Wiring up a HR towbar to car wiring

[sanark]

Hi all
New to group
I have a Freelander 1
Looking to set it up a little over stock
I have steel 5.5 rims not sure what tyres to put on for Vic high country
also is there a factory plug in the car to fit a HR towbar I will supply the wiring loom kit a Bearmach YMZ10130
( I was told its behind RH taillight, I couldn't see it)
1998 XEi 5 Door Manual

[101RRS]

I would put some sort of all terrain tyre - not sure of what is available in your 195/15 size. I changed my rims to the Freelander 16" rims and am running BFG All Terrains which are a great all round tyre.

Also if you are new to offroading the Freelander you need to be careful if you go down into valleys - easy to get down but without low range and being a manual slow, steep hills can be problematic so just be a little careful.

As far as the towbar goes - I am not sure about the fitted plug - I just wired mine in the old fashioned way - spliced into the rear harnesses in the car - if I remember most cables are accessible under the car - right at the rear.

Good luck

Garry

[sniegy]

Behind the rhr inner trim is a plug for the tow bar. Next to this is a grommet for the wiring to pass through also.
Cheers.

[aikendrum105]

There's also an uprated indicator relay available from LR as part of the towbar fitment, ~$20. Primarily it blinks the green trailer light on the dash when you indicate with the trailer connected - lets you know if you have a bulb out / dodgy connection. It does, oddly, blink the light *once* when indicating without the trailer connected - but seems to be by design.

The Pinouts for the towbar connector behind the RH bulkhead in the cargo area are here: Freelander Tow Bar Electrics - Land Rover Zone (http://www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/f9/freelander-tow-bar-electrics-39873.html)

This might also help: towbar fitting instructions - Land Rover Zone (http://www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/f9/towbar-fitting-instructions-51094.html)

The old towbar I bought didn't have a wiring socket mount point - so I bought one of those flat cable types (still ends in a round socket) it lives in the cargo area, and you can just lay it flat and close the rear door on it - just in case that's of interest. I used those snakebite clip connectors to join the flat cable to the wires just behind the socket - rather than rip the socket off (or plump up for the LR socket)


Hope that helps !

Scott.

[sanark]

There's also an uprated indicator relay available from LR as part of the towbar fitment, ~$20. Primarily it blinks the green trailer light on the dash when you indicate with the trailer connected - lets you know if you have a bulb out / dodgy connection. It does, oddly, blink the light *once* when indicating without the trailer connected - but seems to be by design.

The Pinouts for the towbar connector behind the RH bulkhead in the cargo area are here: Freelander Tow Bar Electrics - Land Rover Zone (http://www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/f9/freelander-tow-bar-electrics-39873.html)

This might also help: towbar fitting instructions - Land Rover Zone (http://www.landyzone.co.uk/lz/f9/towbar-fitting-instructions-51094.html)

The old towbar I bought didn't have a wiring socket mount point - so I bought one of those flat cable types (still ends in a round socket) it lives in the cargo area, and you can just lay it flat and close the rear door on it - just in case that's of interest. I used those snakebite clip connectors to join the flat cable to the wires just behind the socket - rather than rip the socket off (or plump up for the LR socket)


Hope that helps !

Scott.

Thanx heaps Scott and others its been a big help, have fitted towbar and now getting ready to wire it up could not have done it w/out your help

cheers

sanark

[sanark]

I would put some sort of all terrain tyre - not sure of what is available in your 195/15 size. I changed my rims to the Freelander 16" rims and am running BFG All Terrains which are a great all round tyre.

Also if you are new to offroading the Freelander you need to be careful if you go down into valleys - easy to get down but without low range and being a manual slow, steep hills can be problematic so just be a little careful.

As far as the towbar goes - I am not sure about the fitted plug - I just wired mine in the old fashioned way - spliced into the rear harnesses in the car - if I remember most cables are accessible under the car - right at the rear.

Good luck

Garry

A big thanx Gary, for your help and advice, I have the alloy 15" wheels and a set of steel spares 15" so I can go quite aggresive on the tread pattern and change back quickly for the general duties

Ultimately I would like to set it up for some independant travelling, dual batteries, rooftop tent, front bars and a winch, drawers in the back as well.

sanark

[101RRS]

and a winch

sanark

Glad to help, you might want to rethink the winch - well at least an electric winch. Yes they and their mounts are available overseas for big dollars - but why would you bother. If you are keen on this I would consider a hand winch (Tirfor) as a practical alternative.

Good luck with it but remember that while the freelander is reasonably capable, it is a softroader and needs to be treated as such. I have had mine in some great places but in steep terrain I would not go there without someone to recover you if you find yourself at the bottom of a steep wet hill that requires slow progress to get up - the Freelander just does not have the low gearing and you will soon wear out your clutch or damage your car with too much momentum to make up for the lack of low range.

If you are looking at a bit offroading I would consider doing a lift (you can go just under 2 ", and getting some bash plates under the engine and VCU and look at a smaller muffler at the back. I have bashed my sump a few times but not the muffler

Garry

[kaza]

Hi all new to group, just bought a tow bar kit for $350brand new FREELANDER 2004, I tried to get it locally the cost was $760 just for bar extra for tongue and wiring loom. IT CERTAINLY PAYS TO LOOK AROUND.

BY THE WAY LOVE MY CAR:cool: