Towbar wiring

Installing the electrical circuits necessary for powering external lights and 12-volt systems is now the most complex aspect of fitting a towbar. Our handy guide provides a basic overview – the downloadable pdf provides more detail.

After choosing your towbar and before a vehicle can be used for towing, it's necessary to fit a towbar, modify the direction indicator system and install the necessary sockets to power the caravan or trailer’s road lights and any internal auxiliary equipment.  

In the past, this was commonly considered a straightforward task for a competent DIY person. In recent years, however, the increasing complexity of vehicle electrical systems has made it more and more difficult to obtain and interpret the technical information necessary to ensure that the required connections are made in a correct and safe manner.  

Some vehicles could be seriously damaged by the use of an inappropriate universal towbar wiring kit – with some others, the additional wiring would simply not work properly without extra components. Keeping up with this topic as new and revised models of vehicle are launched is a demanding task, and is certainly one which we do not have the resources to do.

It’s a legal requirement that the towcar ‘shall be equipped with an operational tell-tale for front and rear indicators. This is sometimes referred to as the ‘C1’ and ‘C2’ functions (‘C1’ refers to the tell-tale for the car’s indicators – C2 is the extension of that function to the caravan). This tell-tale can be audible or visual. This tell-tale function is sometimes neglected when the towbar wiring is fitted – this is illegal.  

Check with your intended manufacturer, retailer or fitter of the system before making a final selection of towbar for your car. If they are unfamiliar with the characteristics of your particular vehicle, it may be best to look elsewhere. For this reason, we recommend professional fitting, preferably by a specialist installer.  

It's also worth considering looking into the possibility of using a caravan stabiliser, for peace of mind and extra safety when touring in the UK or overseas..

Adapters and extensions

Most commonly needed is an adapter lead which connects to a towcar’s single 13-pin socket and the caravan’s two 7-pin plugs. Such leads are sometimes included when the towcar is bought, or may be an ‘extra’ available through the vehicle dealer.

Alternative leads are obtainable from larger accessory shops, or from component specialists. The use of an adapter lead can make the caravan connections too long, and there is a risk of them dragging on the ground while travelling. Make sure that any such adapter lead includes all of the required wires for your caravan.

An alternative (avoiding the excess cable length issue) is a simple plug which converts a 13-pin socket to a 12N 7-pin socket. These are also useful if towing something other than a caravan, which doesn’t require 12S circuits. 

A similar plug converts a 12N 7-pin socket to a 13-pin socket, although clearly only the road light circuits are included. Most adapters are commonly available through caravan accessory shops in the UK, this latter plug is often found as an accessory for Continental-made cycle carriers, which use a 13-pin plug-equipped lighting board.

Don't forget to check out our full list of technical advice; providing all the information you need when preparing for your next caravan holiday.

Useful contacts

National Trailer & Towing Association
Carriage Court
Welbeck
Worksop
S80 3LR

www.ntta.co.uk
01909 512 555

Website includes Buyers’ Guide for towbar fitters and product suppliers etc. They also run ‘Quality Secured’ scheme for accredited towbar fitters

Witter Towbars
Drome Road
Deeside Industrial Park
Deeside
Flintshire
CH5 2NY

www.witter-towbars.co.uk
01244 284500

Standard and vehicle-specific wiring kits. Dealer list for retail supply and fit on website.  Website includes sample ‘I-Fit’ instructions which show in illustrated steps how a wiring kit is fitted

Brink U.K. Ltd (Thule)
Unit 7, Centrovell Ind. Estate
Caldwell Road
Nuneaton
Warwickshire
CV11 4NG

www.brink.eu
02476 355810

Standard and vehicle-specific wiring kits. Dealer list for retail supply and fit on website.

PCT Automotive
Holbrook Industrial Estate
Holbrook
Sheffield
S20 3GH

www.pctautomotive.com
0114 251 1000

Standard and vehicle-specific wiring kits. Adapter leads and plugs. Mobile fitting service

Maypole Ltd
162 Clapgate Lane
Woodgate Business Park
Birmingham
B32 3DE

www.maypole.ltd.uk
0121 270 4301

Standard and vehicle-specific wiring kits. Plugs, sockets, adapter leads, cable etc.

Right Connections UK Limited
Unit 503 Queensway Business Park
Hadley Park
Telford
Shropshire
TF1 7UL

www.rightconnections.co.uk
01952 608750

Standard and vehicle-specific wiring kits. Plugs, sockets, adapter leads etc.

Ryder Towing Equipment Ltd
Spimin House
Beacon Road
Poulton-le-Fylde
Lancs
FY6 8JE

www.rydertowing.co.uk
01253 881008

Website contains a wealth of background information and advice, plus downloadable trade catalogue

Towsure Products Limited
151-183 Holme Lane Hillsborough
Sheffield
S6 4JR

www.towsure.com
0114 250 3000

Standard and vehicle-specific wiring kits. Plugs, sockets, adapter leads, cable etc.

LeisureShopDirect Ltd
Mullacott Business Park
Ilfracombe
Devon
EX34 8PS

www.leisureshopdirect.com
0844 477 0776

Plugs, sockets, adapter leads etc.