Greetings! Can anyone recommend a good towbar for my facelift saloon please? I've got a factory fit detachable one on the MV6 but need one for the elite. Ideally a flange type one, ideally with twin electrics for my caravan. Also, what's a bypass relay, what does that do? Thanks

P.S. I've seen witter ones and heard they're meant to be quite good? How much should i be paying for one? I'll fit it myself, I know they're meant to be type approved and all that.

Thanks peeps

the bypass relay eliminates any extra load on the vehicle lighting circuit,basically a fancy switching relay  which you wire in with its own live to power the trailer lights,if its just a trailer board being used its not important to use one but modern caravans have lots of lights so quite a good idea to fit one.I wired the t/bar on my mig using one and it has the indicator audible warning built in :y

My caravan is a fifty million year old shed on wheels, it's only got the normal lights at the back, could i just get a normal twin electrics towbar, one for the lights and the other to power the fridge to keep my bombardier cold on the way to the campsite? Thanks :y

geoffr70 wrote on 27. Apr 2011 at 23:21:

My caravan is a fifty million year old shed on wheels, it's only got the normal lights at the back, could i just get a normal twin electrics towbar, one for the lights and the other to power the fridge to keep my bombardier cold on the way to the campsite? Thanks :y

The main reason I fitted one to my elite was because of the brake light check circuit,I thought that it might feck that up with the van attached

henryd wrote on 27. Apr 2011 at 23:28:

geoffr70 wrote on 27. Apr 2011 at 23:21: My caravan is a fifty million year old shed on wheels, it's only got the normal lights at the back, could i just get a normal twin electrics towbar, one for the lights and the other to power the fridge to keep my bombardier cold on the way to the campsite? Thanks :y The main reason I fitted one to my elite was because of the brake light check circuit,I thought that it might feck that up with the van attached

oh yeah, didn't think of that! Thanks

henryd wrote on 27. Apr 2011 at 23:28:

geoffr70 wrote on 27. Apr 2011 at 23:21: My caravan is a fifty million year old shed on wheels, it's only got the normal lights at the back, could i just get a normal twin electrics towbar, one for the lights and the other to power the fridge to keep my bombardier cold on the way to the campsite? Thanks :y The main reason I fitted one to my elite was because of the brake light check circuit,I thought that it might feck that up with the van attached

An Omega has pretty basic electrics for the trailer lighting so you don't need a by-pass relay. If you get a proper 'trailer check control' relay from Vauxhall (mine was c£16) then you get brake light check on your trailer/caravan too.  :y :y

Andy B wrote on 27. Apr 2011 at 23:33:

henryd wrote on 27. Apr 2011 at 23:28: geoffr70 wrote on 27. Apr 2011 at 23:21: My caravan is a fifty million year old shed on wheels, it's only got the normal lights at the back, could i just get a normal twin electrics towbar, one for the lights and the other to power the fridge to keep my bombardier cold on the way to the campsite? Thanks :y The main reason I fitted one to my elite was because of the brake light check circuit,I thought that it might feck that up with the van attached An Omega has pretty basic electrics for the trailer lighting so you don't need a by-pass relay. If you get a proper 'trailer check control' relay from Vauxhall (mine was c£16) then you get brake light check on your trailer/caravan too.  :y :y

Thanks AndyB

I've seen so many different shapes of towbar when I search for them on egay, does anyone know which one is best? Thanks

geoffr70 wrote on 27. Apr 2011 at 23:38:

I've seen so many different shapes of towbar when I search for them on egay, does anyone know which one is best? Thanks

depends if you want swan neck or flange type,I went for brink detachable as I used to get fed up bashing my shins on the fixed flange type that I had on my previous jeep when loading gear into the boot

henryd wrote on 27. Apr 2011 at 23:46:

geoffr70 wrote on 27. Apr 2011 at 23:38: I've seen so many different shapes of towbar when I search for them on egay, does anyone know which one is best? Thanks depends if you want swan neck or flange type,I went for brink detachable as I used to get fed up bashing my shins on the fixed flange type that I had on my previous jeep when loading gear into the boot

can the swan neck be quickly and easily removed (just the back bit) as if to make on there is no towbar? And can it also be installed without bumper cut and removal? Thanks

geoffr70 wrote on 27. Apr 2011 at 23:50:

henryd wrote on 27. Apr 2011 at 23:46: geoffr70 wrote on 27. Apr 2011 at 23:38: I've seen so many different shapes of towbar when I search for them on egay, does anyone know which one is best? Thanks depends if you want swan neck or flange type,I went for brink detachable as I used to get fed up bashing my shins on the fixed flange type that I had on my previous jeep when loading gear into the boot can the swan neck be quickly and easily removed (just the back bit) as if to make on there is no towbar? And can it also be installed without bumper cut and removal? Thanks

the brink that I used does need a bumper cut but its not visible from behind,its very neat and tidy and there is a knob which you push in and turn to remove the bar(which is lockable with a key)

this is the saloon version of the bar that I have   http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Brink-Detach-Towbar-Vauxhall-Omega-Saloon-94-03-/230598437749?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item35b0bceb75#ht_2821wt_1139

Thanks Henry, if I've done my abs ecu and exhaust manifold could I fit that? Is the electrics easy enough? Don't know much about electrics me. Thanks

geoffr70 wrote on 28. Apr 2011 at 00:10:

Thanks Henry, if I've done my abs ecu and exhaust manifold could I fit that? Is the electrics easy enough? Don't know much about electrics me. Thanks

Don't know about the saloon but the estate was easy to fit,the underside of chassis is pre-drilled and the boot floor is dimpled where you need to drill and open the holes for the spacers to fit,i believe that the fitting instructions are in that link that I posted :y
As for the electrics you have your other mig for a pattern

I got a Towtrust one off Ebay (I think) about 5 1/2 years ago.

Seems fine.

I did convert the caravan and car to 13pin last year - consider it seriously - seems better sealed and better connected.

Hi,

I was in the same position until last week. Got a quote from a good company local to me for £209 fitted for a twin electrics G67A witter towbar. (too expensive for me)
Last one was around half that but as it was for an older car, it didn't need to be type approved, my new 2002 mig of course does. I looked on ebay and the same towbar was on B-I-N for £50. £9.50 postage using payperparcel from Scotland- not bad. They are out there.
I will be fitting a auto switching split charge relay to use with our caravan, so power is only delivered to the leisure battery and caravan fridge when the alternator is charging.

Some thing like this :-

http://shop.ebay.co.uk/?_from=R40&_trksid=p5197.m570.l1311&_nkw=split+charge+relay&_sacat=See-All-Categories

Hadn't thought about the bypass relay, but perhaps one with the winker buzzer integrated might be a good idea.

Regards,

Graham.

GrahamK wrote on 28. Apr 2011 at 11:28:

..... Hadn't thought about the bypass relay, but perhaps one with the winker buzzer integrated might be a good idea........

You don't need a by-pass relay. Just swap the 3 pin indicator relay for a 4 pin & put a lamp in the dash. Buzzers are annoying!  :y

OK thanks everyone, some food for thought there. I have just a few more qs please. Is a Westfalia tow bar any good?

If I got a twin electrics kit, without a bypass relay, what would happen if I plugged the lights and the fridge in? Would it flatten the car battery by powering the fridge after I had stopped the engine? So I could just get round this by unplugging when I stop the engine?

Thanks

geoffr70 wrote on 29. Apr 2011 at 00:45:

ThaOK thanks everyone, some food for thought there. I have just a few more qs please. Is a Westfalia tow bar any good? If I got a twin electrics kit, without a bypass relay, what would happen if I plugged the lights and the fridge in? Would it flatten the car battery by powering the fridge after I had stopped the engine? So I could just get round this by unplugging when I stop the engine? Thanks

The bypass relay is only for the vehicle lighting circuit,the 12 s socket uses a split charge relay to look after the fridge 12v operation and caravan battery charging :y

Eh! I'm confused now! I know nothing abut electrics. Is there a resource anywhere where I can find out about it without being fleeced by a towbar fitter. Tried searching Yahoo but as usual all you get is people trying to sell you stuff.

Thanks

geoffr70 wrote on 29. Apr 2011 at 01:11:

Eh! I'm confused now! I know nothing abut electrics. Is there a resource anywhere where I can find out about it without being fleeced by a towbar fitter. Tried searching Yahoo but as usual all you get is people trying to sell you stuff. Thanks

Don't be confused about electrics. By-pass relays are on the market to be used on cars with fancy/complicated electrics to the backlights. The Omega is pre-wired for a trailer from factory with a socket in the boot behind the trim at the very back of the boot, (almost ;)) all the wires you need for a 12N (trailer lighting) are at this socket. Theory says that you should be able to buy a loom from Vx to plug into this but the theory fails when you try to get one. Just use the wires from this socket to supply your 12N socket. 12S sockets are a little more complicated, but all you are ding is supplying 12v to your caravan's battery & fridge when your engine is running. Be careful though as caravans from before 98? are wired slightly differently. Google is your friend.  :y

Thanks AndyB I think I've got most of it sussed now after some research today!

12n for lights, less reverse.

12s for reverse and fridge etc.

I need a bypass relay as the Mig has light check system on. I also need a split charge relay so the fridge etc doesn't flatten car battery when engine is stopped?

All in all I need, tow bar, twin electrics (12n and 12S), bypass relay and split charge relay?

Thanks

geoffr70 wrote on 29. Apr 2011 at 22:41:

Thanks AndyB I think I've got most of it sussed now after some research today! 12n for lights, less reverse. 12s for reverse and fridge etc. I need a bypass relay as the Mig has light check system on. I also need a split charge relay so the fridge etc doesn't flatten car battery when engine is stopped? All in all I need, tow bar, twin electrics (12n and 12S), bypass relay and split charge relay? Thanks

You don't need a by-pass relay!!

but Yes to the rest  :y :y :y :y

Kevin posted various links recently that gives locations & part number for trailer check control if you want to fit it or what to bridge if you don't.  ;)

Andy B wrote on 29. Apr 2011 at 22:49:

geoffr70 wrote on 29. Apr 2011 at 22:41: Thanks AndyB I think I've got most of it sussed now after some research today! 12n for lights, less reverse. 12s for reverse and fridge etc. I need a bypass relay as the Mig has light check system on. I also need a split charge relay so the fridge etc doesn't flatten car battery when engine is stopped? All in all I need, tow bar, twin electrics (12n and 12S), bypass relay and split charge relay? Thanks You don't need a by-pass relay!! but Yes to the rest  :y :y :y :y Kevin posted various links recently that gives locations & part number for trailer check control if you want to fit it or what to bridge if you don't.  ;)

Ah right sorted, got it now! I don't need bypass relay as it's prewired for trailer, I just connect to 12n socket.

I'll look for thos posts now!

Thanks Andy B! :y

geoffr70 wrote on 29. Apr 2011 at 22:55:

.... Ah right sorted, got it now! I don't need bypass relay as it's prewired for trailer, I just connect to 12n socket.......

Correct! Just be careful which blue/black/rear fog light wire you use though, it's intended to be used with an 8 core cable & a 12N socket with a switch inside so that when you plug your caravan in, it switches your car's rear fogs off to prevent glare in your review mirror. (In all the miles I've ever towed, I've never had to tow in fog  ;))

Thanks, i found those posts from Kevin. I'll just follow the instructions off my towbar when i get it and hopefully it'll all turn out ok hahahaha

Thanks :y

geoffr70 wrote on 29. Apr 2011 at 23:19:

Thanks, i found those posts from Kevin. I'll just follow the instructions off my towbar when i get it and hopefully it'll all turn out ok hahahaha Thanks :y

You'll be fine.  :y :y