Towbar Fitting - Electrics

8511swann · 26th January 2011, 10:17

The caravan thread just kicked me into sourcing a towbar and electrics for my saloon, and I had a question regarding electrics.

Is there a wiring kit that will plug directly into my loom/harness somewhere and will I require a bypass relay?. Or is it a case of having to cut and join wires into the loom.

And finally, is this price good:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...m=290467140552

It's for my 2000 V6 Saloon.

Thanks,

Swanny

ashb · 26th January 2011, 10:35

Looks a good price to me, i want to get a towbar for my ZT so interested in how easy it is to install.

Are there any kits where i won't need to remove (or cut) the bumper to fit it?

8511swann · 26th January 2011, 10:40

I think the one above fits both without a bumper cut. Bumper removal is only about 8 screws.
http://www.discount-towing.co.uk/home/pdf/424E.pdf

8511swann · 26th January 2011, 11:58

Apologies, I found this thread:
http://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/foru...fitting+towbar

HarryM1BYT · 26th January 2011, 15:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by 8511swann

The caravan thread just kicked me into sourcing a towbar and electrics for my saloon, and I had a question regarding electrics.

Is there a wiring kit that will plug directly into my loom/harness somewhere and will I require a bypass relay?. Or is it a case of having to cut and join wires into the loom.

And finally, is this price good:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...m=290467140552

It's for my 2000 V6 Saloon.

Thanks,

Swanny

That one uses relays to bypass the can-bus lamp failure system - in othe words if a trailer lamp fails, you will not know about it. It is also a just the basic single outlet type, it will not supply the fridge nor charge the caravan's battery. The extra S socket will cost about £20 on top. Other than that, it is a good price.

Around £120 extra, will buy you the proper Rover 75 can-bus unit to use, instead of the simpler relay system. The actual fitting of the towbar, is the easiest one I have ever fitted on any of my cars. I would hope the one in the picture of the ad is not the one they actually supply, or that may prove to be unecessarily difficult

8511swann · 26th January 2011, 17:09

Quote:

Originally Posted by HarryM1BYT

That one uses relays to bypass the can-bus lamp failure system - in othe words if a trailer lamp fails, you will not know about it. It is also a just the basic single outlet type, it will not supply the fridge nor charge the caravan's battery. The extra S socket will cost about £20 on top. Other than that, it is a good price.

Around £120 extra, will buy you the proper Rover 75 can-bus unit to use, instead of the simpler relay system. The actual fitting of the towbar, is the easiest one I have ever fitted on any of my cars. I would hope the one in the picture of the ad is not the one they actually supply, or that may prove to be unecessarily difficult

Thanks Harry, much appreciated. I've never used twin electrics, as I tend to have the whole thing hooked up at home for a couple of days before hand, and never travel more than about 3 hours. The fridge (and my beer) is always nice and cold upon arrival!.

The bar does look very easy to fit. I might just fit it, and then get the local towbar guy to do the electrics. He's said he'll do it for £50 including the parts.

8511swann · 27th January 2011, 20:57

Just bought these three items, for less than £100, so quite happy, but annoyed that I forgot to take the AL-KO ball off my old car!!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...m=230409320771

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...=STRK:MEWAX:IT

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...=STRK:MEWAX:IT

fooman · 28th January 2011, 11:57

I posted the info below on another thread may be useful to you.

Some more notes - the 7 way relay includes a buzzer that sounds when the trailer lamp is working, so you know when it's not!

The second socket is for charging caravan battery & reverse lights.

Cutting the rear bumper is trivial, took me less than 60 seconds with a jig saw & you can't see the cuts once refitted. The whole fitment took me half a day mostly removing trim & wiring.

---

I’ve just finished wiring a tow bar on a tourer using a universal kit with a twin socket.

For single rear-lights-only setup you will need the socket & a 7 way relay that ‘repeats’ the light cluster signals without upsetting the can-bus system. The 7 ways can come with integral sounder / monitor for failed trailer lamps, which is a legal requirement now.

For twin setups you also need a split charge relay. These simplify installation as they only need one main 12v feed and detect engine running (though change of voltage) and switch the socket outputs, preventing a flat battery. You can share the 12v feed for with the 7 way relay. This feed should be suitably rated & fused.

I tapped the 12v feed from the fusebox tow bar socket using a big spade connector. The 7 way is connected by crimp connectors just behind the left hand light cluster (one wire run from the right hand indicator) you need to remove the fluffy side trim to access them.

This whole set up including tow bar cost me about £140 all new items. Hope this helps!

8511swann · 28th January 2011, 17:55

Cheers Fooman, much appreciated.
Swanny

Miff · 22nd April 2011, 10:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by fooman

I posted the info below on another thread may be useful to you.

Some more notes - the 7 way relay includes a buzzer that sounds when the trailer lamp is working, so you know when it's not!

The second socket is for charging caravan battery & reverse lights.

Cutting the rear bumper is trivial, took me less than 60 seconds with a jig saw & you can't see the cuts once refitted. The whole fitment took me half a day mostly removing trim & wiring.

---

I’ve just finished wiring a tow bar on a tourer using a universal kit with a twin socket.

For single rear-lights-only setup you will need the socket & a 7 way relay that ‘repeats’ the light cluster signals without upsetting the can-bus system. The 7 ways can come with integral sounder / monitor for failed trailer lamps, which is a legal requirement now.

For twin setups you also need a split charge relay. These simplify installation as they only need one main 12v feed and detect engine running (though change of voltage) and switch the socket outputs, preventing a flat battery. You can share the 12v feed for with the 7 way relay. This feed should be suitably rated & fused.

I tapped the 12v feed from the fusebox tow bar socket using a big spade connector. The 7 way is connected by crimp connectors just behind the left hand light cluster (one wire run from the right hand indicator) you need to remove the fluffy side trim to access them.

This whole set up including tow bar cost me about £140 all new items. Hope this helps!

Where is the "12v feed from the fusebox tow bar socket"? Thanks.

26th January 2011, 10:17	#1
8511swann Avid contributor 2000 Rover 75 Saloon 2.0 V6 Petrol Classic SE (Manual) Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Minsterley Posts: 189 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Towbar Fitting - Electrics The caravan thread just kicked me into sourcing a towbar and electrics for my saloon, and I had a question regarding electrics. Is there a wiring kit that will plug directly into my loom/harness somewhere and will I require a bypass relay?. Or is it a case of having to cut and join wires into the loom. And finally, is this price good: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...m=290467140552 It's for my 2000 V6 Saloon. Thanks, Swanny __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

26th January 2011, 10:40	#3
8511swann Avid contributor 2000 Rover 75 Saloon 2.0 V6 Petrol Classic SE (Manual) Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Minsterley Posts: 189 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I think the one above fits both without a bumper cut. Bumper removal is only about 8 screws. http://www.discount-towing.co.uk/home/pdf/424E.pdf __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

26th January 2011, 11:58	#4
8511swann Avid contributor 2000 Rover 75 Saloon 2.0 V6 Petrol Classic SE (Manual) Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Minsterley Posts: 189 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Apologies, I found this thread: http://www.the75andztclub.co.uk/foru...fitting+towbar __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

27th January 2011, 20:57	#7
8511swann Avid contributor 2000 Rover 75 Saloon 2.0 V6 Petrol Classic SE (Manual) Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Minsterley Posts: 189 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Just bought these three items, for less than £100, so quite happy, but annoyed that I forgot to take the AL-KO ball off my old car!! http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...m=230409320771 http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...=STRK:MEWAX:IT http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...=STRK:MEWAX:IT __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

28th January 2011, 17:55	#9
8511swann Avid contributor 2000 Rover 75 Saloon 2.0 V6 Petrol Classic SE (Manual) Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Minsterley Posts: 189 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Cheers Fooman, much appreciated. Swanny __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

26th January 2011, 10:35	#2
ashb Avid contributor N/A Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: Poole Posts: 120 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Looks a good price to me, i want to get a towbar for my ZT so interested in how easy it is to install. Are there any kits where i won't need to remove (or cut) the bumper to fit it?

28th January 2011, 11:57	#8
fooman Regular poster Rover 75 CDT Tourer Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 35 Thanks: 0 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	I posted the info below on another thread may be useful to you. Some more notes - the 7 way relay includes a buzzer that sounds when the trailer lamp is working, so you know when it's not! The second socket is for charging caravan battery & reverse lights. Cutting the rear bumper is trivial, took me less than 60 seconds with a jig saw & you can't see the cuts once refitted. The whole fitment took me half a day mostly removing trim & wiring. --- I’ve just finished wiring a tow bar on a tourer using a universal kit with a twin socket. For single rear-lights-only setup you will need the socket & a 7 way relay that ‘repeats’ the light cluster signals without upsetting the can-bus system. The 7 ways can come with integral sounder / monitor for failed trailer lamps, which is a legal requirement now. For twin setups you also need a split charge relay. These simplify installation as they only need one main 12v feed and detect engine running (though change of voltage) and switch the socket outputs, preventing a flat battery. You can share the 12v feed for with the 7 way relay. This feed should be suitably rated & fused. I tapped the 12v feed from the fusebox tow bar socket using a big spade connector. The 7 way is connected by crimp connectors just behind the left hand light cluster (one wire run from the right hand indicator) you need to remove the fluffy side trim to access them. This whole set up including tow bar cost me about £140 all new items. Hope this helps!