Ford Factory Fit Towbars - Beware

[wirral tourer]

After much digging and wondering why pin 9 wasn't working on the 13 pin socket of the factory fitted towbar socket I was forwarded the schematic from Ford showing that Pin 9 is not connected up (although Pin 13 is - this is the return)

 

Ford confirm that they have taken a decision not to do this as they cannot control which appliances will be connected and they may ultimately draw too much power and this may represent a fire risk. This is total rubbish in my opinion (For those who don't know, Pin 9 provides power for caravan interior lighting, charging the caravan battery and powering the Al-Ko ATC Traction/Stability Safety devices which are now fitted on many modern caravans.)

 

This is not mentioned in any brochure or price list and surprises me for two reasons:

 

1. The cigar lighter socket represents a similar risk but they haven't stopped fitting these.

2. Are Ford aware that ATC units, which are now commonly fitted to new caravans, will not work.

3. An invention known as a Fuse would remove the risk

4. Their towbar wiring does not now conform to a caravanners expectations and do not fully adhere to ISO11446

 

If I'd known this I would not have specified a ford towbar, but had one fitted independently. I will be writing to Ford. I have recommended to the Caravan Club that they exclude Ford from their Towing Car Awards as they do not now meet the requirements of Caravanners.

[mk2vr6]

Ford confirm that they have taken a decision not to do this as they cannot control which appliances will be connected and they may ultimately draw too much power and this may represent a fire risk.

 

 

are you saying that if we go around reconnecting pin 9 that the chances of caravans everwhere catching fire is increased? if thats case I'll grab my toool kit and get on the case asap :16:

[wirral tourer]

Most people would have the common sense to fit a fuse. Ford however appear devoid of common sense as it has not occured to them that a fuse would remove any risk and the fact that for the last 20 or so years caravan electrical sockets have featured constant live pins also seems to have escaped them. To be honest, I think it is another example of a pathetic cost cutting exercise.

 

They probably had a meeting where the agenda was - what can we remove to save money ?:

 

Spare tyre

Jack

Brace

Proper wiring for electrical socket

Tonneau cover

[seatkid]

There must be a fuse somewhere, it would be negligently dangerous to have a direct connection to the battery as witnessed by many a car fire in the bad old days (pre 1970).

 

What Ford have probably discovered is the rating of the wiring and/or its looming adjacent to other current carriers is marginal or not up to the job. Rather than fit a smaller fuse that will keep blowing everytime your fridge cuts in, they decided to not take risks, the onus will now be on the garage or owner who wires up pin 9.

 

Its a risk avoidance measure.

[wirral tourer]

You could say the same about cigar sockets.

 

Modern wiring (2.5mm recommended for this pin) and new 13 pin sockets are rated up to 25Amps, so a 25 AMP fuse would protect the circuit. Current draw off doesn't reach anywhere near that.

 

The fridge runs off a separate pin anyway.