- Joined
- Dec 10, 2007
- Messages
- 257
- Points
- 87
Hi
I am fitting a Tow Trust detachable flange type towbar (yes they do exist - model TF1031D). One nice thing is that with a second Detachable Extension (the bit the ball is attached to!) I can have one dedicated to a greaseless Alko hitch and fitted with a Maxxraxx bike rack when towing the caravan and another for the greased hitch on my box trailer. Just a single twist of a knob to change over! Am having a break from fitting as I thought I may as well make the towbar 'invisible' when an extension is not attached by colour coordinating it with the body. Seemed a good idea at the time until I tried to get the paint! It is a solid colour, Blue Jump Code 476/B, but Halfords et al don't stock it nor do Fiat dealers. In the end I had a 400ml base coat aerosol made for £12.50 + VAT. Had to ring around as the prices vary a lot. Blue Jump is a solid colour but the paint is a 2 pack one which EEC says can only be used by people with an approved booth. The base coat will have to have a clear lacquer final coat. Tow Trust give their tow bars a protective layer of iron phosphate and then powder coat them in Ford Chassis Black. I just sprayed the bar in grey primer and don't expect any rejection problems as there won't be any solvent residue to spoil the finish which might have happened if they were brush painted with chassis black.
I can say that fitting your own towbar even with both 12N and 12S cable connections is no great problem now that I have done it! For anyone without a multimeter the cable connections in the rear light clusters are as follows. The number is Fiat's terminal numbering.
Left
green/black indicator 5
black earth 4
red/yellow stop 3
yellow/black side 2
white reversing 1
Right
light green indiactor 1
black earth 2
red/black stop 3
yellow/red side 4
mauve fog 5
There are negative earth posts on each of the rear pillars (the one on the right was unused. I have fitted a Ryder UltraSmart 7 Bypass Relay with fog-light cutoff (TF2218P-FC) to get over the problems of Fiat's thin wiring harness, and a 30 amp TF1170-3 Smart self-switching combination caravan relay.
Now just have to watch the paint dry!
I am fitting a Tow Trust detachable flange type towbar (yes they do exist - model TF1031D). One nice thing is that with a second Detachable Extension (the bit the ball is attached to!) I can have one dedicated to a greaseless Alko hitch and fitted with a Maxxraxx bike rack when towing the caravan and another for the greased hitch on my box trailer. Just a single twist of a knob to change over! Am having a break from fitting as I thought I may as well make the towbar 'invisible' when an extension is not attached by colour coordinating it with the body. Seemed a good idea at the time until I tried to get the paint! It is a solid colour, Blue Jump Code 476/B, but Halfords et al don't stock it nor do Fiat dealers. In the end I had a 400ml base coat aerosol made for £12.50 + VAT. Had to ring around as the prices vary a lot. Blue Jump is a solid colour but the paint is a 2 pack one which EEC says can only be used by people with an approved booth. The base coat will have to have a clear lacquer final coat. Tow Trust give their tow bars a protective layer of iron phosphate and then powder coat them in Ford Chassis Black. I just sprayed the bar in grey primer and don't expect any rejection problems as there won't be any solvent residue to spoil the finish which might have happened if they were brush painted with chassis black.
I can say that fitting your own towbar even with both 12N and 12S cable connections is no great problem now that I have done it! For anyone without a multimeter the cable connections in the rear light clusters are as follows. The number is Fiat's terminal numbering.
Left
green/black indicator 5
black earth 4
red/yellow stop 3
yellow/black side 2
white reversing 1
Right
light green indiactor 1
black earth 2
red/black stop 3
yellow/red side 4
mauve fog 5
There are negative earth posts on each of the rear pillars (the one on the right was unused. I have fitted a Ryder UltraSmart 7 Bypass Relay with fog-light cutoff (TF2218P-FC) to get over the problems of Fiat's thin wiring harness, and a 30 amp TF1170-3 Smart self-switching combination caravan relay.
Now just have to watch the paint dry!
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