ProcrastinatorFraser

Active Member
About 3 months ago i thought of something that happened while i was on a trip to get my 1977 series III back for restoration.
It was a rush decision, very much a bargain for a complete series 3 at 750€.
So we rented a trailer to go get it. We had problems with it from the very start, where some lights weren't working properly. We eventually got it sorted and set off on the 1 1/2 hr trip down to near Nantes!
We got there fine. we loaded up the car and set off. It was evening at this point.
Once it became night time, we were rolling down the motorway, and suddenly we lost all trailer lights.
So we had about a 4 ton load, rolling almost unlit down the motorway. Brilliant.
Once we pulled over, we then noticed that what had happened, was the bloody trailer we rented had an adapted unit so it would fit on to regular trailer power hitches.
But when we hooked it up initially, the adapter was actually broken, so it pushed back all the power connectors on the disco's hitch. So, we were sat there for about 20 minutes faffing around with the bloody thing until we finally got most of the lights working again.
And from then, we still had about 45 mins trip back home. Thankfully the lights kept working until we got home.
And for those who think it was a problem with the disco's hitch from the very beginning, we rented a trailer from a different company a while a go to get my 90, and there were absolutely no problems with that one.
Did the company not bother to check the trailer over before they lent it again?
 
I sold a trailer last year and the guy that turned up re-wired it in the street outside my house 'to suit his car'. Hilarious! At the time I had 2 towbar equipped vehicles (genuine kits), 3 trailers, and a bike rack all wired up properly and all combinations worked but oh no - his car wasn't the problem:mad:
That's the point of standardising stuff.
 
It's absolutely ridiculous. Most people who rent a trailer will have the standardized power hitch, so why use other than that? And why not check it after every use? I didn't mention this also: we had to buy a new power hitch for the disco, because the trailer completely buggered it up.
 
Are their not 2 standard power socket - the old 12n 7pin and the new EU socket?
 
Last edited:
EU trailer socket? Im googling that. I'm still on 12n. If I'm moving/borrowing a trailer I usually just take my own light board and extension that I know will work.
 
That's right, 13 pin is an MOT item - they will have a tester that plugs in to it. So not only do the pins have to work, they have to be correctly wired.

The main reason for the 13 pin is to provide stronger connections for the heavy power usage on a caravan - the fridge for instance. Thus if you are just towing a box, you are perfectly OK with the old style.
 
The main reason for the 13 pin is to provide stronger connections for the heavy power usage on a caravan - the fridge for instance. Thus if you are just towing a box, you are perfectly OK with the old style.

Just out of interest then, do trailer rental companies equip their units with both connections - as they will have no way of predicting the hirer's set-up.
 
I sold a trailer last year and the guy that turned up re-wired it in the street outside my house 'to suit his car'. Hilarious! At the time I had 2 towbar equipped vehicles (genuine kits), 3 trailers, and a bike rack all wired up properly and all combinations worked but oh no - his car wasn't the problem:mad:
That's the point of standardising stuff.

Of course not !! what a prat - Nowt so queer as folk
 
That's right, 13 pin is an MOT item - they will have a tester that plugs in to it. So not only do the pins have to work, they have to be correctly wired.

Which is why I will be staying with 12N and 12S - I don't another thing for it to fail on!!

That and the fact that i hate all this euro control crap.
 
Which is why I will be staying with 12N and 12S - I don't another thing for it to fail on!!

That and the fact that i hate all this euro control crap.
13 pin is a far superior design, the old 12N/S have issues with poor contacts that can burn, melt, corrode and also suffer water ingestion. Been towing for last 20 years, never had an issue with 13 pin in last 8 years (since they became 'standard' in about 2008), changed many 12N/S plugs and sockets before that for various issues. Even converter the defender to 13 pin socket, can always plug a 13 to 12N adaptor if need be.
 
13 pin is a far superior design, the old 12N/S have issues with poor contacts that can burn, melt, corrode and also suffer water ingestion. Been towing for last 20 years, never had an issue with 13 pin in last 8 years (since they became 'standard' in about 2008), changed many 12N/S plugs and sockets before that for various issues. Even converter the defender to 13 pin socket, can always plug a 13 to 12N adaptor if need be.

that's your opinion. ( and you are entitled to it - you might even be right)

Mine is different:p:D
 
I agree with Kwackerman. The more substantial pins make a much better contact, so can handle higher power demand. Also the plug has a positive twist lock into the socket, so cannot fall out.

Also, the design is British. We got it imposed on the rest of EU, and now it is in common use worldwide.
 
Have you actually seen or used one, the quality difference is obvious from just looking at it let alone using it. :cool:

Yep, we have one on the current 'van, ( and the adapter too !! ) - but with eight trailers and four tow vehicles, I am not changing them all - I really can't be bothered.
I must maintain stuff better than most, as we don't have problems with the 7 pin arrangement.

genuinely, you use your 13 pin stuff - tis fine with me:)
 

Similar threads