Just noticed that the Colorado has standard 7 pin flat trailer socket but from memory the van has a 12 pin flat plug (7 in one row and 5 in the other) - Silly question but do I need a convertor or will the 7 pin top of the 12 pin fit in the 7 pin socket. Picking up the van towards the end of the month and only just realised the difference!
Thanks Delta, Been looking for adaptors on-line and found nothing - looks like I will need to make my own up. Simplest way would be to use a 7pin flat to 7 pin round and change the round to a 12 pin, with just the 7 led straight through - would ensure I am using heavy enough cable that way.
I'm going with changing the plug on the tug. Although I'm not too sure what the adaptor will do for you other than basic services eg blinkers brake lights etc.
I don't recall ever seeing an adaptor which will do this particular conversion. In any case, any adaptor with only seven pins on one end will totally negate the benefits of a twelve pin plug.
Go with Gundog, fit a twelve pin to the tug. You'll need it down the track.
we have the 12 in adaptor, Anderson plug and camera plug. With the weight of all those electrical leads, we found the Anderson lead sometimes pulled out and dragged along the road.
We now have a bungie cord around all three leads with the hooks of the cord in the tow ball handle. Its long enough to keep the cables slack for turning, but takes the weight off. We used a Red Dot cord - 3 for $3 - so use one of the thinner bungies not the expensive thick ones that will cause you problems. This acts in the same way as the cables and pipes held up between a truck tractor and trailer unit
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Cheers Bruce
The amazing things you see when nomading Australia
Thanks folks for all of the replies. I agree that the 'real' solution is to change the 7 pin car socket to a 12 pin socket, but the budget and time constraints will probably be the 7-12 adaptor for the initial pickup of the van.
Best of British finding an adaptor. Those auto accessory chain stores have adaptors for all the other plugs but I am yet to see one with a 12 pin plug or socket on it. A lot of times I have been in them looking for other bits but always go to the trailer accessories to look at the situation. Quite frequently they don't have stocks the 12pin equipment.
It's easy enough to construct your own adaptor, I have done so in case the van has to be towed by a vehicle that does not have a 12 pin socket. To make your own get a 7 pin plug and a 12 pin socket. Obtain some 6 mm auto cable and cut 6 pieces 150 mm long. wire them into the connectors, you simply join the identical numbers in the plug and the socket.
Do not connect pins 2 in the 2 connectors, pin 2 is used for the reverse light according to the standard, caravanners thieve it for use as the fridge power supply. Your tow bar installer may have wired the socket up to the Oz standards. If there is a heavy load on the vans pin 2 in the plug (say someone switches the fridge to 12 V DC) you will blow a fuse in the tug. I remember reading a tow test with a series 100 Cruiser, the fridge took out a circuit that had amongst other things the power windows.
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PeterD Nissan Navara D23 diesel auto, Spaceland pop-top Retired radio and electronics technician. NSW Central Coast.
- PeteD - correct intend to make my own adaptor or rewire just 7 pins of a 12 pin socket. (Since I am British (by birth) I should have the best of British already!! )
- Migra - sorry missed your question, It's a Trailcraft 540 Panarama, 2400Kg.
