Caravan adaptor to trailer adaptor
Submitted: Monday, Jan 01, 2018 at 16:25
ThreadID:
136043
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4453
Replies:
10
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Clayton A
Hi all......I did do a search of the
forum and did not come up with an answer to this question...if there is one and someone can link me that would be great....in the meantime here goes:
I have the standard old trailer plug on my car and the van has a 12 pin flat plug. The previous owner modified the flat plug adaptor of a 7 pin which operates all the lights fine. My question is, Is this legal to modify an adaptor that way? It looks perfectly fine...there is no way you could get a wrong connection or anything. I am just wondering if something went wrong would insurance still pay because of the modified plug? Is it worth just getting a 12 pin installed just to be sure?
Any
feedback would be great!
Thanks!
C.
Reply By: Member - mechpete - Monday, Jan 01, 2018 at 16:32
Monday, Jan 01, 2018 at 16:32
What ever you do to make the lights work is legal
Mechpete
AnswerID:
615855
Reply By: Notso - Monday, Jan 01, 2018 at 16:36
Monday, Jan 01, 2018 at 16:36
If all the required bits work, I can't see any problems.
How did the person power his 12 volt fridge, did he have an anderson plug etc?
Has the van got a break away system?
AnswerID:
615856
Follow Up By: Clayton A - Monday, Jan 01, 2018 at 16:49
Monday, Jan 01, 2018 at 16:49
I don't believe they used the fridge whilst underway. No anderson plug...and no break away system..the van (its a pop up type) only weighs 700 Kg's.
FollowupID:
886963
Reply By: Member - Phil G (SA) - Monday, Jan 01, 2018 at 17:21
Monday, Jan 01, 2018 at 17:21
Your van has a 12 pin plug for a reason.
Pin 8 is often used to recharge the breakaway or pin 11 to monitor the breakaway voltage (by law in NSW)
In addition the extra pins are often used to power ESC or the 3-way fridge or charge the caravan battery.
Pin 10 is usually a high current earth.
Chances are that you've disabled something.
AnswerID:
615860
Follow Up By: Notso - Monday, Jan 01, 2018 at 17:54
Monday, Jan 01, 2018 at 17:54
Nah, the van only weighs 700kg depending on whether that's the ATM or Tare he may not even need brakes on it. And it certainly wouldn't need a breakaway system.
FollowupID:
886971
Reply By: Allan B (Sunshine Coast) - Monday, Jan 01, 2018 at 17:46
Monday, Jan 01, 2018 at 17:46
.
Hi Clayton,
Legislation (rules, laws etc.) apply to the lights required on a trailer or van. They do not specify how those lights are connected to the towing vehicle.
If you have all the correct lights and they work as required, it does not matter how you connect them.
EDIT: Mind you, for a number of good reasons, I would upgrade the car to a 12 pin connector and be done with it.
AnswerID:
615863
Reply By: Nomadic Navara - Monday, Jan 01, 2018 at 23:55
Monday, Jan 01, 2018 at 23:55
Trailer plugs occasionally give trouble. When they do you spread the two halves of the pin a bit with a knife blade. If you are using an adaptor you are going to have double the amount of trouble. Also adaptors are only meant as a temporary fix.
You will be better off in the long run replacing the vehicle socket with a 12 pin one. You will still be able to connect trailers with 7 pin plugs as the 12 pin socket is designed to accept them Also having 12 pin connectors will allow you to connect your fridge up for operation whilst towing. Use pin 9 for the positive and 10 for the earth. Install a 20 A fuse near the battery and wire the hot wire like this.
fridge wiring
AnswerID:
615868
Reply By: Dusty D - Tuesday, Jan 02, 2018 at 07:07
Tuesday, Jan 02, 2018 at 07:07
"I have the standard old trailer plug on my car....."
What is standard?
Lack of a national standard trailer connector has always been a PITA and it is hard to find 2 people who agree on what is "standard".
Something you may want to consider is that in the event that your van "has" to be towed by another vehicle, will a modified connector cause problems? The short answer to that is yes.
Do it right to start with is the only way and as for the question relating to possible problems with insurance, only your insurance company can provide the answer to that. They work in mysterious ways and will refuse a claim if they can.
Dusty
AnswerID:
615869
Reply By: swampy - Tuesday, Jan 02, 2018 at 10:56
Tuesday, Jan 02, 2018 at 10:56
hi
trailer requires 12 pin
THEN U CHANGE THE TUG TO 12 pin
Adaption from 7 to 12 pin does not work . You need to know all the wire functions on both plugs .
SOLUTION
Have all the wires identified by an auto elec , rectify wiring as needed and install a pair of new 12 pin plugs.
All power supplies ok [battery charging etc ] [ fridge supply ]
All earths ok
All elec brake wires ok
All trailer light wires ok
AnswerID:
615870
Reply By: Member - McLaren3030 - Tuesday, Jan 02, 2018 at 11:42
Tuesday, Jan 02, 2018 at 11:42
Install a 12 pin socket on your tow vehicle. Most vans these days have a 12 pin plug. When you go to upgrade your current camper to something else, it will most likely also have a 12 pin plug. You are "future proofing" your car.
Macca.
AnswerID:
615872
Reply By: Dean K3 - Thursday, Jan 04, 2018 at 16:19
Thursday, Jan 04, 2018 at 16:19
Been keeping
well clear of this subject but something in back of my noggin start clanging.
WA so far only used 6 or 7 pin round small, any vehicle brought across ex fleet etc from Victoria has a large 7 pin round fitted.
If I am thinking correctly a 12 pin will be a flat rectangular shaped connector either two ros of 6 or one big single row of 12.
If the size of the pin/plug is too small of size how heck is sufficient amperage for especially electric brake supposed to work through a minimal sized wire ?
AnswerID:
615898
Follow Up By: Nomadic Navara - Thursday, Jan 04, 2018 at 20:15
Thursday, Jan 04, 2018 at 20:15
"If the size of the pin/plug is too small of size how heck is sufficient amperage for especially electric brake supposed to work through a minimal sized wire ?"
So said the pin sizes it were too small? The small pins will safely handle 10 - 15 A. That is enough for a tri axle tyrailer. Most of us have single or twin axle vans so there is more than enough current carrying capacity in the small pins for our requirements.
FollowupID:
887047
Follow Up By: Member - McLaren3030 - Friday, Jan 05, 2018 at 12:20
Friday, Jan 05, 2018 at 12:20
A 12 Pin car socket is rectangular, with a row of 7 standard size pins on top, & 5 larger pins on the bottom. A standard flat 7 pin trailer plug will plug straight into the top row of a 12 pin car socket.
Macca.
FollowupID:
887056
Reply By: Clayton A - Saturday, Jan 06, 2018 at 22:55
Saturday, Jan 06, 2018 at 22:55
Thanks to everyone’s help.....decided to just install a 12 pin just to be safe! Thanks once again.
AnswerID:
615940