Towbar Electrics

KernowRover · 24th May 2015, 18:51

Hi All,

Your advice needed please,
I have just purchased a MGR detachable saloon towbar - part number VUB002930 from a member on the forum.
However, it does not come with any wiring at all.
What do I need to obtain to complete the installation (for towing a small trailer only), and where can I get it from?
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Many thanks
Tom

wullie480 · 24th May 2015, 19:00

Prewired sockets on eBay for a few quid and wire into the rear lights.
My wife's zt has been like that since we got it and not had any issues only ever used for a small trailer back and forth to the tip.

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item...d=201324964955

KernowRover · 24th May 2015, 19:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by wullie480

Prewired sockets on eBay for a few quid and wire into the rear lights.
My wife's zt has been like that since we got it and not had any issues only ever used for a small trailer back and forth to the tip.

http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item...d=201324964955

Hi Wullie,

Thanks very much for that, please excuse my ignorance but is there not a relay involved as well?

Regards
Tom

sworks · 25th May 2015, 10:05

You only need a split charge relay if your towing a caravan, you should have a unit that will either flash an led Or a sounder when you indicate with the trailer on. This wires in line to your indicator wiring in the towbar wiring.

http://www.ringautomotive.co.uk/uk/p.../Relays/RCT380

RodgerD · 25th May 2015, 11:34

You need a by-pass relay as our cars have a bulb failure warning system. The system monitors resistance in the circuit and the extra trailer lights just wired into the cars rear lights will cause the warning system to activate.

Google towing wiring with by-pass relay and you will see what you need.

Drewski · 1st July 2015, 11:44

Is the only problem with wiring up the trailer socket to the indicators that the warning light comes on whenever it's in use? I've got the relay ready to fit, and the connector kit for the fuse box......but it's very tempting to go for the easy option and connect straight up to the indicator wires. I won't be using it that often and, when I do, I'm sure I can put up with a warning light stuck on.

Sector-9 · 1st July 2015, 19:30

It'd actually be illegal - you have to have some form of indication that the trailer turn signals are working (or not), which can be either a buzzer or a light on the dash. The proper Rover kit hooks into the LSM so that any bulb outages on the trailer trigger the same warning as it would for the car bulbs. Also bear in mind that the extra load of the trailer bulbs could damage the LSM itself - shouldn't, but could.

anddyy · 1st July 2015, 21:42

Quote:

Originally Posted by RodgerD

You need a by-pass relay as our cars have a bulb failure warning system. The system monitors resistance in the circuit and the extra trailer lights just wired into the cars rear lights will cause the warning system to activate.

Google towing wiring with by-pass relay and you will see what you need.

Ive done towbars on 2 mg zts, my uncles 2001 zt and my 2003 zt and wired them both the traditional way with just the buzzer and never had any bulb failure warning with the caravans on the back so see no need to fit a 7 way bypass relay.

Mischief · 1st July 2015, 21:44

I used this one on my dads ZT, no bulb errors and easy to install:

http://r.ebay.com/SlX0PA

andrewinpopayan · 1st July 2015, 22:20

I wired my towbar up and used a relay block from Ryder, very easy to do.

I also fitted the second "power" socket and used another Ryder relay, auto switching. I used 10mm wire from the fusebox and routed the cable under the car with the brake pipes.

I took the feed for it from the unused "big fuse" (FL5) space in the under bonnet fusebox (for self levelling suspension) and fitted it with a 15 Amp fuse.

I made a little adapter that uses 2 spade terminals screwed into the "big-fuse" space so I could use a >standard< fuse as I thought a 30 Amp "bigboy" was far too much (30 Amp is the smallest "bigboy fuse)

24th May 2015, 18:51	#1
KernowRover Posted a thing or two Rover 75 Saloon, 2.5 V6 Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Bude, Cornwall Posts: 1,207 Thanks: 239 Thanked 79 Times in 67 Posts	Towbar Electrics Hi All, Your advice needed please, I have just purchased a MGR detachable saloon towbar - part number VUB002930 from a member on the forum. However, it does not come with any wiring at all. What do I need to obtain to complete the installation (for towing a small trailer only), and where can I get it from? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Many thanks Tom __________________ KernowRover Avid 75 Fan The Walnut Bling King. http://i1255.photobucket.com/albums/...ps0wrx8vrj.jpg

24th May 2015, 19:00	#2
wullie480 This is my second home 1 Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Banned Posts: 5,196 Thanks: 528 Thanked 1,022 Times in 786 Posts	Prewired sockets on eBay for a few quid and wire into the rear lights. My wife's zt has been like that since we got it and not had any issues only ever used for a small trailer back and forth to the tip. http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item...d=201324964955 __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

25th May 2015, 10:05	#4
sworks This is my second home Rover 75 Tourer, Classic mini Cooper S, Abarth 595 competizione, MG TF and a Hyundai Tucson PHEV Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Cumbria Posts: 13,073 Thanks: 1,033 Thanked 1,686 Times in 1,040 Posts	You only need a split charge relay if your towing a caravan, you should have a unit that will either flash an led Or a sounder when you indicate with the trailer on. This wires in line to your indicator wiring in the towbar wiring. http://www.ringautomotive.co.uk/uk/p.../Relays/RCT380 __________________ ................................................. 'Marmite' Possibly one of the most famous 75 tourers produced! left the production line as the last of only Three Rover 75 tourers produced in Trophy Yellow. 48 hours later Longbridge closed. The last sold ordered 75 Tourer. Paid for by the Phoenix Four and handed over by John Towers to the Warwickshire Northampton Air ambulance service as a Rapid Response vehicle Last edited by sworks; 25th May 2015 at 10:08..

1st July 2015, 19:30	#7
Sector-9 Gets stuck in Rover 75 CDT manual Tourer Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: nr. Mansfield Posts: 767 Thanks: 24 Thanked 182 Times in 137 Posts	It'd actually be illegal - you have to have some form of indication that the trailer turn signals are working (or not), which can be either a buzzer or a light on the dash. The proper Rover kit hooks into the LSM so that any bulb outages on the trailer trigger the same warning as it would for the car bulbs. Also bear in mind that the extra load of the trailer bulbs could damage the LSM itself - shouldn't, but could. Last edited by Sector-9; 1st July 2015 at 19:35..

1st July 2015, 21:44	#9
Mischief I really should get out more....... Rover 75 Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Willenhall Posts: 2,897 Thanks: 181 Thanked 340 Times in 264 Posts	I used this one on my dads ZT, no bulb errors and easy to install: http://r.ebay.com/SlX0PA __________________ Regards John [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC] My 75's General Information: This vehicle was the 49,501st 75 to run off the production line, out of 112,381 This vehicle was the 1st 75 1.8 T Club SE to be made out of 3,980 This vehicle was the 1st 75 in Celestial (Special Metallic) (code: IAI) to be made out of 19 Celestial (Special Metallic) 75s

25th May 2015, 11:34	#5
RodgerD Rodger & Out Rover 75 Saloon Join Date: Nov 2014 Location: London Posts: 712 Thanks: 10 Thanked 159 Times in 141 Posts	You need a by-pass relay as our cars have a bulb failure warning system. The system monitors resistance in the circuit and the extra trailer lights just wired into the cars rear lights will cause the warning system to activate. Google towing wiring with by-pass relay and you will see what you need.

1st July 2015, 11:44	#6
Drewski Loves to post 2002 CDT Connie SE Tourer Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Cambridge Posts: 482 Thanks: 21 Thanked 16 Times in 10 Posts	Is the only problem with wiring up the trailer socket to the indicators that the warning light comes on whenever it's in use? I've got the relay ready to fit, and the connector kit for the fuse box......but it's very tempting to go for the easy option and connect straight up to the indicator wires. I won't be using it that often and, when I do, I'm sure I can put up with a warning light stuck on.

1st July 2015, 22:20	#10
andrewinpopayan Loves to post Rover 75 CDT manual tourer SE with farkles Join Date: May 2014 Location: Bradford BD12 Posts: 497 Thanks: 148 Thanked 73 Times in 62 Posts	I wired my towbar up and used a relay block from Ryder, very easy to do. I also fitted the second "power" socket and used another Ryder relay, auto switching. I used 10mm wire from the fusebox and routed the cable under the car with the brake pipes. I took the feed for it from the unused "big fuse" (FL5) space in the under bonnet fusebox (for self levelling suspension) and fitted it with a 15 Amp fuse. I made a little adapter that uses 2 spade terminals screwed into the "big-fuse" space so I could use a >standard< fuse as I thought a 30 Amp "bigboy" was far too much (30 Amp is the smallest "bigboy fuse) __________________ 2001 75 2.0 CDT tourer. Bodges and "quick fixes" have a nasty habit of reminding you at the MOST inconvenient AND expensive time that you should have done the job properly in the first place.!