When visiting the ssec last week I could not help noticing that all the new vans had the new 13 pin plugs on them, so if we change our van to a new one it will mean a trip to the auto electricians for a re-wire
Ours has the 13 pin but as we changed the car at the same time we just had the towbar fitted with 13 pin too. You wouldn't have to have everything re-wired - you can buy an adapter (about £30 I think) that splots from the one lead from the van into the 2 for the car (IYSWIM).
You can buy the adaptor for about £25 where you just plug the 13pin adaptor in to you existing 2 sockets but our dealer didnt recommend this - not sure why. However my husband read an article in a recent practical caravan mag which showed you in great detail how to remove the 2 sockets and replace them with the 13 pin. It involves some rewiring and although it was fiddly he found it straightforward and only cost us about £12 for all the parts off the internet.
I fail to see the point in using adapter leads, just have the car fiitted with a 13 pin socket, they still use the original wiring, so it will not cost the earth.
------------- Regards
Terry Birch
Our tourer days are over and we have moved on to a Hobby Motorhome
Just found it, it was the 2010 Awards Special edition (no date on it as it must have been out as well as the monthly issue) but we bought it in Oct or Nov 2009. The website we bought the 13-pin socket from and the other bits needed was www.westerntowing.co.uk Hope this helps. Kate
I was on the MCEA stand at the NEC and a customer asked us about a conversion. The dealer had quoted approx £150 to do the conversion..... We did it for £40..... You just need the plug and 40 minutes work.
If you separately google '12n/12s wiring' & '13pin wiring' you will get wiring diagrams you can print off. Then buy a 13pin socket & wire the exiting wiring into it. The diagams will be veiwed from the back of the socket as you wire it. The connectors are numbered.