We are about to pick up our !st freelander (XS Auto) and as part of the package we negotiated a LR towbar with 13pin electrics. Can anyone tell me if the 13pin electrics include both 12N and 12S. The dealer doesn't seem to know but the accessory brochure lists both dedicated wiring for 12N and 12S but doesn't state if the 13 pin does both. We had problems when the dealer fitted a tow bar and electrics to our Honda CR-V (13pin) and the basic kit only does the lights and they had to order another kit for the caravan electrics. (I was a little shocked to find the LR salesman didn't know 13pin electrics existed) any help would be appreciated....Thanks

http://www.rydertowing.co.uk/trailer_towba...ring_.aspx

As always Alex - superb technical feedback

You are a credit to your nation and an invaluable member of Freel2.com. A veritable gentleman

Sorry, I didn't make myself clear, I know the 13pin can do both 12N and 12S, what I need to know is if the LR dedicated wiring kit contains both. When the honda dealer fitted a 13pin set up to our CR-V we only found out the basic kit contains the wiring for 12N when we connected the caravan up and didn't have any caravan electrics.
The dealer had to go back to Honda and order another kit to wire the 13pin up for 12Sas well (they argued that not everyone needs the 12S so why include it in the kit) I didn't want the same thing happening again. All specialist towbar companys know exactly what is required, why don't LR dealers, especially when Land Rover are used so much for towing.

If the kit has been fitted by the dealer as a genuine LR part number then all the electrics you will require for the van will be present including th extra earth connection for the fridge. Ralph
Zurmatt Silver, Diesel, Automatic, side steps, mud flaps, mats, boot liner, TomTom Start 60 installed, rubbing strips, removable Brink tow bar, after market tinted glass, front styling bar, Rear spoiler, Motorlicious tail pipe trim. Wood Company centre armrest

Sorry... I don't know this...
Better see for yourself the kit before they install it.
But you can put beside one another, on paper, the wiring/configuration for all of them (13, 12N, 12S) and you can compare with real kit and see what contains and choose what suits you.

As I understand it you can get three types of dedicated wiring for the Freel 2, 12N, 12N &12S and 13 Pin.

http://www.pfjones.co.uk/towbar-wiring-kit...-kits.html p****d off with a Digital Keyboard Warrior

Thanks for your help, sounds as though the 13pin kit comes with both, I'll take my multimeter with me and check it out before we leave the dealers, if its not right I will be back where we were with the CR-V tryning to get the dealer to understand something that they really should know all about. Looking forward to picking up the car on Saturday, XS auto, Santorini black, not the best colour but I decided to go witht the best car and deal rather than the best colour. We bought this after being invited to go on a half day Landrover experience at Milton keynes.
great fun and we were so impressed we bought the car. (well an XS, not the top of the range HSE they allways tempt you with).

I don't know who is fitting your wiring kit but it will have to be programmed, i.e. the trailor indicator warning light should flash when the indicators are on whilst towing, also it turns off the rear fogs on the car and disables the rear parking sensors when towing.

Great choice of car, but don't mention the colour as it will start a wars some members get a bit funny over it.  p****d off with a Digital Keyboard Warrior

I got the 12n and 12s electrics fitted to my car before I picked it up just like you 1stFL.... (I see you went for the 13 pin - I wish I had). I went next day to the van to check all was well and it wasn't charging the fridge. A call to the dealer service department and they confirmed it needed one of the pins earthing - some customers need it/some customers don't ! Anyway I'd not got to the bottom of my courtesy cappuccino and it was done - the day after we were in France and all was well. - You will love the car towing

ad210358 wrote:

........ and IS SUPPOSED TO disable the rear parking sensors when towing BUT ONLY WHEN THERE'S AN 'X' IN THE MONTH.......i.e. never.

Just because your parking sensors play up, I don't hear a peep out of mine  p****d off with a Digital Keyboard Warrior

As it's being fitted at a large LR delareship I expect it to be a 1st rate job with all the bits connected and reprogrammed, I could have taken it anywhere and got half a job done. The trouble is the dealer is one and half hours away so it won't be easy to pop it back to get any bits sorted out. This will be my first british car for a long time after a number of Skoda octavias (no problems at all) a merecedes 220( no problems) and the CR-V which I have had for a year (Minor problem with the clutch pedal) so I hope all will be well with the Freelander. I am switiching becuase I want an auto, Honda have just brought out a CR-V auto but it's only 5 speed and the towing limit has gone down 500kg to 1500kg, the X-trail auto is even worse dropping from 2200kg to 1300kg. has the limit dropped because the gearbox isn't strong enough?. I thought the FL2 drove really nicely, its auto and is heavy enough to tow my caravan. I hope my future postings are singing the praise of the FL2 and not looking for answers to problems.

OK good point - so I would make it very clear to the service person (Whose name you will record of course) that you want the electrics fully connected so that the van battery and fridge are powered and you want their guarantee that this is the case. If when connecting the van at a later date this is not happening what will they do about it.
If they are a main dealer maybe you are being overcautious, but I would just be the same as you.
Is there a caravan dealer near the car dealer? When picking up the car might be worth calling in and asking to get it checked for a £10 ?

Quick way of checking that something has been done on the electrics it to lift the rear floor panel where the spare is and check the fuse box as therte is a fuse there for the Fridge and nothing else. I believe it is FB9. p****d off with a Digital Keyboard Warrior

Last edited by ad210358 on 15th Feb 2010 12:32 pm. Edited 1 time in total