Birty Dastards Jeep Club

Tech Forum => Workshop => Topic started by: CeeJay on April 21, 2014, 12:40:17 PM

Title: Plug-and-play Towbar
Post by: CeeJay on April 21, 2014, 12:40:17 PM
Hi All

Can anyone point me towards a source for a plug-and-play towbar control unit? 

I just had a new towbar fitted to my 2002 Jeep Cherokee (3.7 LTD) and the installer found that in the past my jeep had been fitted with a towbar, but this had been removed along with the canbus plug-and-play box.  He can't wire it up without this box so I'm a bit stuffed, so does anyone know where I can find one?

Regards
CeeJay.
Title: Re: Plug-and-play Towbar
Post by: isle of man on April 21, 2014, 03:28:23 PM
CeeJay, I'm struggling to understand what the installer is saying? He can't do the job that has perviously been done before?
Title: Re: Plug-and-play Towbar
Post by: Zaelon on April 21, 2014, 03:54:30 PM
Hi Ceejay,

just had a quick look around and found these while I was on ebay if it helps
the first explains why they are fitted to modern vehicles.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/gds/What-are-Plug-In-Wiring-kits-for-Towbars-/10000000002476658/g.html

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/7-WAY-SMART-BYPASS-RELAY-TOWBAR-TOWING-ELECTRICS-CANBUS-RELAY-/141263358549?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item20e3f3ca55

Zaelon.
Title: Re: Plug-and-play Towbar
Post by: ferretjuggler on April 21, 2014, 04:14:47 PM
 :hysterical: :hysterical: :hysterical:

There you go,  Peter,  a whole new vocabulary of technical bollocks for everyone to ingest.

FFS I'm so glad that all the vehicles I own were constructed around the Dawn of time.
Title: Re: Plug-and-play Towbar
Post by: bigjeepzj on April 21, 2014, 04:29:37 PM
Hi Ceejay,

just had a quick look around and found these while I was on ebay if it helps
the first explains why they are fitted to modern vehicles.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/gds/What-are-Plug-In-Wiring-kits-for-Towbars-/10000000002476658/g.html

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/7-WAY-SMART-BYPASS-RELAY-TOWBAR-TOWING-ELECTRICS-CANBUS-RELAY-/141263358549?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item20e3f3ca55

Zaelon.

 :iagree:

and get a better installer
Title: Re: Plug-and-play Towbar
Post by: isle of man on April 21, 2014, 04:31:31 PM
:hysterical: :hysterical: :hysterical:

There you go,  Peter,  a whole new vocabulary of technical bollocks for everyone to ingest.

Charming !!

I'm trying to help, not like I called him a CUNT now is it?
Title: Re: Plug-and-play Towbar
Post by: CeeJay on April 21, 2014, 09:38:14 PM
CeeJay, I'm struggling to understand what the installer is saying? He can't do the job that has perviously been done before?

Hi Isle of man

Aye the installer can't complete the installation for two reasons:

1) The canbus plug-and-play box that SHOULD be there was taken off when the originally fitted Tow-Bar was removed (Before my ownership).
2) The kit that I bought (sourced specifically for this vehicle) didn't come with a a canbus plug-and-play box.

If the kit had been left in place or had come with the new tow-bar then there would have been no issue.

I for one have never had a car before with can bus (to which I wanted to fit a tow-bar) so I didn't even no I needed a plug-and-play box.  I'm told that you can splice cables (like you could with my old XJ) and you may get it to work but the likelihood is that it'll cause all sorts of error messages to come up on the dash.  You know I'm getting fed-up with all this bloody new technology in cars...

CeeJay
Title: Re: Plug-and-play Towbar
Post by: CeeJay on April 21, 2014, 09:40:13 PM
Hi Ceejay,

just had a quick look around and found these while I was on ebay if it helps
the first explains why they are fitted to modern vehicles.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/gds/What-are-Plug-In-Wiring-kits-for-Towbars-/10000000002476658/g.html

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/7-WAY-SMART-BYPASS-RELAY-TOWBAR-TOWING-ELECTRICS-CANBUS-RELAY-/141263358549?pt=UK_CarsParts_Vehicles_CarParts_SM&hash=item20e3f3ca55

Zaelon.

Hi Zealon

I saw the first one on ebay (and gulped at the price!) but I didn't see the second one.  I'll have a word with the installer and if he thinks its OK I'll pick one up.

Cheers for the help!

CeeJay.
Title: Re: Plug-and-play Towbar
Post by: CeeJay on April 21, 2014, 09:42:55 PM
:hysterical: :hysterical: :hysterical:

There you go,  Peter,  a whole new vocabulary of technical bollocks for everyone to ingest.

FFS I'm so glad that all the vehicles I own were constructed around the Dawn of time.

Hi Ferretjuggler

Trust me I'm so fed up with in car 'tech' that I think my next new car will be a Morgan +4...

They haven't changed much since 1955...

CeeJay.
Title: Re: Plug-and-play Towbar
Post by: CeeJay on April 21, 2014, 09:48:31 PM


 :iagree:

and get a better installer

Hi bigjeepzj

To be fair I'd rather the installer stopped and asked about the plug-and-play box.  I've known a few people who have their cars bollocked up by installers who've tried to work around can bus systems.

I'd rather he played safe than left me with a big issue or bill.

CeeJay.
Title: Re: Plug-and-play Towbar
Post by: bigjeepzj on April 21, 2014, 09:52:05 PM
Good point
just don't want to see any one ripped off by persons making a job a bigger than it needs to be
Title: Re: Plug-and-play Towbar
Post by: ferretjuggler on April 21, 2014, 10:07:33 PM
:hysterical: :hysterical: :hysterical:

There you go,  Peter,  a whole new vocabulary of technical bollocks for everyone to ingest.

Charming !! I

I'm trying to help, not like I called him a CUNT now is it?
Apologies for any offence caused.
What I was referring to was not your comment but the horrific amount of what I see as totally unnecessary technology built into modern vehicles.
FFS it's just a car not the space shuttle!
Take a look at the blurb in the first link and you'll see what I mean.
TBH I really don't want some computer trying to make the trailer more stable behind the tow vehicle.
If it's trying to snake about then most likely the load is in the wrong place and needs sorting.
Title: Re: Plug-and-play Towbar
Post by: isle of man on April 21, 2014, 10:14:28 PM
:hysterical: :hysterical: :hysterical:

There you go,  Peter,  a whole new vocabulary of technical bollocks for everyone to ingest.

Charming !! I

I'm trying to help, not like I called him a CUNT now is it?
Apologies for any offence caused.
What I was referring to was not your comment but the horrific amount of what I see as totally unnecessary technology built into modern vehicles.
FFS it's just a car not the space shuttle!
Take a look at the blurb in the first link and you'll see what I mean.
TBH I really don't want some computer trying to make the trailer more stable behind the tow vehicle.
If it's trying to snake about then most likely the load is in the wrong place and needs sorting.


Relax no offence felt.

Sadly computer controlled systems are only going to get more complex - I have seen the next five years production and can say autonomous driving is a reality.
Title: Re: Plug-and-play Towbar
Post by: ferretjuggler on April 21, 2014, 10:25:20 PM
Autonomous Driving?

Is that when the driver is so busy chatting away on their phone that they swerve onto the pavement and knock over a few pedestrians?

We got that already in Wellington.


Title: Re: Plug-and-play Towbar
Post by: CeeJay on April 21, 2014, 10:27:29 PM
Good point
just don't want to see any one ripped off by persons making a job a bigger than it needs to be

Hi there

Yea I know exactly want you meant - there are too many shitsters out there but this chap seems on the level. 

Well at least I hope he is! ;>

CeeJay.