Towbar

Transporterman · Post by **Transporterman** » Sat May 30, 2015 6:12 pm

Hi everyone, New member here! My daughter is shortly to be the proud owner of a new import '05 Bongo 2.0 and all work on the van from now on is going to be down to me.

Starting with a tow bar (7 pin electrics only). I have fitted quite a few tow bars over the last 43 years (retired mechanic) so I'm fairly confident about doing the job but Bongo's are completely new to me. Does anyone know if the late Bongo's have multiplexed wiring? If so, I'm likely to need a bypass relay. It seems to suggest this here- http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/7-WAY-SMART-M ... 566c20fd95

Great site by the way

I'm looking forward to learning all about the new wee shiny black beastie!

Gasy · Post by **Gasy** » Sat May 30, 2015 6:39 pm

Hi and welcome
Don't know about the electrics for you
But there's 2 different type of tow bar fixings
One is strong and bolts to a number of places
One is weak and bolts to a spot welded part of chasi
Which then has a habit of breaking the spot welds and a drooping bumper occurs

Think the stronger ones are made by A1 or something like that
Quick search should bring it up

mikeWalsall · Post by **mikeWalsall** » Sat May 30, 2015 7:08 pm

Mine is this one .. http://www.a1tow.com/Files/Fitting/MA465S_A.pdf .. prices seems to have shot up .. but they are available in the 'Bongo Shop' at a decent price ..

Post by **g8dhe** » Sat May 30, 2015 8:28 pm

No the wiring isn't multiplexed, most of the signals are available from the offside rear lights.
The wiring manuals are available here http://www.g8dhe.net/bwm you will need Flash for the actual manuals so Phones and Tablets can only see the other sections.

Post by **Simon Jones** » Sat May 30, 2015 8:48 pm

As Geoff says, it's old-school wiring and to get the nearside indicator wiring, just run a cable under the carpet beneath the rear grey tailgate trim and fit the buzzer unit in the space behind the offside trim panel.

Transporterman · Post by **Transporterman** » Sat May 30, 2015 9:19 pm

Thanks for the replies. I've just been reading a bit more about the towbars. Being a grey import they don't need EU type-approval so as mentioned above there are some very poor versions about. I think I'll go with the one recommended here!

nth · Post by **nth** » Sat May 30, 2015 10:03 pm

The only thing i would add is always fit a new style 13 pin socket to towbars even if your only using it for lights (you only need to wire up what you need to use). The 13 pin plugs are way better. Far better, water resistant & more secure connections, just fit a new style plug to your trailer.

Post by **Simon Jones** » Sat May 30, 2015 11:02 pm

Good point about fitting 13 pin socket. You can get a 13 - 7 pin adapter to allow existing trailer to plug straight in.

nth · Post by **nth** » Sun May 31, 2015 1:00 pm

Simon Jones wrote:Good point about fitting 13 pin socket. You can get a 13 - 7 pin adapter to allow existing trailer to plug straight in.

I wouldn't bother with the adaptor as you still have the issue of the old style 7 pin sockets, best to fit a new 13 pin plug to your existing trailer too.
Its handy to carry the adaptor though incase you have to use a trailer you don't normally tow like if you borrow one for example.

Transporterman · Post by **Transporterman** » Sun May 31, 2015 1:50 pm

I will definitely fit a 13 pin socket. The Bongo will probably only ever have a towbar mounted bike rack which will come with a 13 pin plug I would think.

I have a 13 pin original fit socket on my own T5 Transporter and it's so much better than the wobbley old 7 pin push-in types! Mind you, it's going to need relays/re-wiring soon for fridge/battery charging for towing my caravan.

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