David said:HI folks
Looking to buy an S80 as per the header.
It is at a distance so cannot just nip round for a look.
Does any one know if the 2001 Volvo tow bar came with thirteen or
seven pin electrics in the UK
TIA
Dave
In an earlier contribution to this discussion,
I don't know for sure, but would guess 7 pin. Is the car you're (possibly)
buying already equipped for towing? If so, are you sure that it's got the
official Volvo towbar and electrics - because there are 3rd party
alternatives available?
Peter Huebner said:Word of warning: I had a 3rd party towbar fitted to my 850 by a
muffler and tow-bar shop. The clowns who installed it, wired the
trailer electrics into the rear lights. BEHIND the control relay ...
3 years later, the relay melted down.
$150 for a new 2nd hand relay from a wrecker's yard, $300 for the auto
electrician to set things right, and the stink from the melted relay
lingered for a year or so in the boot. I would've been better off
getting the Volvo shop to put an original part in .....
f.w.i.w. -Peter
I don't know for sure, but would guess 7 pin. Is the car you're (possibly)
buying already equipped for towing? If so, are you sure that it's got the
official Volvo towbar and electrics - because there are 3rd party
alternatives available?
David said:Yes it equipped for towing with a genuine Volvo tow bar. I have
physically seen the car, test drove it etc. but forgot to look at the
electrics. It just did not occur to me until a friend said it could
be 13 pin.
It is 100 plus miles trip to go see the car I live in the far North of
Scotland. Hey ho guess I'll find out on Wednesday when I pick it up!
Dave
What are you going to tow with it, and what plug(s) does that have? Assuming
the car is 13pin, and that you have a caravan with 2 x 7-pin plugs, you can
get Y-piece adapters which should work ok. Or, if you only want to tow *one*
trailer/caravan, you could rewire that with a 13-pin plug.
My ancient caravan and small trailer (which I use for taking rubbish to the
tip) both have 7-pin plugs - so I'm very happy that my 2007 V70 (with 3rd
party electrics) has 2 x 7-pin sockets. [I have modified the caravan wiring
to the latest spec - to separate the earth returns on the 7S etc.]
If you have a caravan, what age is it? ISTR that the 7S wiring spec changed
in about 1998 so - whatever combination of plugs and sockets you end up
with, you'll need to make sure that everything is compatible, and adjust if
necessary.
David said:I will be towing a 2006 Bessacarr. Well aware of the specs etc. I
will re-wire the caravan to 13 pin if the car has that. Not keen on
adapters.
Dave
Should be fine . . . unless you ever want to tow amything else.
David said:How does the rear suspension cope when towing your caravan?
Been towing with 4x4 for 20 year so need to trim the noseweight to
get down to 75kg!
Dave
I have a real struggle to get my noseweight down to 75Kg. For example,
there's no way I can carry more than one gas bottle in the front locker of
my Bailey Pageant Magenta, and stay legal!
What are you going to tow with it, and what plug(s) does that have? Assuming
the car is 13pin, and that you have a caravan with 2 x 7-pin plugs, you can
get Y-piece adapters which should work ok. Or, if you only want to tow *one*
trailer/caravan, you could rewire that with a 13-pin plug.
My ancient caravan and small trailer (which I use for taking rubbish to the
tip) both have 7-pin plugs - so I'm very happy that my 2007 V70 (with 3rd
party electrics) has 2 x 7-pin sockets. [I have modified the caravan wiring
to the latest spec - to separate the earth returns on the 7S etc.]
If you have a caravan, what age is it? ISTR that the 7S wiring spec changed
in about 1998 so - whatever combination of plugs and sockets you end up
with, you'll need to make sure that everything is compatible, and adjust if
necessary.
I will be towing a 2006 Bessacarr. Well aware of the specs etc. I will
re-wire the caravan to 13 pin if the car has that. Not keen on adapters.
Dave
On these cars, the towing wiring is connected to the rear fuse box with
a plug rather than directly wired in. If the car has 13-pin electrics,
you should be able to purchase the 7-pin version of the towbar wiring
and swap it in.
David said:I was out this PM trying things out with the gauge. Found exactly
that! Going to try the van on the car before making adjustment!
Do you have the D5? I have read that the suspension on the D5 was
firmer than the petrol versions.
Dave