Range Rover and Caravan Brake Lights

JandJsvan
JandJsvan Forum Participant Posts: 2
edited May 2023 in Towcars & Towing #1

Hi all, we have a 19 reg Range Rover and a 2005 Bailey Senator.  Caravan lights had been worked perfectly with our old vehicle.  Car has 13 pin socket, van 2 x 7 pin plugs, we have the adapter.  Our problem is that the brake lights on the caravan do not work when plugged into the Range Rover.  All other lights work as they should.  We have connected the van to another vehicle with a 13 pin socket and all lights, including brakes, work perfectly.  We have connected our car to another Bailey caravan (this one has a 13 pin plug) and everything EXCEPT the brakes work.  The towbar/electrics are Land Rover fitted.  We have been back to Land Rover dealers and they are stumped. Has anyone ever had a problem like this? Is it a Range Rover or old Bailey problem? 

Comments

  • Extugger
    Extugger Forum Participant Posts: 1,293
    1000 Comments
    edited May 2023 #2

    I had a similar problem some years ago with a German manufactured tow car who were also stumped as to why it wasn’t working properly, so I took it to a tow bar fitter and they fitted a resistor (or something like that) into the wiring loom. Everything worked fine, so maybe try a local company near to you? Good luck

  • JandJsvan
    JandJsvan Forum Participant Posts: 2
    edited May 2023 #3

    Thanks Extugger, but I am pleased to report that it was suggested that as the caravan has four rear brake lights, two low down and two at the top that the wattage was more than the sensitive system in the car

    liked and therefore thought it a fault so didn't work.  We removed bulbs from top lights and hey presto the lower ones work properly. 

  • Tinwheeler
    Tinwheeler Forum Participant Posts: 23,134 ✭✭✭
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    edited May 2023 #4

    It will be worth checking the law if you intend leaving the bulbs out as I feel it could be a case of "must work if fitted". Someone else may know more on that aspect.

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
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    edited May 2023 #5

    Have you tried fitting a pair of LED bulbs to the upper brake lights? They draw little current.

  • Vulcan
    Vulcan Forum Participant Posts: 670
    edited May 2023 #6

    A quick glance at your RR handbook would have confirmed the maximum brake lamp wattage to be 60 watts, four conventional brake lamps would be approx 84 watts.

    EmilysDad's idea seems worth a try.

  • Goldie146
    Goldie146 Club Member Posts: 2,448 ✭✭✭
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    edited May 2023 #7

    The same scenario here when we got a new Discovery three years ago. We got as far as buying a trailer board and threading the cables through the caravan windows, when I read somewhere about the top lights. Bingo! It is also a Senator 2005.

  • ABM
    ABM Forum Participant Posts: 14,578
    1000 Comments
    edited May 2023 #8

    The resistor in series with the lamps would limit the current the same as fitting lower wattage or LED bulbs or removing the upper bulbs,  

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