Trailer + 7 pin hook up

Quattro_daily

Quattro_daily

Registered User
Joined
Jun 26, 2019
Messages
68
Reaction score
8
Points
8
Location
West Sussex
Hello everyone,

after purchasing another new toy I now need to get a tow bar fitted there’s a few universal ones on eBay part number : 173649097618

Someone did say to me that I might need one of these two is this correct I think it’s a relay for canbus wiring : 282820032818

is this true do I need it ?

if anyone has any information on the fitting instructions or installation of a tow bar and the wiring that would be a great help I have tried some research best I could find was a b6 video in french or polish also I might add that my car is a 55 plate 2006 Audi A4 advant. B7 with rear parking sensors
Thanks in advance
 
Last edited:
You'll need a kit that integrates with the cars systems as it needs to disable the sensors upon plugin of the tow socket.
 
I fitted my towbar wiring without the oem audi towbar wiring kit, although i can turn my sensors off with the dash switch.

Ps, whats the new toy?
 
  • Like
Reactions: Charlie Farley and Quattro_daily
Hi Alex ! Iv brought my self something Iv always wanted I live by the sea and have my whole life so I feel I can warrant buying it. It’s a 2018 seadoo spark trixx 2up rotex powered personal water craft ! Alex would you mind send some information my way about how you fitted the tow bar and some wiring instructions or diagrams ? Anything that will help. I don’t however have a switch for my sensors however I’m convinced they don’t even work I think one of them is faulty sometimes they do work sometimes they just beep randomly I was also told a light on the dash comes on to say your towing ? I’m used to bm’s not Audi’s any help would be appreciated !!!
 
Seadoo spark below
 

Attachments

  • 57C3967B-5249-4EDA-80D1-C1C84E0A548A.jpeg
    57C3967B-5249-4EDA-80D1-C1C84E0A548A.jpeg
    152.7 KB · Views: 237
  • 0842700B-46AB-43AB-B648-240308421A79.jpeg
    0842700B-46AB-43AB-B648-240308421A79.jpeg
    180.6 KB · Views: 229
Invest in a westfalia with detach neck , best by far, I fitted one after 2 weeks of ownership of my B7 and its been great for the last almost 6 years well for a towbar that is....lol
 
  • Like
Reactions: NHN
non oem wiring kits are very easy to fit and don't take long , if you don't have rear parking sensors that's great, if you do still not a problem as you can just turn them off manually via the dash switch.
 
Yes that’s the one Iv seen rob ! They come with the detachable tow bar, would anyone have a wiring diagram of how to wire them up to the car, and I suppose I’d have to wire in a dash switch for the sensors too ?
 
Do you not have a dash switch for the rear sensors then.
 
Aftermarket Wiring with a relay very is easy, only seven wires to hook up , rear light clusters wiring is the normal point.
 
The only down side to this job is not fitting the towbar , nor the electrics, its all the trim and fittings that needs to be removed to get it fitted.
I spent longer pulling it all out the refitting it all , I could have done the towbar and wiring 3 times in the time it took to mess about with interior etc.
But worth it in the end.
 
Yep needs to be worth it because I need to fit it not that I know of I don’t have a switch I’m assuming it would be somewhere obvious ? But no I don’t have a switch on the dash :( and yes Iv Hurd about the trims that need to be removed I can deal with that I think I’ll have a few days to do it clear do you have info on the relay that I’ll need ? Also rob do you have a wiring diagram that I could go by ?
 
I have the install guide and wiring details in a folder, i'll have a rummage .

Cant recall which relay I used to be honest, I just bought a wiring kit with relay from PF jones with the towbar,it wasn't expensive, maybe drop them an email and ask what they recommend for an aftermarket wiring kit.
 
audi upgrades
The wiring info is eluding me at the moment , but found my original receipt from PF jones.
I paid £172 for it all inc del , so a good price , not what they are now.

Twbr2
Tbw1
 
If I recall I just ran the socket cable into the rear cargo area close to one of the light clusters , cant remember which side,.
Picked all the feeds for brake lights/sidelamps/reverse fog and that sides indicator.
Then just continued the remaining cable across to the other sides indicator , plus and earth.
Well thats the basic idea or close as, really not the difficult.
 
I don't have a dash button for the parking sensor either, just means when it's in reverse the buzzer is going constantly. For the amount of time I spend in reverse it's not worth worrying about.

Relay was wired into the right hand cluster + a wire from the left side for the indicator.

Mine's a Westfalia non-removable (you can remove it, but it's bolted on and not a key job. Just keep 2x 18mm spanners in the boot) that I paid £80 for including all the wiring. Only use it for a bike rack but it's rock solid, really well built.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Charlie Farley
Sweet ! I’m going to go for the detachable one however I don’t know what relay to get properly just get the universal one listed above!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Quattro_daily said:
Hi Alex ! Iv brought my self something Iv always wanted I live by the sea and have my whole life so I feel I can warrant buying it. It’s a 2018 seadoo spark trixx 2up rotex powered personal water craft ! Alex would you mind send some information my way about how you fitted the tow bar and some wiring instructions or diagrams ? Anything that will help. I don’t however have a switch for my sensors however I’m convinced they don’t even work I think one of them is faulty sometimes they do work sometimes they just beep randomly I was also told a light on the dash comes on to say your towing ? I’m used to bm’s not Audi’s any help would be appreciated !!!
Click to expand...

As second what Rob says. I also have a Westfalia detachable and it works a treat. As for the fitting instructions, they will be provided with any towbar kit your choose to purchase. Im not sure exactly the how the factory fitted electrics work with regards to sensor cancellation and dash warning lights etc but i just fitted a relay unit in the boot which makes the wiring nice and easy.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Charlie Farley
Quattro_daily said:
Seadoo spark below
Click to expand...

Excellent choice in ski. I would definitely be picking up a spark my self if i was in the market for a sitdown boat. A good remap to 110hp is a well worth investment on those.

I make do with my own 2 skis im more of a stand up kinda guy myself. Happy skiing!
IMG 20200213 51688
IMG 20200213 27848
 
  • Like
Reactions: tr7 and Quattro_daily
Naughty naughty ! Love that Alex ! I plan on a full riva upgrade and the 8600 thing it’s called remap ! They tried clogging me the riva kit when I brought it but I was just out of budget with that and because it’s a 2018 with hardly any hours on they couldn’t just thrown it in for free :(

As for the fitting I can fit the tow bar it’s self that won’t be a problem for me it’s just trying to get a wiring diagram for the 7 pin to the relay to the car :( and absolutely going for the detachable one thank you rob for suggesting pfjones going to be in touch with them !


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Quattro_daily said:
Naughty naughty ! Love that Alex ! I plan on a full riva upgrade and the 8600 thing it’s called remap ! They tried clogging me the riva kit when I brought it but I was just out of budget with that and because it’s a 2018 with hardly any hours on they couldn’t just thrown it in for free :(

As for the fitting I can fit the tow bar it’s self that won’t be a problem for me it’s just trying to get a wiring diagram for the 7 pin to the relay to the car :( and absolutely going for the detachable one thank you rob for suggesting pfjones going to be in touch with them !


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

There cracking fun with or without go faster bits either way its a winner, get yourself a drysuit and make the most of the nice weather in the winter!

As for the wiring, if i remember correctly, the 7 way relay is powered from my rear 12v socket, earthed onto the body somewhere in the boot then its just a case of inserting your 7 pin electric wiring into the corresponding slots.
 
Iv already got a dry suit but they make me sweat a lot luckily I do have access to another vehicle that I drop the ski into the water with however having my own tow bar is a lot more effective lol

I have two wetsuits also a winter and a summer one as I go out on the blackfinXL paddle board a lot and I used to kite surf ( well tried to disappointingly )

Ok I’ll grab that kit and give it my
Best shot wiring and electrical is not my strong point

029dbfa4475cab5dfe2e9cf2746962e0.jpg



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Alex Holmes said:
There cracking fun with or without go faster bits either way its a winner, get yourself a drysuit and make the most of the nice weather in the winter!

As for the wiring, if i remember correctly, the 7 way relay is powered from my rear 12v socket, earthed onto the body somewhere in the boot then its just a case of inserting your 7 pin electric wiring into the corresponding slots.
Click to expand...

Same method I used.
I connected into the 12v aux power socket supply and earthed to the body, then just hooked into the light clusters wiring for the rest , very straight forward and no issues.
 
Ok thanks guys I’ll give it my best shot did you fuse the 12v ?


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
the 12v socket is allrerady fused but doesnt hurt to put an inline fuse on the supply your fitting.
 
Ok so wow what a pain of a job that was !!! Now I know how to to it shouldn’t be too bad in the future when I have to take the bumper off to replace the parking sensors ! ( I know I know I should of done it when it was off ) all fun and games tow bar is all on and is getting sent off to be wired up properly! Pics to come in the morning


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
  • Like
Reactions: Charlie Farley
practice makes perfect chap, glad you got it sorted in the end.:icon thumright:
I found the interior removal and refitting to be the most annoying part of the job.
 
That was easiest for me ! Forgot the screw up top and it cracked but oh well ! I have pre stripped it the day before I took the bumper off didn’t take the wheels off but I can see it being much easier if you did !

It’s going off to be all wired up because that shits too confusing for me lol ! But there not charging much so that’s good !!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
I agree with Rob, the boot trims are a PITA to strip on b7s! C5 A6 A6 Avants are even worse
 
  • Like
Reactions: Charlie Farley
d54c1a799c454dcedabc82e5e17d9dec.jpg

Excuse the dirty finger prints that’s on the rear bumper but all on bumper needs to be cut out a tiny bit more still as it’s quite tight


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
  • Like
Reactions: AvantAlexB7
Spot on, I've found since using mine alot through winter, its well worth fitting the little dust cap over the key hole if you leaving it fitted for any length of time. The salt water isn't the kindest to the lock mechanism so i give the hole detachable part a good clean down with WD40 after use to keep it looking like new
 
Sweet yer came with two covers and a spare key shame it doesn’t come with a cover that locks on sort of thing ! But yes really pleased with it it is the detachable one too but I’m
Not really fused about that tbh parking sensors don’t work anyway !!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
Oh also PF JONES were absolutely great next day free delivery ! customer support was excellent just generally great experience


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
I'm Just Rob. said:
non oem wiring kits are very easy to fit and don't take long , if you don't have rear parking sensors that's great, if you do still not a problem as you can just turn them off manually via the dash switch.
Click to expand...
Rob,
I've just purchased a tow trust detachable towbar with designated electrics for an A4. Previously fitted one of these in an Xtrail. I've read a few posts on here about coding? Is it just a case of plugging in the electrics or is there more to it?
 
If you're using a varaint specific loom which it sounds like are , you will need to update your cars coding for it to work correctly with parking sensors etc otherwise the car wont know its fitted etc.
It is only generic standard aftermarket wiring that does'nt require any coding in as it's just hooked into the relavant wiring circuits for basic trailer functions.

that said if you have parking sensors on the rear you can switch them off anyway so there is nothing really to be gained with a specific loom , a generic basic loom will be just as good without all the faffing around fitting of a specific loom aswell.
 
Thanks so much. 2 more questions. How will I know which electrics I have and how do I go about getting it coded.
TIA
 
audi upgrades
If it's a standard setup it will be just a plain 7 core cable and socket, model specific cars have a loom that will be different as it has to be wired into the car differently because of the sensors, the two wiring setups will look and be different.

You'll need access to vcds or similar software to access the coding functions on your car.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Cbk1006
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

F
trailer electrical hook up
Replies
2
Views
768
Firebird1900
F
K
Safe Pin (Pin 5) Connecting to +12V (Pin 7) Help please!
Replies
1
Views
888
martin1984
martin1984
Phil's Barber
A trailer pulled up this morning.......
Replies
8
Views
2K
mickhep
M
jonmusicman
7 speed auto
Replies
1
Views
1K
h5djr
h5djr
noisyjack
Trailer Loom Fitting issues
Replies
1
Views
474
AvantAlexB7
AvantAlexB7
Top
Back