or similar to get it to move again. Have you tried that?

  • SPR1968
    SPR1968 Forum Participant Posts: 29
    edited April 2022 #12

    Its only been on the car for about 5 months but even if it drops down its still going to be a pain to reach but Ill have another look but I dont think it does.  

    On the evoque I can just about reach it when dropped down, but on the vogue its under the bumper and also at an angle

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,425 ✭✭✭
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    edited April 2022 #13

    Ours is also under the bumper and a few months is enough to get ours to stick , it rotates through 90 degrees and the 'bottom' of the socket is pointing to the right and turns clockwise.

    Anyway I hope you get it sorted.

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited April 2022 #14

    Bear in mind that on some cars the 13 pin plug switches a small switch inside the socket that turns off the car's rear fog light. So if this applies to your car, it won't have a rear fog light if you leave the extension lead plugged in.

  • cyberyacht
    cyberyacht Forum Participant Posts: 10,218
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    edited April 2022 #15

    I've always thought that retractable sockets hidden under the back of the car with some sort of electro mechanical deployment is asking for trouble given the muck that will be thrown up all over it. Are the aesthetics of a fixed accessible socket that terrible?

  • Unknown
    Unknown Forum Participant
    edited April 2022 #16
    The user and all related content has been Deleted User
  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited April 2022 #17

    ... Are the aesthetics of a fixed accessible socket that terrible?

    Yes 🙄

    And they look terrible too 😉

  • GTrimmer
    GTrimmer Club Member Posts: 169 ✭
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    edited April 2022 #18

    It's not the aesthetics. On many cars a fixed towball can interfere with the reversing sensors, causing them to either run continually or intermittantly.

    I carry one of these in the boot. Cheap enough !

    https://www.screwfix.com/p/memory-foam-support-kneeling-mat-black/98651

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
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    edited April 2022 #19

    I was given a memory foam kneeling mat

    It has written on it 'retired but never  short of a job"

  • Cornersteady
    Cornersteady Club Member Posts: 14,425 ✭✭✭
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    edited April 2022 #20

    Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and all that CY

    Personally yes, I like the 'clean' lines of the car without them, I think it looks far better. 

    And just like the spare tyre there it doesn't get at all dirty.

  • Burgundy
    Burgundy Forum Participant Posts: 313
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    edited April 2022 #21

     I find a fixed towball interferes with my shins

  • ABM
    ABM Forum Participant Posts: 14,578
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    edited April 2022 #22

    surprised  We don't wish to know THAT  !!  Kindly leave the f-f-forum  embarassed

  • pinch999
    pinch999 Forum Participant Posts: 1
    edited June 26 #23

    I have the same issue with a Volvo. This company made me a short extension in 24 hours. Works a treat.

     

  • Vulcan
    Vulcan Forum Participant Posts: 670
    edited June 26 #24

     That cable does not look thick enough to be the correct specification bearing in mind that at least five cores (3-9-10-11 and 13) should be 2.5mm².

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