General Towing with 4x4 TA

[swinnerton]

Have just completed first long drive towing picking up my new Ifor Williams P6 trailer...car handles empty trailer without any effort and subsequent trip to tip with piles of rubbish went fine ..but must get better at reversing !
Regards

 

[triumph7]

I've been told by a Thule agent that the bar is available now but the electrics is not...... ?? Now I'm

 

[swinnerton]

I don't know exactly what was involved in wiring the 7 pin socket for my tow bar but I don't imagine one has to use a Thule electrics kit ....also not sure if the 4x4 differs from lesser Pandas in term of rear wiring etc. I seem to remember the auto electrician saying something about bypass relays .
Regards.

 

[Oli 1]

Hi
Please can anyone inform me the part ref or model no of towbar (Thule) or dealer who can supply please for 2013 Trekking Panda.
Many thanks. Peter

 

[triumph7]

Hi
Please can anyone inform me the part ref or model no of towbar (Thule) or dealer who can supply please for 2013 Trekking Panda.
Many thanks. Peter

If u look in the Thule british website there is a search facility to locate local agents.....

 

[Oli 1]

Hello
The Thule agent tells we that a towbar for the 20013 Panda Trekking is NOT available at this time -still undergoing evaluation. This puzzles me because you have one fitted!! ?

 

[triumph7]

Hello
The Thule agent tells we that a towbar for the 20013 Panda Trekking is NOT available at this time -still undergoing evaluation. This puzzles me because you have one fitted!! ?

I had this email 'from the horses mouth' last week: I phoned my local agent and as its not in the catalogue yet, you need to press them to actually phone Thule for the part # - although as I said in an earlier post, they do not have the electrics sorted yet that will be warranty-compliant

Good morning

Towing solutions are available for the new Fiat Panda 4x4 from your local Thule Towing dealer now. Please contact me if you need help finding one on your area.



With Kind Regards,


Simon Wood


Customer service centre Operative


Thule Towing Systems LTD


Unit 7 Centrovell Industrial Estate, Caldwell RD


Nuneaton, Warwickshire, CV11 4NG, England


Phone direct: 02476355810


Fax: 02476352024


E-mail: [email protected]


www.thule.com


Thule Towing Systems Limited (Reg No 2425454)
Registered Office: Nuneaton, England

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

I've been told by a Thule agent that the bar is available now but the electrics is not...... ?? Now I'm

Just use a 7-way bypass relay

Cheaper that some of these wiring kits as well normally.

 

[deeyup]

Just use a 7-way bypass relay

Cheaper that some of these wiring kits as well normally.

Or use the Westfalia wiring kit.
I'm not a fan of bypass kits myself.

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

I'm not a fan of bypass kits myself.

Any particular reason out of interest

 

[deeyup]

When you use the proper tailored kit it does more than just provide lighting to the trailer board.
I believe some cars which are equipped with ESP have their settings altered on detection of a connected trailer. The ESP takes into account the trailer being there and makes allowances. Also factory rear park sensors are deactivated.

You wouldn't need a indicator buzzer as the dash turn signal indicator flashes double time to let you know a trailer turn bulb is out ( I'm unsure if this happens in all cars, that's how it is in our VW. That's a can bus system)

Another benefit of a proper dedicated wiring is alarm inclusion. If I remove the plug from my locked van the alarm goes off. This gives me some peace of mind when we go away camping and are towing.
The panda doesn't have an alarm, so no odds there.

I'd also go 13pin electrics. If you ever wanted constant plus it's a relatively easy inclusion.

Warranty issues can be a problem if you have electrical problems. I've heard of people being told its their towbar wiring causing problems.
I've looked at the wiring diagram of the westfalia panda kit and there are no cuts or splices to the vehicles wiring harness.
The Thule wiring kit on the other hand requires harness cutting. That's not the end of the world, but it may cause warranty issues??


All of the above is from experience of a westfalia (in a Vw box) dedicated kit being fitted on our van.
Maybe the Fiats aren't as clever?

Whichever, I think paying an extra £100 for the proper kit is money well spent but there are plenty of people perfectly happy with the by pass route.

 

[Most Easterly Pandas]

Fair enough, Fair point regarding parking sensor deactivation etc.

I considered it on the Bravo, but with a £150+ iirc price tag for the correct loom and having used a 7-way bypass relay before I decided upon the latter.

Had the car been new though, or had more features which would have benefited from the dedicated wiring loom then it might have been a different story.

 

[deeyup]

Just ordered a Thule removable for my 4x4.
£145 all in if anyone is looking for one.

From this place.

I've yet to decide on which electrics to get. Hedley towbars are expensive btw for dedicated electrics, so buy that elsewhere