Car tow electrics WTF.

[A100man]

All

Was considering buying a bike trailer, noted that I could get a towbar quite cheaply (less that 150) but then looked into the tow-bar electrics.

Jeez! for my 2019 SEAT Leon you'd need to employ a customs man to rip out all the internals required,,

You need to route cable all the way up the sill and into the back of the glove box (removing the never used CD player in teh process) then fiddle about in the fuse box area.. Stupidly I assumed that there'd be a ready prepped connector in the boot area.. Summat to do with CAN bus controls I believe (on lights FFS)..

Suffice to say unless there's a short cut i won't be bothering.
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Now: A100, GT250A, XJ598, FZ750

Then: Fizz, RS200, KL250, XJ550, Laverda Alpina, XJ600, FZS600

[WD Forte]

Look up 'interface relays' for after market towbar wiring
they should enable you to patch in a tow bar without giving the cars
CANbus and stuff conniptions

This place may sell you a kit including one

https://www.towbarexpress.co.uk/
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bikers smell of wee

[whyber]

I got lucky, my old 2006 Focus didn't need any CANBUS nonsense. Just crimped them in.

Doesn't help you, sry.
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Hot and tired

[A100man]

[Fullers1845]

You only really need the vehicle specific stuff when towing heavy stuff, our Mondeo was done cheaply with bypass relays which was absolutely fine for our old camping trailer or bike on a trailer but when we got our caravan I had a local car electrics place put in the ford oem module and reprogrammed for the esp link in

[A100man]

Next problem..

brake lights, fog, reversing and rear lights embedded in the tailgate with wiring threaded through rubber conduit next to top hatch hinge..
Indicators though are in body in rear flanks..


Load of toss and wank.
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Now: A100, GT250A, XJ598, FZ750

Then: Fizz, RS200, KL250, XJ550, Laverda Alpina, XJ600, FZS600

[stinkwheel]

Sounds like it would be easier to make a stand-alone battery and loom on the trailer board with always on LED tail light and suction-cup/velcro optical triggers for the other lights.

I jest... but that would actually be comparatively easy to do.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[WD Forte]

for a bike trailer all you really need is
indicators L&R
tail and number plate light
Brake lights
ground

I suspect Seat ( VW) use DIN standard wiring
so Grounds will be Brown

and I'll guess but check of course

Tail GY/WH
numberplate GY/GN

Brake lights BK/RD

Indicators
RH - BK/GN
LH - BK/W
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bikers smell of wee

[MCN]

I got a BMW VW Audi specific tow bar on my BMW520. I bought the kit from some shower in England. (When I lived south of the divide)
I don't like tow bars hanging out the back so I got a bar with a removable ball thingy.
It has full load rating boats, bike, caravans, Iford Williams (if you're a one that carts coos or horses around).

The other deal with a removable is that if the electric socket goes on the blink, the blink the vehicle can still pass an mot.
If a tow bar is fitted then the tester must plug a test plug into the socket and test all trailer light functions.

My car uses cantus and the towbar kit comes with an interface.

I don't know how the gizmo works but it let's the cantus know when a trailer is hooked up and disables the reversing lights.

The trailer lights on my trailer failed quite soon after I got the hoowur.

I bought two LED clusters for it from ebay.

100% better suited to the trailer and I haven't had any bother with failures in 10 years.

Towing regulations are something to look at too.

And you must have secondary retention between the trailer and the tow. Incase the hitch jumps off the ball. It must be a thing.

Get a spare wheel for the trailer too or fill the tyres with sealant.

A puncture on a trailer will spoil your day.
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Disclaimer: The comments above may be predicted text and not necessarily the opinion of MCN.

[Skudd]

Just had a tow bar fitted to my 16 plate Mondeo, £400 all in. Wunderluch I think it is. Got the garage to do all the mucking around. Obviously had tpo ring round a few places, but your local facefook will help you there.
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Famous last words of Humpty Dumpty. " Stop pushing me "
Petty Anarchists look at "1984".............. The Visionary looks at "Animal Farm".

[slowasyoulike]

[RoamingStar]