Member Since: 28 Feb 2018
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 40
Towing Caravans that have LED Road Lights
I am in the process of buying a new Swift Caravan. Swift say "certain vehicles may require a secondary fuse box when towing caravans fitted with LED road lighting"
I tow with a 15 Plate Discovery 4 HSE and need to know whether my car is compatible or I need to fit the secondary fuse box referred to by Swift. As I will not be able to test my car on the new caravan for at least two months due to it not being built yet can anyone please advise as to whether my car would be alright? If not where to buy and how to fit the fuse box?
Many Thanks.
18th Oct 2019 5:47 pm
J@mes
Member Since: 10 Nov 2008
Location: Bomber County
Posts: 4547
Hope not as I pick my brand new swift in March and have a 2014.
I was about to suggest on facebook that you ask on here, but you're already here 2014 D4 XS
2005 D3 SE - Gone
18th Oct 2019 6:28 pm
Jamiehol
Member Since: 13 Nov 2015
Location: Ipswich
Posts: 345
Does your caravan dealer not have a van you can plug into to check?
18th Oct 2019 6:35 pm
NickJ
Member Since: 11 Oct 2010
Location: there's no f in point
Posts: 2137
You'd get a VLM from Sargent Electrical via their website. They should also be able to tell you if you do require one for a specific vehicle.
PITA having LED lights on caravans because big this
You will need one, VLM4 normally it’s thrown in as part of the deal from the caravan dealer they normally fit it in the van for you. For one you won’t have the trailer indicator light without it, rear fogs will illuminate if you use them instead of illuminating on the van only, reversing sensors may not be happy either.
18th Oct 2019 7:42 pm
dunton10
Member Since: 23 Dec 2006
Location: SUTTON COLDFIELD, WEST MIDS
Posts: 208
I’ll second that. You’ll definitely need a vim.
I’ve got a 64 plate disco and tow a 2017 Swift elegance with led lights.
On pick up of van the dealer fitted the vim box to the caravan. Plug and play so took no time at all.
Everything has worked fine for 18 months. Reverse sensors cut out, fog lights disabled etc.Currently 2015 D4 SE Tech, Corris Grey
RLD Protector, led interior lights, timed climate, towing equipment
Previously
2006 D3 S
2001 TD5
1996 Shogun LWB
1989 Range Rover TDVM
18th Oct 2019 10:48 pm
Kelvo
Member Since: 07 Aug 2015
Location: Perth WA
Posts: 264
With a D4 you only need load resistors to let the D4 it has a trailer with LEDs attached.
I used these resistors https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2x-25W-LED-6-8O...b09570cb56 and this switch https://www.jaycar.com.au/round-rocker-swi...r/p/SK0994 (Website description is wrong it is actually a DPDT switch). I spliced into the left and right indicator tow socket wiring in the left hand boot compartment. These two cables connect to one pole each of the switch. I mounted the switch so it is tucked on the sloping underside near the 12v outlet on the left side in the boot. Then two cables from the switch to the resistors, the resistors are then connected to the body ground point. I mounted the resistors to an aluminium heatsink that I already had, then mounted the heatsink to the back of the towhitch bracket in the left side storage area. The resistors are tucked away in the back so are physically protected.
The benefit of this is I can tow any LED equipped trailer and only need to turn the switch on, where as a caravan/trailer mounted module only works if you tow that caravan/trailer. If I tow a caravan/trailer with incandescent lights the switch stays off.MY14 TDV6
19th Oct 2019 1:14 am
Sammyboy
Member Since: 28 Feb 2018
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 40
Just been to a local Swift Caravan dealer and connected car to an equivalent caravan. All lights worked as advertised with no indication of any problems with either the car or caravan. 👍👍👍
19th Oct 2019 3:09 pm
stew 46
Member Since: 01 Dec 2011
Location: cornwall
Posts: 10146
I got one of these for the camping trailer but lights still strobe
-------------------------------------------------
if you cant hold on dont let go , it ill come in handy for something even if you never use it.
D3 SE 05,
110 s wagon 300 tdi SOLD
h top transit
crew cab transit
transit connect
ausa dumper, muck truck .
peljob 2.5 digger
06 L 200 crew cab
Just been to a local Swift Caravan dealer and connected car to an equivalent caravan. All lights worked as advertised with no indication of any problems with either the car or caravan. 👍👍👍
Also did the same till I drove down the road, first roundabout, indicated, no trailer indication light.
19th Oct 2019 5:00 pm
Kelvo
Member Since: 07 Aug 2015
Location: Perth WA
Posts: 264
Sammyboy wrote:
Just been to a local Swift Caravan dealer and connected car to an equivalent caravan. All lights worked as advertised with no indication of any problems with either the car or caravan. 👍👍👍
But did you the trailer icon on the D4 dash flash when you used the indicators? If it didn’t the D4 does not know it has a trailer attached. This will not cause any errors, but without having the load resistors the D4 will not disable rear parking sensors, disable the rear fog lights, disable automatic height adjustment when a TR setting is changed (Manual height changes still work), enable a different shift program for the auto box, and flash the trailer icon on the dash when indicating.MY14 TDV6
Plus it is a legal requirement to have a light or audible warning.
20th Oct 2019 10:44 am
Hairy47
Member Since: 13 Jul 2017
Location: Bradford
Posts: 277
When we purchased our brand new swift last year our dealer had our car plugged in to a trailer board to check and obviously we did being a 2005 D3.
However be aware that when we were given a courtesy car from an accident we had our lights wouldn't work with the courtesy car, something to consider! There must be a way to turn the box off
@Stew46 ... that makes a lot of sense, no piddling about with the car and usable with any trailer/van you want to tow.
Must be fixable to stop the strobing ?.
Dean
====================================
2011 D4 XS - OBD port protection, RLD spare wheel protector, All LED interiors lights, Timed Climate enabled, iiD tool paired.
2011 D4 Landmark - Stolen from same dealer before I paid for it
2011 D4 GS - Stolen whilst at dealer ... All LED interiors lights, DRLs, Spare Wheel protector.
1996 300Tdi - Eaten by tin worms
20th Oct 2019 5:30 pm
stew 46
Member Since: 01 Dec 2011
Location: cornwall
Posts: 10146
I’ll look in to it if plod ever stops me because it -------------------------------------------------
if you cant hold on dont let go , it ill come in handy for something even if you never use it.
D3 SE 05,
110 s wagon 300 tdi SOLD
h top transit
crew cab transit
transit connect
ausa dumper, muck truck .
peljob 2.5 digger
06 L 200 crew cab
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum
... All LED interiors lights, DRLs, Spare Wheel protector.
