[Closed] Removable Tow Bar electrics - 7 or 13 pin?

13 pin all the way. 13 to 7 pin adapters are cheap enough and the 13 pin sockets are far better than the 7. Best bit for a bike rack is that they'll drive reversing lights. What car/ tow bar are you getting?

Atera strada racks are awesome.

Depends on the functions of the car when towing. If you're getting a car that alters it's suspension and puts up a display of the towing equipment etc then you will need a 13 pin for them to all work. In the other direction if you want a big caravan with lots of functions and you want the car to power them then again you want the 13 pin. I'd play it safe and just have the 13 pin fitted there are adapters available to go from 7 to 13 pin.

Westfilia make a lot of the removable tow bars for the big car manufacturers and supply them direct to them for 'factory fitting'. I bought a removable tow bar after picking the car up that even fits perfectly into the foam mould in the boot with the jack etc. Would have cost me an extra £200 if I'd ordered it as factory fitted extra !

If you are buying any car from the VW or BMW group Atera make all the bike carriers and roof bars systems for them and then de badge them. I've got a 3 bike tow bar bike carrier that I got from the [url= http://http://www.roofbox.co.uk/scripts/rbvehsel4_tab.php/car-specific-accessories/atera_strada_dl_2_to_3_bike_carrier_uk_lights_no_ar2602/Qx%40w%2C6M42VAwp3%40Rb%7B%7EcC4ure5K%7BWW ]Roof box Company[/url] and I've no complaints. Has a nice tilt function so you can still get in and out of the boot when the bike is strapped up.

PS I don't own, or never will own a caravan !

Cheers guys.

Thats a pretty clear response! 13pin it is! 🙂

@hot_flat - a Fiat 500 TwinAir. Probably not the most bike friendly car (or STW brand of choice 😉 ) but more practical that our current MG TF 🙂 Also the British Cycling Fiat discount is rather good - made buying a brand new car an attractive option.

@excitable Thanks for all the info. We looked at a VW Polo but the affordable engines were soooooo bloody dull to drive we gave up on them pretty quickly.

Glad you both mentioned Atera - saw them on another thread a while back then promptly forgot the name. They do look really good. Is the locking mechanism good enough that you don't worry leaving it attached to the tow hook in a trail centre car park whilst you are riding? Or even leaving a loaded rack at a services unattended for 5 mins?

There's a key lock on the arm that opens the cup to put it on the tow bar and that doesn't feel like it could go anywhere, then each of the clasps that you attach to the bikes has a key lock to prevent you opening up the ratchet system, although TBH you could easily cut through the plastic and rubber straps that go round the clasp if you were a determined tea leaf. So yes the locking systems are good and I don't think anyone could take the carrier but the bike clasps are not 100%.

If I ever have to leave the bike on the rack where I can't see it (very rare), I always wrap my Sold Secure Gold motorbike chain round the bike and bike carrier and then take it off before driving again.... Just to be sure.

As excitable says the rack to ball lock is great, the bike to rack locks are ok but should be supplemented by something. FYI I can get my alpine 160 and a kona stinky [i]inside[/i] my Abarth 500 and still have room for kit and a passenger.

Enjoy the twin air: they're great fun. On any multiair tech engine use the exact oil specified, nothing "better" and certainly nothing worse.

Thanks for the info - good to know I can come back to find the rack still attached to the car 🙂 Really helpful.

@hot_fiat An Abarth - very nice! Sadly you can't get the british cycling discount on one of those! Would love a go in one! Useful to know that we can get a bike inside too 🙂 Do you think you could fit a removable tow bar to an Abarth? I do love the exhausts 🙂 The twin air was great on the test drive, the 1.2 felt flat and a bit dull. I am driving a 1.8 convertible atm though :).