Towbar Information

**vesssh** · 25-05-2012, 08:14 AM

I am looking at purchasing a R36 wagon but I am seeing mixed specifications abour the towing capacity.

Is it rated to tow 2200kg?

I will be towing a car (1450kg) with a tandem car trailer (440kg).

If it can tow 2200kg, has anyone had any experience towing a R36 with a car on the back?

**wfdTamar** · 30-05-2012, 03:53 PM

I'm trying to wire a 13-pin Euro plug to 12-pin flat socket adaptor. Posted this in the Skoda Octavia section but thought Passat owners might know the answers. My thinking is it'll end up the same thing as the VW 13-pin to 7-pin adaptor, but with the added function for caravans/heavy trailers (because 7-pin can connect to a 12-pin also).

Issues are:

a. 13-pin Euro has no electric brakes pin. How do they do electric brakes in Europe?

Could you connect pin 5 on the 12-pin flat to the stop lights pin (pin 6 on the 13-pin) just for the signal, but get power for the electric brakes from pin 9 (ignition switched power 12-pin), then put a relay in the caravan? That might work for your own caravan (where you can custom wire it), but you really want to do it in a way that works for all. How about a relay INSIDE the adaptor lead?

I'm a little unsure how powered trailer/caravan brakes work. From my reading the above solution may not work as the power for electric brakes needs to be variable because caravan's brake force can be varied by the driver.

Maybe for a custom wired adaptor (only for your caravan) you could use pin 12 of the 13-pin Euro for electric brakes (since it's currently not used)? You'd have to add that function to the socket on the car.

Or use the first solution but with caravan brakes that can be adjusted on the caravan (so obviously couldn't be varied when driving)?

b. 13-pin Euro has a right tail and a left tail pin. 12-pin flat has the one tail light pin. How's this handled in the VW adaptor?

Originally Posted by scoutau
b: The car needs to be told it is located in Australia, this changes the wire detection to allow for Australian single bus (One wire for all park (wfdTamar - do you mean tail?) and one wire for all Stop lights.) 7 conductor trailer wiring instead of the dual bus (Left and right side of trailer for stop and park (tail)) used in Europe.

Originally Posted by IanHamilton
b: This also has been cabled for in the 13-7 adapter. Pins 5,7 of the 13 go through diodes to pin 7 on the 7 pin.

Swallowtail:
5 and 7 from the 13 pin are each fed into a IN5404 rectifier (rectifier or diode?), and then joined together and connected to the 7 pin conenctor number 7 - which is for tail lights. The rectifiers have a reverse impedance of 1.7kohms.

But didn't someone else say only pin 5 (of the 13-pin) is connected to pin 7 and the Australian coding takes care of that? Any more detail about those diodes? What value are they and how are they wired up? Any chance of a good photo? Do both pins (on 13-pin) get connected to pin 7 (12-pin) or just pin 5 (13-pin)?

c. What do you connect the earth return on the 12-pin flat (pin 10) to? Euro pin 10, or pin 13, or both? If both, does that require a diode(s) too?

I'm not terribly familiar with diodes and stuff in that area (could ya guess?).

13-pin round Euro
1. left indicator
2. rear fog
3. earth return
4. right indicator
5. right tail & sidelights
6. stop lights
7. left tail & sidelights & number plate
8. reverse
9. permanent 12 volt (interior lights and charging)
10. auxiliary, ignition switched 12 volt (fridges)
11. earth for pin 10
12. signal connector (not used on VAG cars)
13. earth for pin 9

12-pin flat (and the Euro pin it's connected to)
1. left indicator (1)
2. reverse (8 )
3. earth return (3)
4. right indicator (4)
5. electric brakes What do you connect this to?
6. stop lights (6)
7. tail lights do you connect this to the Euro 5 & 7 - how?
---------(pins 1-7 are the same as a flat 7-pin connector)---------
8. permanent 12 volt (interior lights and charging) (9)
9. auxiliary, ignition switched 12 volt (fridges) (10)
10. earth return (11 or 13 or both?)
11. rear fog (2)
12. aux/spare (seems not used)

**Guest001** · 17-08-2012, 10:59 PM

Electric caravan brakes need a controller in the cabin
The wiring is
Black Power from battery through an auto reset breaker to controller.
White Earth
Red goes to cold side of brake switch above pedal or wherever.
Blue is to caravan to apply brakes Is normally Pin 5 in a standard connector and needs to be at least 6mm auto wire.

If you dont know what a controller is and what its for perhaps you should get some professional advice.

Google Tekonsha Prodigy which is an excellent model used a lot by vanners.

**Guest001** · 28-08-2012, 10:24 PM

Towing a trailer with a car on it would be fraught with danger as for one thing it would be very hard to keep the ballweight within limits.
Why well most of the weight of the towed car will be at the front hence giving a heavy ball weight.
Cant see you keeping it to 80kg as the empty trailer would be nearly that.

Therefore you wont want to have an accident attributable to overloading.

**wfdTamar** · 29-08-2012, 07:32 AM

Was that post meant to be there as it doesn't seem to follow any discussion on here (no one has mentioned a trailer with a car on it)?

Oh and I know what a brake controller is, just never fitted one or looked into it yet. I've found with a bit of research on the internet I can know as much, if not more, than the so called 'professionals' around here.

**Guest001** · 29-08-2012, 07:54 AM

Originally Posted by wfdTamar

Was that post meant to be there as it doesn't seem to follow any discussion on here (no one has mentioned a trailer with a car on it)?

Oh and I know what a brake controller is, just never fitted one or looked into it yet. I've found with a bit of research on the internet I can know as much, if not more, than the so called 'professionals' around here.

Was in answer to vesssh's post #51 about towing a car on a trailer with an R36 and I forgot to click reply with quote.

Theoretical knowledge is good but practical experience beats it every time. Would take an old tradesman over a university grad anytime.

**wfdTamar** · 29-08-2012, 08:12 AM

Oh sorry I didn't look up far enough (trailer with car).

Yes, but we've all met the 'I've been doing this for xx years' type - only to find out they've been doing it incorrectly all that time. A thick experienced tradesperson isn't going to get any better. A uni grad can gain the experience and (in theory) has proven they have at least half a brain in their head (by getting the degree). Though given some of the dills I saw get degrees even that is questionable.

Also in the car field you're just as likely to strike someone with no education (either uni or trade) and little experience.

**Guest001** · 29-08-2012, 08:36 AM

Originally Posted by wfdTamar

Oh sorry I didn't look up far enough (trailer with car).

Yes, but we've all met the 'I've been doing this for xx years' type - only to find out they've been doing it incorrectly all that time. A thick experienced tradesperson isn't going to get any better. A uni grad can gain the experience and (in theory) has proven they have at least half a brain in their head (by getting the degree). Though given some of the dills I saw get degrees even that is questionable.

Also in the car field you're just as likely to strike someone with no education (either uni or trade) and little experience.

Getting well Off topic but its all about sorting the wheat from the chaff. Same as getting experience from the internet.

I wouldnt trust 75% of what is floating around and always check lots of places before trying anything.

If its a legal issue like towbars I go and ask the relevant authority and have done so in respect of my posts on here.

Also get answers from them in writing so I can back myself up if questioned.

I had weight capacity problems with my first van and tug and had to sell tug and buy a higher towing capacity one so rest assured I have done the research as it cost me $23,000 to make the mistake I did

**PranK** · 01-02-2013, 02:12 PM

VW Australia just gave me some info on Facebook;

https://www.facebook.com/VolkswagenA...nt_id=25873869

Volkswagen Australia Hi Christian, thanks for your question. There is a towbar available for the B6 Passat Wagon and the part number is VGA803 921PAS06. In addition to the towbar, you will also need towbar wiring, but the part number for this varies depending on the model year of your Passat. For MY05-08 the part number for the wiring is 3C9055204G, but for MY09 onwards it's 3C0055210. We suggest that you contact your local Volkswagen dealer for further assistance. We hope that helps! Thanks, Your Volkswagen Team