7 or 13 pin towbar electrics?

[80Quattro]

I've finally got hold of a Westfalia towbar, but I need to sort out some electrics for it.

At the moment my only plans are to tow a car on a trailer so I don't need electrics for a caravan which makes 7 pin seem the easy choice.

My concern is that I will be hiring trailers, I would expect most to be 7 pin as that is all I have ever seen, but should I expect them to change to 13 as that seems to be becoming far more common with caravans? Because the socket is hidden behind the rear bumper and faces the ground at 45 degrees there is really limited space for an adaptor.

[benntenn67]

Go for 7 pin as 13 pin is relatively new - if you hire a new 13 pin trailer you can use an adapter

Everything you need for towing, this place will help

http://www.maypole.ltd.uk/index.php?webpage=store.php

[benntenn67]

..... Forgot to say use a short extension lead then an adapter as you only have limited space - when 13 pin becomes the norm - re-wire

[Sleeper_Avant]

13 pin towbar electrics are now subject to mot tests i belive, all my centres have the new tesing equiptment

this may just be for cars fitted from new though but worth checking just incase

[80Quattro]

Go for 7 pin as 13 pin is relatively new - if you hire a new 13 pin trailer you can use an adapter

Everything you need for towing, this place will help

http://www.maypole.ltd.uk/index.php?webpage=store.php

That was what I initially thought as the last trailer I hired was definitely 7 pin, but since then 13 has become the standard. 13 pin would be more future proof as long as I can fit an adaptor in the space ok.

13 pin towbar electrics are now subject to mot tests i belive, all my centres have the new tesing equiptment

this may just be for cars fitted from new though but worth checking just incase

7 or 13 are tested, but I think they only test the brake lights, tail lights, fog light and indicators. I wouldn't be wiring up the things I don't need if I did use 13 pin as it is a lot of hassle for something I won't use.