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Subject Topic: towing with a 1.4 2004 Ford Fiesta
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04/7/2009 at 9:00am
 Location: Northamptonshire
 Outfit: Avondale Mayfair Dart 380-2 Ford C-Max
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 Hi Kabbes the one I was quoted for at Freedom Caravans is called the AKS 1300 made for lighter weight  caravans and quoted £238 fitted to the van. The plug on the van is a 13pin so will have the socket fitted by local fitters.


04/7/2009 at 10:14am
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That is indeed an Al-Ko stabiliser of the type I mentioned. Make sure your towbar fitter either fits a swan neck towbar or an Al-Ko extended ball if you are having a flange type towball/towbar fitted.


04/7/2009 at 10:51am
 Location: Northamptonshire
 Outfit: Avondale Mayfair Dart 380-2 Ford C-Max
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 OK thanks Kabbes, what the chap said was if the wrong ball fitting was on my car they would put the extended ball on, while they are showing me all the workings of the van. Plus he pointed my wife and I to a good pub just three hundred yards away for a good carvery for just £3.50 each, it was excellent, we couldn't cook it at home cheaper.


04/7/2009 at 11:18am
 Location: South Gloucestershire
 Outfit: Avondale Kingfisher Super 1979
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I wouldn't have the 13 pin put on the car, I would have the old standard socket fitted and use a converter as this way should you wish to use a small trailer for going to the tip for instance then there won't be a problem with the lighting.


04/7/2009 at 12:04pm
 Location: Northamptonshire
 Outfit: Avondale Mayfair Dart 380-2 Ford C-Max
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 I have heard the converters are not really stable, but was wondering if it really is necessary to have the thirteen pin fitted. Would the standard plug fit the new 13 pin plug for the car electrics, or would it have anything to do with the AKS 1300 stabiliser which means it should be fitted? Sorry for all these questions but I am just learning all this.


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04/7/2009 at 12:16pm
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Quote: Originally posted by Paul + Wendy on 04/7/2009
I wouldn't have the 13 pin put on the car, I would have the old standard socket fitted and use a converter as this way should you wish to use a small trailer for going to the tip for instance then there won't be a problem with the lighting.


If you have a 13pin socket on your car & you wish to tow a trailer with a 7 pin you simply buy a small single 13/7pin adaptor & keep it in the car. Sorted eh?


04/7/2009 at 12:27pm
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The plug has nowt to do with the stabiliser. New caravans supplied for the UK market have been fitted with the Euro spec 13pin plug since last yr, it is the future, 12n/12s is the past. Obviously adaptors are available for all combinations of incompatable cars/caravans.

The adaptors work ok, the single to double adaptors in either direction are cumbersome & need to be secured carefully when in use to prevent dragging on the ground. The single adaptor mentioned in my previous post is small & not cumbersome & can be kept in your car should you need to tow anything with 7 pin.

So car should be fited with 13pin socket to match your caravan.


04/7/2009 at 12:31pm
 Location: South Gloucestershire
 Outfit: Avondale Kingfisher Super 1979
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Quote: Originally posted by Kabbes on 04/7/2009
Quote: Originally posted by Paul + Wendy on 04/7/2009I wouldn't have the 13 pin put on the car, I would have the old standard socket fitted and use a converter as this way should you wish to use a small trailer for going to the tip for instance then there won't be a problem with the lighting.

If you have a 13pin socket on your car & you wish to tow a trailer with a 7 pin you simply buy a small single 13/7pin adaptor & keep it in the car. Sorted eh?



It works both ways then doesn't it


04/7/2009 at 12:46pm
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No, it dosen't work both ways, if you have a 7pin socket on your car & put an opposite way round single adapter on for a 13pin caravan plug the caravan battery will not charge & the fridge won't run so whats the point of that? As I said 13 pin is the future. evetually new trailers will be fitted with a 7pin plug in the same plug format of the push&twist 13pin, the old 7pin plug format will eventually become obsolete.

I realy can't see why you keep making these odd suggestions.


04/7/2009 at 1:18pm
 Location: South Gloucestershire
 Outfit: Avondale Kingfisher Super 1979
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but if you have a 7 pin grey and black socket it will still work both ways, we can all be pedantic when it suits


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04/7/2009 at 6:51pm
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Whats the point of fitting 12n/12s to his car when the caravan has a 13pin, if he wants to tow a small trailer occasionally he can carry a single adaptor, presumabley he will be mainly towing his caravan so he might as well have matching plug/socket, what is the point of him having to use a cumbersome double adaptor?

First you incorrectly tell the op that his car is not suitable for the caravan he wants to tow when plainly it is, when he doesent fall for it, you then attempt to persuade him to fit sockets to his car that are incompatable with the caravan you could not persuade him against buying.

I think you are just trolling, I hope the op has the information he requires without being confused by your posts.


04/7/2009 at 9:30pm
 Location: West Scotland
 Outfit: Fleetwood Garland and Almera
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just seen this thread and the op will be fine towing a freedom witha 1.4 duratech fiesta, plenty of power when needed and hills wont be a prob, i tow the garland with a 1.5 petrol almera and the van is about 930kg in usual trim, gone up most hills in scotland no probs including glen ogle ( 1 in 20) in a 30mph headwind and blizzard

there is a common thought that to tow any van you need at least a 2 litre diesel or a sorento/pajero in reality it is down to the kerbweight percentage



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05/7/2009 at 12:42pm
 Location: Blackburn Lancashire
 Outfit: Coachman Laser 650 and Discovery
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There is no point in buying the old plugs and sockets.  13 pin is the way to go.  I have a 13 pin socket on the car, and tow various things with different plug configurations.  The double adapter sorts it all out.  It is indeed a bit cumbersome. but as long as you secure it properly, the extra length is not a problem.

Jim



05/7/2009 at 5:12pm
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Quote: Originally posted by alan126 on 04/7/2009

just seen this thread and the op will be fine towing a freedom witha 1.4 duratech fiesta, plenty of power when needed and hills wont be a prob, i tow the garland with a 1.5 petrol almera and the van is about 930kg in usual trim, gone up most hills in scotland no probs including glen ogle ( 1 in 20) in a 30mph headwind and blizzard

there is a common thought that to tow any van you need at least a 2 litre diesel or a sorento/pajero in reality it is down to the kerbweight percentage

Yes Al .....Thats Correct I Can Tow Any Van !


05/7/2009 at 7:12pm
 Location: Northamptonshire
 Outfit: Avondale Mayfair Dart 380-2 Ford C-Max
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 Thank you everybody that have contributed to this post. I have decided to have the 13 pin socket fitted and go for a diamond wheel clamp which the insurer insists on. Had a great quote from CaravanWise, with a no fuss quote. Maybe look forward to meeting some of you when touring sometime. I have never needed a trailer to take my rubbish to the tip, the back of the car has always been big enough and the best place to pick up those abandoned Calor Gas bottles to exchange for a full one.


04/6/2017 at 7:12pm
 Location: Galashiels Scotland
 Outfit: Freedom micro lite discovery Le
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Hi there I have a freedom microlite discovery and a 2013 fiat panda 1.2 petrol tows it no problem, ok it's no missile when confronted by hills but climbed up to Carter bar Northumberland side at 40 mph, and sits on A1 in 5th gear majority of time, hills are taken in 4th gear and more severe in 3rd.



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