Tow Bar electrics

knightstyle

Well I have fitted tow bars to many cars we have owned over the years, I begrudge paying exorbitant fees.
Most recent was a Ford Cmax, 2013 so similar to yours.
The tow bar comes with all you need, no drilling, and pre threaded holes in the car.
Electrics, well I had a good look around and bought a 7 way bypass relay box for under £20. Again very easy to install once I had identified the cables in the car.
So good tow bar and working electrics for £160 and 1/2 days work.

So will you ever need the electrics? You will if the bikes cover the number plate and lights. If not just put a tow bar on. If you do then have a go yourself, perhaps a friend with electrical knowledge could help?
The old 7 pin sockets are being phased out for the new 13 pin ones but adaptors are available for either way conversion.

System

It’s just two bikes, don’t want to put them in the car, we plan taking them when we are on holiday, to much hassle to keep taking wheel off and not enough room for luggage and two full size adult bikes in back, plus as the cars only done 220 miles now and is new I would hate to damage it lifting bikes in and out. Tow. Bar would need electrics, it’s the law. I’ve had a couple of quotes online for full manufactures electric kit and Witter tow bar at about £665, fitted at home. Going to check with Ford dealer over warranty, and may go with this. To old to be messing under cars now15 years ago I may have attempted it, but not these days

facade

Trust me, if you think that dropping the front wheel out is too much hassle, you won't use the bike rack more than once, you might be better off hiring 'bikes when you get to your destination.



I take your point about lack of room though.

Gloomendoom

I fitted towbar electrics to my wife's car using the manufacturer's kit to preserve the warranty. I had to remove the back seat and all the interior trim down one side of the car to do it. It took all day. Not a job for the feint hearted on a new car. It was pretty much plug and play though.

The tow bar itself took about 30 minutes to fit.

AdrianC

kev_min wrote: »

As you do not intend to tow a trailer or caravan do you even need the electrics?

If the loaded bike rack is going to obscure the original vehicle's lights and plate, then... yes.

Norman_Castle

A multi plug in the boot or a connector which can be fitted along the current wiring would be so much simpler and cost manufacturers almost nothing.

AdrianC

Norman_Castle wrote: »

A multi plug in the boot or a connector which can be fitted along the current wiring would be so much simpler and cost manufacturers almost nothing.

...and is almost always what you get from a manufacturer's towing electrics kit, rather than a generic cheapie.

Gloomendoom

AdrianC wrote: »

...and is almost always what you get from a manufacturer's towing electrics kit, rather than a generic cheapie.

You do with Land Rover. Other manufacturers' kits I have fitted piggy-back off the existing connectors to lights etc. The problem I have found with both generic splice-in and manufacturer's piggy-back kits is that they required a direct feed (or two) from the battery. Not so bad if the battery is in the boot but a PITA if it's at the front.

oldagetraveller

Joe_Horner wrote: »

That's actually a whole lot easier than they make it look.

It boils down to about 3 screw connections, one plug and a couple of splices, all the rest is specifying routing, clipping, and throwing your used insulating tape in the bin - yes, for those who can't be bothered, they DO have a picture showing you should do that!

You surely forgot about the whole of one side's interior trim with the risk of broken clips, fixings etc.:D

Gloomendoom

If you are going to do it and you need to remove trim, I recommend a warm day. Less likely to crack any plastic.