Electrics

Choosing the right electrics for your needs…

There are three types of electric socket:

Single 7-pin (12N)
towbar-electrics-installation

To power the lights on a trailer or cycle carrier light board
To power most external lights on a caravan, but will not power the reversing lights or the interior functions of the caravan such as the fridge and charge the battery

Twin 7-pin (12N+12S)
twin_7-pin_12n_12s_electric

The black socket will power most lights on a trailer, cycle carrier light board, and most external lights on a caravan
The grey socket will power the exterior reversing lights and the interior functions of caravans (such as the fridge and charge the battery) built before 2008

Single 13-pin
single_13-pin_electric

This socket will power all the external lights and the interior functions (such as the fridge and charge the battery) of caravans built after 2008
Needed to power the reversing lights on the lightboard of larger cycle carriers

Universal electric wiring

The lowest price
Bypasses your vehicle’s electrical system
Audible buzzer heard when the trailer, caravan or lightboard indicators activated
Trailer Stability Program (TSP) not activated if fitted to your vehicle
Vehicle fog lights and parking sensors (if fitted to your vehicle) not disabled whilst towing
On newer vehicles the warranty may be invalid for parts affected by the towbar wiring. Please check with your vehicle dealer
On newer vehicles with a Trailer Stability Program your insurance may be affected if you have an accident in which the TSP may have prevented the accident or reduced the resulting damage. Please check with your insurer

Dedicated vehicle-specific wiring

The most expensive
Work in tandem with your vehicle’s electrical system
Audible buzzer may be heard or a light may be seen on dashboard when the trailer, caravan or lightboard indicators activated
Trailer Stability Program (TSP) activated if fitted to your vehicle
Vehicle fog lights and parking sensors (if fitted to your vehicle) are disabled whilst towing
On newer vehicles the warranty on parts affected by the towbar wiring is usually protected. Please check with your vehicle dealer
Please note that your vehicle may require coding to enable some or all of the above electrical functions to operate

Many manufacturers design their motor vehicles’ electrical systems to recognise when a trailer has been connected. The vehicle will then alter its characteristics (for example by using a trailer stabilisation program) to help create a safe towing environment for the vehicle and its passengers.
When a dedicated vehicle-specific wiring kit has been fitted, some of the vehicle’s towing features may need to be activated (or coded, as it is usually called). We code your vehicle’s towing features with Westfalia’s Autocode service tool, offering a one-stop service for towbar and dedicated vehicle-specific electric fitting, with no need for you to pay for main dealer coding.
We can also code dedicated vehicle-specific electrics that have not been fitted by us.
Please watch the video below for more information about safety related towing features that may be present on your vehicle.

Activating-vehicle-electrics-using-the-Autocode-Service-Tool-step7

Get in touch with the team.