Tow Bar Twin Electrics

[Phil her up]

I have been giving the Search some stick but can't find all the answers to my questions - can anyone help please?
Got a tow bar kit from Roughtrax with twin electrics pack - its all made by PCT.
Fitted the bar no problems but have yet to tackle the electrics.
Here come the questions:-
1. Has anyone found a cunning place to bring the two thick wires into the vehicle without drilling new holes?
2. The instructions say "Take the 12S GREEN wire through a 16 amp in-line fuse through positive terminal on battery"; 1 X 16 amp inline fuse is supplied with spare length of green cable so no problem there. I assume I use the master battery (driver's side?), or does it not matter really?
3. The instructions go on to say "If applicable connect the 12S RED wire through a fridge relay and 16 amp fuse to the battery";Well I guess I need this but the relay, wire and fuse for this is not supplied, where do I get a fridge relay and how is it wired?
Please help.

[Medieval Dave]

I have been giving the Search some stick but can't find all the answers to my questions - can anyone help please?
Got a tow bar kit from Roughtrax with twin electrics pack - its all made by PCT.
Fitted the bar no problems but have yet to tackle the electrics.
Here come the questions:-
1. Has anyone found a cunning place to bring the two thick wires into the vehicle without drilling new holes?
2. The instructions say "Take the 12S GREEN wire through a 16 amp in-line fuse through positive terminal on battery"; 1 X 16 amp inline fuse is supplied with spare length of green cable so no problem there. I assume I use the master battery (driver's side?), or does it not matter really?
3. The instructions go on to say "If applicable connect the 12S RED wire through a fridge relay and 16 amp fuse to the battery";Well I guess I need this but the relay, wire and fuse for this is not supplied, where do I get a fridge relay and how is it wired?
Please help.

From memory there is a cable grommet from under the bumper on the rear passenger side comes up between the taillights and the cubby, to get your cables in.

The fridge wire is a feed just for your fridge. it is on when the engine is running but off or swtiched to a leasure battery otherwise. I have never wired this up but I guess you might get a split charge kit which makes allowance for it.

sorry for the incomplete answer, not much of a caravanner. someone will do better.

[Phil her up]

From memory there is a cable grommet from under the bumper on the rear passenger side comes up between the taillights and the cubby, to get your cables in.

The fridge wire is a feed just for your fridge. it is on when the engine is running but off or swtiched to a leasure battery otherwise. I have never wired this up but I guess you might get a split charge kit which makes allowance for it.

sorry for the incomplete answer, not much of a caravanner. someone will do better.

OK thanks, I am new to caravanning myself and have just bought a really old one from family to see if we like caravanning or not! I am fairly sure the van has a leisure battery in it that can somehow be charged from the towing vehicle?? - any takers?

[Medieval Dave]

If your van has it's own battery then you should not need the fridge wire.

One of the wires in the second electrics plug will be the charge wire. it might be the red one? you'll need to trace it out yourself. to do it properly this wire needs to go to a split charge relay on your truck. this will charge the leasure battery only when your car is started, but then disconnect it so that it doesn't flatten your battery when you stop. you can buy a split charge kit, with instructions, from caravan places. search for 'split charge relay' on the net and you will get loads of info.

[Phil her up]

Fantastic Dave, thanks again. My problem at the moment is I haven't got the van here yet and I want to be wired up ready for when I do have it! That aside you have been very helpful I have a lot more to go on than before I posted.
Is there anyone else who can throw any more light? - I'm all ears !

[kitesurf_phil]

Phil,

If you have a look on the towbar warehouse web site or tow equip website they have free wiring diagrams that you can print off. I wired mine using them and, so far, no problems.

[Phil her up]

Great stuff - I'll have a look at them tomorrow night
Thanks

[paulh]

Great stuff - I'll have a look at them tomorrow night
Thanks

I used this one http://www.towsure.com/default.asp?t=561 (SMARTCOM) from Towsure, found it saved a lot of messing with finding wires from ignition or alternator.
It just senses the voltage of the battery and decides if the engine is running,
I've had no problems with it at all.

[Phil her up]

Phil,

If you have a look on the towbar warehouse web site or tow equip website they have free wiring diagrams that you can print off. I wired mine using them and, so far, no problems.

Not having much luck here
I can't find any wiring diagrams on towbar warehouse site and I can't find tow equip website!

[dirtydog]

the diagrmas from towequipe do not show 12s wiring for a Surf.

[Purpledoris]

ok can we have a definitive answer here please coz I just bought a (very old)van today and need to collect it fairly soon!
Currently we have no towbar fitted at all. i am in favour of taking it to a proper place and getting it done, himself wants to fit it himself and pay our mate in beer to do the leccy.
My questions are:
What recommendations do we have for height adjustable tow-bars?
Is there a socket in the surf to just connect it to like on some vehicles (I've been told) or does it have to be manually wired ie not "plug and go"?
Please forgive my lack of technical knowledge I'm only a girlie!