10 replies to this topic

[Paul332]

http://www.caravanti...urce=newsletter

[stevegtuk]

EU butting in again, what next, will they state a set distance to sit from the steering wheel and whether the glove box contains the correct amount of sweet wrappers and cassettes without cases.

I know the idea is so the lights will work on the trailer or caravan being towed.
the problem is
firstly what happens if the wiring on the trailer is duff or the bulbs dont work then it wont matter if the towing electrics work anyway or secondly if someone buys a car that has a tow bar already on but has no intention whatsoever of doing any towing, they have to either make sure the electrics work for not towing, or take the tow bar off, that is, providing they are physically capable and pratically minded enough to take it off, or, have enough spare money to pay someone to take it off.

[PURPLE_2L_LX]

How about someone that uses the spare sockets on the towing electrics for external power.

Charging batteries etc. Saves having to keep opening the boot and lugging batteries in and out of the car
and also opening closing the boot when its pouring down.

This is the 1st car for many years thats had a single 7pin towing socket. Normally i fit them myself and add extra power
outputs.

But they wont be testing 7 pin sockets. Visual check only.

[Sutty2006]

Theres good points and bad points, like you said Steve. The amount of trailers Ive connected up to and its been the trailer at fault is not going to solve the problem. Theres also loads of people out there with towbars that have no intension of towing... so their car is deemed unroadworthy if the socket is faulty, what a load of tripe.

In my personal opinion, there should be a minimum inspection for any trailer to include

- Lights
- Tyres
- Visual security (eg nothing loose/excessively dangerous)

Or, people should just check their lights work before they use. Spotted a 4x4 towing a plant trailer with a mini digger on it the other night. No lights what so ever on the trailer. Felt sorry for the person following it!

[stevegtuk]

Might be worth having to have trailers and caravans registered like cars so people cant make up a load of scaffold bars in the a trailer, that way they can have some sort of test to make sure they are roadworthy. Although saying that the government or EU will take it too far like they do everything else and ruin it for everyone.

[PURPLE_2L_LX]

Caravans have had a registration system since 1992. (CRIS) But its voluntary.

Must admit i forgot to send my documents off 10 years ago and the paperwork is still in the draw.

[timgdean]

without meaning to sound rude to our mainland european brothers and sisters (is that pc enough?) the standars of some cars on mainland europe seems to be worse than some of ours. Keep our rules for this land.

Mind you same could be said for a lot of things....

[Alex Heney]

Whether somebody intends to use a feature or not is (and should be) utterly irrelevant as to whether the item is tested.

There are single people around who never carry passengers, but all the seat belts still have to pass.

And whether something else which may get connected also works correctly obviously cannot be tested, although I believe there are proposals to require MOT type tests for caravans (and possibly other trailers).

I have towed regularly since 1984, and I do not think it wrong in teh least taht towbar elecrics should be tested. I don't see why the 7 pin ones are only going to be visually checked though - they shoudl have an electrical test too IMO.

[Yozza64]

On my car at present ive only got the 12N black socket ie trailer lights. I tow a caravan so will be getting the 12S (auxilary) grey socket fitted soon. So according to whats been said above that means that if ive got both sockets fitted only the 12N socket will be tested

[PURPLE_2L_LX]

7 pin sockets are not tested at all. Visual inspection, So as long as they are secure and not a danger to anything then its a pass.

Problem with testing 7 pin sockets the wiring actually changed some time back, I cant remember when exactly but i do remember
people having issues with electrics not working as they should, Its because the new vans they had bought had the new wiring
layout.

Then there are people like me that used to use the towing socket for other uses, Charging RC batteries, and running feeds to inverters etc.

Its my car and my choice on what i fit to it. If i want to run 240volts through my towing socket then how can they stop me?

MOT guy says if he cant see it he cant fail it.

Not had the need to convert this one yet.....

[Alex Heney]

PURPLE_2L_LX, on 21 February 2012 - 11:22 PM, said:

7 pin sockets are not tested at all. Visual inspection, So as long as they are secure and not a danger to anything then its a pass.

Problem with testing 7 pin sockets the wiring actually changed some time back, I cant remember when exactly but i do remember
people having issues with electrics not working as they should, Its because the new vans they had bought had the new wiring
layout.

That would have been a long tme back then, because there has been no change to the 12N socket since I started towing in 1984.

Quote

Then there are people like me that used to use the towing socket for other uses, Charging RC batteries, and running feeds to inverters etc.

Its my car and my choice on what i fit to it. If i want to run 240volts through my towing socket then how can they stop me?

If it is the 13 pin socket, they can stop you by failing the MOT

With the 7 pin, the can't (but should be able to IMO).

The point is that while you know it is "your car", they don't. They have to work on the assumption that the car may be sold, or lent to other people who may not know about your modifications.

You can modify almost anything on your car. But if it doesn't meet the Construction & use regulations, it is illegal.