Just wondering if any of you have wired single electrics for a towbar, either using Landrover plug in lead, or traditional N type bypass relays.

Any of you able to confirm which wires I need to hook up to, and where they are located.

As Landrover kit just plugs in, I assume the connections are all brought to the plug (LHS of boot?).
Anybody know which colour wires are which?

Also, is it possible to use the dashboard "tell tale", rather than an annoying beeping sounder in the boot?

Mark

PS Just why do landrover charge £180 for plug in wiring!!! Freelander 2
TD4 GS
Shiney fantastic Baltic Blue
Detachable Witter Towbar

markconnor33 wrote:

Just wondering if any of you have wired single electrics for a towbar, either using Landrover plug in lead, or traditional N type bypass relays.

Any of you able to confirm which wires I need to hook up to, and where they are located.

As Landrover kit just plugs in, I assume the connections are all brought to the plug (LHS of boot?).
Anybody know which colour wires are which?

Also, is it possible to use the dashboard "tell tale", rather than an annoying beeping sounder in the boot?

Mark

PS Just why do landrover charge £180 for plug in wiring!!!

I've just googled CANbus.................................... and don't understand any of what I read but here you go, here's a link to a description of what one of them is!
http://www.interfacebus.com/Design_Connector_CAN.html
There are some VERY techy and large words in that description that I haven't ever seen before, JARGON Warning!

Sounds like a sort of electrical LAN to me! How can carbon have a footprint, it has no feet?
Now driving - RRE Coupe Dynamic Lux Auto with Plus pack, Fuji White, Ebony, SD4 with tow pack
Gone - 2010MY FFRR TDv8 Stornoway and Ivory, Privacy - the pace of a TDv8 RRS, the incomparable grace of a Range Rover
Gone but will be missed- RRS Tdv8 HSE Stornoway Grey with Ebony Leather
Gone (only a little missed) RRS Tdv6 2.7SE Giverny Green/Aspen
Defender 90 County HT in Epsom Green

LAN it is then, all makes sense to me.

I have to say that I am still not convinced that this is the way LR have gone on the FL2, although you may be right, and that would explain the excessive price LR charge for such a basic function.

Anybody got a picture of the adapter lead? The pictures I have seem didn't seem to have any electronic gismo's on them.

Won't change my decision to wire my own, but would still like to know how it should all fit together.

Thanks guys


Mark Freelander 2
TD4 GS
Shiney fantastic Baltic Blue
Detachable Witter Towbar

Got all the gear now.

Witter detachable towbar from Towequipe (£190), Single electrics kit inc Smart bypass relay(£35).

Had a look at supplied instructions and looks straightforward to fit, with no cuts to trim, and being detachable, shouldn't interfere with reversing beepers.

Hopefully should have fitted before end of weekend, ready for first tow next week.

Cheers
Mark Freelander 2
TD4 GS
Shiney fantastic Baltic Blue
Detachable Witter Towbar

When I got my car I had the towbar fitted pre-delivery. When I hitched up to my van a few weeks later nothing worked. A quick whip round to the garage was necessary as the on board computer had to be programmed to know that the trailer wiring was present. All worked fine after that.

Not sure if relevant to DIY fitting but might be useful to know. Jonathan

Crikeyyy

£500 ish to a Landrover stealer, and your car/trailer doesn't work afterwards - classic


Makes me extra glad I fitted my own.

Mark Freelander 2
TD4 GS
Shiney fantastic Baltic Blue
Detachable Witter Towbar

Did yours work then Mark, or is it necessary to have a LR dealer "activate" it?

Works great, but I didn't use LR wiring kit (too much of a rip off!), so nothing to activate.

Wired simple single electrics, with Smart 7 way bypass relay.

All as per my other post, which tells you all how to do it.

Cheers
Mark Freelander 2
TD4 GS
Shiney fantastic Baltic Blue
Detachable Witter Towbar

For the first time of my life, I didn't fit the towbar myself. Exactly: because of the electronics.
So I went to a towbar fitter who is specialised in electronics and who even produces an universal module himself that normally seems to work trouble free. What happened next, I don't know (I've heard different stories) but the fact is that suddenly the word FAILURE appeared on the display. ABS and DHC didn't work anylonger and there was no choise but putting my car on a trailer and bringing it to the Land Rover dealer.
They noticed a serious software problem, had to wait 2 days to get the right software and also had to replace an electronic module which is mount on the rear differential.
Eventually, the towbar fitter didn't want to take the risk to do the electrics without the genuine cable as he was aware that any future problems with the electronics would automatically be attributed to the non standard wiring. Fortunately, all repairing costs - and even the genuine wiring - are paid by the towbar fitter (or his assurance).

After a couple of sleepless nights, I have a better towbar than the LR one now and the genuine wiring all at a very reasonable price

When I asked the towbar fitter what solution he would suggest to the next Freelander 2 driver, his answer was clear: "definitely the original wiring".

Sound advice for those who can afford it.

No problems with my DIY fit to date though, and not expecting any.

Mark Freelander 2
TD4 GS
Shiney fantastic Baltic Blue
Detachable Witter Towbar

good job markconnor !


(but after my experiences of last week, I wouldn't take any risk)