COMMON QUESTIONS AND FAQS

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INFORMATION ON TOWING

Some common questions and information on towing

All towbars carry labels to ensure product traceability
All cars registered from August 1998 must be fitted with an EC Type Approved towbar. All towbars approved to EC94/20 carry a label ensuring product traceability and all the information necessary to conform fully to the European Standard.
Refer to your vehicle handbook to find its exact towing capacity & nose weight to not exceed it for safety reasons and not to invalidate the warranty.
Stability, steering & headlight alignment will be affected by too much nose weight.
Universal bypass electrics are wired into your vehicle rear lights.
Vehicle Specifics are wired into the vehicle loom and then coded with SP Diagnostics.
Ensure you have an approved style number plate fitted to your caravan, trailer board or bike rack.
You will be committing a Road Traffic Offence if you do not keep your trailer etc. roadworthy, and you could invalidate your insurance.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

What is the difference between Single and Twin Electrics?

The single electrics socket (Black 12N) supplies the tail, brake, fog and indicator electrics for trailers and caravans. Twin electrics include the 12N socket plus a second socket (Grey 12s) this supplies the supplementary electrics required to run the fridge, interior lights and charge the supplementary battery etc. in a caravan or trailer tent.

How long does it take to get a towbar fitted?

Typically 2-3 hours, however this depends on vehicle type. This can be done at our Dorset premises, exact fitting times will be given when you book the vehicle in.

What is the towing height?

Typically the towing height is 400mm from the tongue top to the ground. This can vary slightly depending on vehicle suspensions and design.

Do you cut my bumper to fit the towbar?

On some models this is required to achieve a good design. It also allows ample ground clearance and safety. This will be discussed with you if your vehicle requires a bumper cut.

What does a 13-pin socket do?

13-pin Electrics have been standard in most other European countries for some time. This is replacing the 2 separate sockets currently used in the UK. The 13-pin socket is essentially the two 7 pin sockets merged in to one. All caravans manufactured in the UK from 2008 are fitted with an ISO 13 pin connector as standard. This system uses one socket with 13 pins inside, instead of the traditional two separate 7 pin sockets. 13-pin sockets are also used on some vehicles especially with detachable towbars when there isn’t enough room to mount two separate sockets behind the bumper.

What is an AL-KO ball?

EC type approved. Many new caravans are fitted with a stabiliser system built into the caravan hitch. The most popular of these is the AL-KO system. As the hitch is slightly larger than usual more distance is required between the vehicle and the tow-ball, this requires a slightly different ball. A special ball cover is normally required.

What is a universal wiring kit?

The Universal Bypass electrics is a cost-effective way of connecting your tow-bar to your vehicle. It provides the basic legal towing lights for your car. This can be a simpler solution to the older vehicle, as it ‘bypasses’ the cars complex electrical system. The vehicle lighting function allowing the trailer lights to work efficiently.