tow bar - SV650.org

09-10-06, 06:53 PM

fitted a towbar on my focus today to pull a small alloy trailer, i havent wired it up yet i'm still trying to work out the wires

anyone know anything about wireing up towbars?

09-10-06, 07:07 PM

Really easy just use a 12volt test lamp and match the earth first. Easy way is use a fly lead and run 12volt supply to test trailer wiring. You'll need somebody to stand behind the trailer and tell you which light is on and then run to the car and turn indicators and step on brakes and stuff. Take ya 30 minutes

Mark_h · 09-10-06, 07:19 PM

Modern cars are a bit more of a problem as you can't just T into the wiring like you used to. If you have bulb failure indicators, you'll need a thing called a bypass relay.

I got my last one from here.
http://www.towsure.com/product.asp?p=13145

You'll still need a wiring diagram for your car or just a 12v tester and some patience.

Make sure your earth is 100% A nut and bolt to a substantial bit of bodywork. Do not just use a fixing screw as you'll get all sorts or weird things happening ans it takes hours to sort out.; I now I did that once. Never again.

then when it's all working, give all the external socket internals a good coating or grease. They fill with water, all corrode up and if you've not left any slack on teh 7 way cable you are buggered as you can not remake the connections.

09-10-06, 07:32 PM

i dont need the bypass relay as i havent got the bulb warning lights on the dash(its only a ford focus)

thanks for the info guys i'll give it a go tomorrow.

10-10-06, 07:02 PM

its all wired up and working! ready to go camping next year

09-10-06, 06:53 PM	#1
kwak zzr Guest Posts: n/a	tow bar fitted a towbar on my focus today to pull a small alloy trailer, i havent wired it up yet i'm still trying to work out the wires anyone know anything about wireing up towbars?

09-10-06, 07:19 PM	#3
Mark_h Member Mega Poster Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Fleet, Hampshire Posts: 2,448	Modern cars are a bit more of a problem as you can't just T into the wiring like you used to. If you have bulb failure indicators, you'll need a thing called a bypass relay. I got my last one from here. http://www.towsure.com/product.asp?p=13145 You'll still need a wiring diagram for your car or just a 12v tester and some patience. Make sure your earth is 100% A nut and bolt to a substantial bit of bodywork. Do not just use a fixing screw as you'll get all sorts or weird things happening ans it takes hours to sort out.; I now I did that once. Never again. then when it's all working, give all the external socket internals a good coating or grease. They fill with water, all corrode up and if you've not left any slack on teh 7 way cable you are buggered as you can not remake the connections. __________________ Don't want to be the quickest; don't want to be the best; just want to be the one having the most fun. XL125Varadero -> Curvy SV650N-Y -> SV1000N-K3 -> Multistrada 1200s Twin-tastic stuff. Minister for Sustainability *Aliquid prudentissimus delectabiles et intelligentes in adamasset lingua.*

09-10-06, 07:07 PM	#2
Razor Guest Posts: n/a	Really easy just use a 12volt test lamp and match the earth first. Easy way is use a fly lead and run 12volt supply to test trailer wiring. You'll need somebody to stand behind the trailer and tell you which light is on and then run to the car and turn indicators and step on brakes and stuff. Take ya 30 minutes

09-10-06, 07:32 PM	#4
kwak zzr Guest Posts: n/a	i dont need the bypass relay as i havent got the bulb warning lights on the dash(its only a ford focus) thanks for the info guys i'll give it a go tomorrow.

10-10-06, 07:02 PM	#5
kwak zzr Guest Posts: n/a	its all wired up and working! ready to go camping next year