Thread: Never towed/owned a caravan before.. advice

Originally Posted by Jaybee

Thanks for the clarification. When I contacted Red Arc with the 'Limp Mode' problem they knew straight away that the problem was incorrect grounding and said that it had to be connected to the batteries ground (negative terminal). This is also outlined in their installation instructions. Perhaps there are vehicles that the specifications are different such as the D4? On inspection by the auto electrician that fixed the problem, it was found that the earth was connected under the dash (by LR dealer who subsequently paid for my auto electric bill) with a light weight wire. So using a heavier weight wire it was connected to the battery ground and it's worked perfectly ever since ( 2 years towing around Australia). Has it affected my Battery Management System, I think maybe not as the battery lasted 5 complete years before needing replacement.

As per Milton’s point above, the BMS uses a shunt to know the current draw and manage the alternator. If you connect things to the battery directly then current is being consumed that it doesn’t know about and cannot compensate for. Your problem was a poor quality earth, not the location of the earth.

Thanks all.

I picked up van today, drove home like a dream and thanks to the redarc towpro stopped smoothly each time.

However, some issues which I have to work on now
1) the anti sway control did not activate - Searching for this answer now
2) the cars reverse sensors didn’t shut up (lights/indicators worked fine)
3) the van has a reverse camera - this is a job for another day as I’m fairly handy wiht reversing.
4) car wasn’t charging the van

oh and van has stuck on the Hill ok so far, wheels well chocked.. now just waiting for the neighbours to complain!

as long as the van is registered,, tell'em to go jump....


more importantly,, why or how did you know the anti-sway didnt. ?

ah.. this is because I'm told the van's stability control box on the a frame will glow green when powered up. it didn't.

Check the Jayco web site for the specification for the wiring of their 12 PIN connectors. I recall they did a few things differently. I have not read this entire thread but did you rewire in a new 12 pin connector on the car. Suggest you check there first. There is power to one of the rear plugs on the D4 which can be used to power the sway control unit but it is not adequate to charge the batteries in the van. That will need a bigger cable run to the rear of the car. If the van charging system was wired to this same power supply you may have blown a fuse. BTW I don't actually have a van but set up the wiring when we were thinking about hiring one.

If your reverse sensors are active it means you have LED lights and will need to provide load resistors either on the trailer or in the vehicle. In the vehicle on a switch allows you to enable it for multiple trailers. I just fitted them to my camper.

LED Load Resistor - Products - Narva

There’s oodles of info on this in the sticky.

Originally Posted by BrianLJ

There are two D4 issues not covered so far for towing caravans.
First is the auto gearbox which should have the tray replaced with a metal one with changeable filter. Oil and filter need to be changed every 52,000km. At 115,000km (without the replacement) my oil was putrid and the filter was not collecting all contaminants. I am told I just got it done in time.
Second the caravan should not be used with leveling bars as this is dangerous with the air suspension. The air suspension tries to keep the body at the same height from the road, and so if a wheel drops into a road depression the body will also drop, but the leveling bars try to keep the body in the same line as the caravan. This causes a lower pressure on the road for that wheel. This is a problem if this occurs while braking or cornering, especially if it occurs on both rear wheels at the same time.
If you want circuit diagrams for the wiring harness and if you have LED lamps on the trailer I am happy to provide the solution for these.
I use the Tekonsha P3 and have found it works extremely smoothly and well.

This is what I have been told too,, essentially by LR.

However, I was shocked when told by a major van parts/accessories dealer, that this is not the case. Reckons he's fitted heap of these to D4's. Strangely, can't say I've ever noticed a D4 towing with leveling bars on it,,, doesn't mean they're not out there though.
He insisted when I was in sourcing a new tow tongue for the car that I NEEDED this unit. I didn't worry about arguing with him,, just said I'd think about it and get back to him later.

My concern now is, if someone fairly new to towing and D3/4's and probably now the "D5",, he's putting them in jeopardy of becoming very unstuck in a bad situation. I've debated going over to the dealer and seeing what exactly they have to say about it, and if they will set them right.

Originally Posted by DiscoJeffster

If your reverse sensors are active it means you have LED lights and will need to provide load resistors either on the trailer or in the vehicle. In the vehicle on a switch allows you to enable it for multiple trailers. I just fitted them to my camper.

LED Load Resistor - Products - Narva

There’s oodles of info on this in the sticky.

Yep I bought those a week ago, where on the van did you install them? It says they need to be mounted to metal in order to avoid heating and melting plastic