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Halfords 4 Bike Tow Bar Cycle Carrier
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AndyT557 View Drop Down
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Now has his thingy in place!

Joined: 03 May 2011
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    Posted: 03 Sep 2011 at 9:42pm
Recently bought one of these as I didn't want to damage the tailgate by using a strap fitting type. For info, I had the Ford OEM detachable towbar fitted during the vehicle build.


The cycle carrier was assembled in under an hour and looks really solid.  Did a trial fit on the car today and all went well until I tried to connect the plug from the light board to the vehicle socket.

Now I'll be totally honest and say that I have never towed anything before (apart from aircraft in my RAF days), and found that 7 into 13 doesn't go.  Light board has a 7 pin plug and the vehicle has a 13 pin socket.

Does anyone know the best solution to this problem?  Change the 13 pin socket to a 7 pin socket, or change 7 pin plug to a 13 pin plug, or buy an adaptor?

Andy
Ford Kuga Titanium 2.0 TDCi AWD, 163PS, Frozen White, Appearance & Convenience Pack, 19" 5-spoke alloys, removable towbar, tyre deflation system, F & R mud flaps, F & R mats, plus 'Thingy'.
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Michael106tt View Drop Down
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Joined: 10 Aug 2011
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Points: 31 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Michael106tt Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 Sep 2011 at 5:58am
Andy, can you get a Thingy for it??? ;-D
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BruceKuga View Drop Down
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Points: 604 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote BruceKuga Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 Sep 2011 at 10:09am
You can buy an adaptor for about £10 in halfords.  7pin on your board, into adaptor, into 13 pin on car. Ford also do one in their parts shop.  I use one with my trailer and works fine.
TITANIUM AWD 163PS, BLACK, X PACK, APP, CONV, 18", BLUETOOTH, MUDFLAPS, WESTFALIA DET T`BAR/FMC 13PIN
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AndyT557 View Drop Down
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Now has his thingy in place!

Joined: 03 May 2011
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Points: 118 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote AndyT557 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 04 Sep 2011 at 10:10am
Originally posted by Michael106tt Michael106tt wrote:

Andy, can you get a Thingy for it??? ;-D

Oh ha ha ha, I make one post with an odd word to describe what I see and I'm ridiculed for ever... LOL

For your information, as far as I know there are no 'thingies' for it.
Ford Kuga Titanium 2.0 TDCi AWD, 163PS, Frozen White, Appearance & Convenience Pack, 19" 5-spoke alloys, removable towbar, tyre deflation system, F & R mud flaps, F & R mats, plus 'Thingy'.
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AndyT557 View Drop Down
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Now has his thingy in place!

Joined: 03 May 2011
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Points: 118 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote AndyT557 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 Sep 2011 at 8:22am
Originally posted by BruceKuga BruceKuga wrote:

You can buy an adaptor for about £10 in halfords.  7pin on your board, into adaptor, into 13 pin on car. Ford also do one in their parts shop.  I use one with my trailer and works fine.


Cheers for that info BruceKuga,

A recent Halfords search brings up an adaptor for a few pence under £15, but I've found a cheaper one on fleabay, £6.95 and free P&P.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/120612721865?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1438.l2649

It's a Westfalia, has anyone used anything by this company, or got one of these adaptors?
I'm keen on getting some feedback before I purchase if possible.
Ford Kuga Titanium 2.0 TDCi AWD, 163PS, Frozen White, Appearance & Convenience Pack, 19" 5-spoke alloys, removable towbar, tyre deflation system, F & R mud flaps, F & R mats, plus 'Thingy'.
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Any1else View Drop Down
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Points: 144 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Any1else Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 10 Jan 2012 at 10:16pm
How is the bike rack Andy?

Sturdy? Hold the bikes well? Lockable?

This one doesn't tilt does it? Assuming that the glass tailgate will still open even if the hatch can't when the rack is loaded?

Just wondering how you are getting on with it.
2.0TDCi Zetec 6-speed Manual; Panther Black; June'10; Bluetooth, Voice, Appearance Pack, Convenience Pack, 18" Alloys and mudflaps, Westfalia demountable towbar.
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AndyT557 View Drop Down
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Now has his thingy in place!

Joined: 03 May 2011
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Points: 118 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote AndyT557 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Jan 2012 at 12:53pm
Originally posted by Any1else Any1else wrote:

How is the bike rack Andy?

Sturdy? Hold the bikes well? Lockable?

This one doesn't tilt does it? Assuming that the glass tailgate will still open even if the hatch can't when the rack is loaded?

Just wondering how you are getting on with it.


Hi Any1else,

I can confirm that the bike rack is indeed sturdy, a chunky design that seems to be well built.  It's not lockable but the rack requires the use of 2 different spanner/socket sizes to fit & remove.  On the first trial fit I torqued up the nuts as per the instructions, gave the rack a wobble check and found it was rock solid.  As a test I sat on it (my weight exceeds the combined weight of 4 bikes, not by much mind Smile), and the rack didn't slip or move.  The instructions do say the nuts can be tightened more if the rack wobbles.

It's not tiltable, but it is still possible to open the upper lift gate with bikes fitted.  You'll need a Euro 13 pin to UK 7 pin adaptor (I got one off fleabay for under £7 delivered), electrics worked no problems.

All in all a good buy.  Of the options available, I'd recommend it.

Cheers,

Andy T
Ford Kuga Titanium 2.0 TDCi AWD, 163PS, Frozen White, Appearance & Convenience Pack, 19" 5-spoke alloys, removable towbar, tyre deflation system, F & R mud flaps, F & R mats, plus 'Thingy'.
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KugaSpud View Drop Down
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Points: 140 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote KugaSpud Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Jan 2012 at 8:02pm
Hi Andy,

Thanks for the info there, but I have some rather simple questions but it helps when deciding as folks normally say I haven't got a Scooby:

1. When placing the rack on the towball, before doing up the nuts, I assume you have to support the whole rack and line it up first, or does it have some sort of temporary clamp mechanism which aids fitting ?

2. Also how much gap do you get between the rack and the Kuga ? Like can you stand in there to stick your arms into the top tailgate opening ?

3. Are the bits that attach the bikes to the rack lockable, or do you just stick your own big chain around ?

Sorry to ask so much, but thanks for any info you can give,

KS.
Frozen White 140 FWD Tit, Manual with 18" Alloys, App+Conv Packs and Bluetooth "Connectivity"- Born 25 Sept 2011, Added Extras: Mudflaps, Wax, KOC TDH, Westfalia Detachable tow bar.
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tercuk View Drop Down
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Points: 43 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote tercuk Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 Jan 2012 at 8:05pm
Andy,
        You won't be dissapointed with Westfalia, they are one of the top quality kits out there.
Panther Black Titanium, AWD Auto 163, appearance pack, convenance pack, titanium X pack, 19" wheels
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AndyT557 View Drop Down
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Now has his thingy in place!

Joined: 03 May 2011
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Points: 118 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote AndyT557 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 Jan 2012 at 3:09am
Originally posted by KugaSpud KugaSpud wrote:

Hi Andy,

Thanks for the info there, but I have some rather simple questions but it helps when deciding as folks normally say I haven't got a Scooby:

1. When placing the rack on the towball, before doing up the nuts, I assume you have to support the whole rack and line it up first, or does it have some sort of temporary clamp mechanism which aids fitting ?

All you need is someone to support the rack as level as possible while you tighten up the two nuts.  Takes less than 2 minutes.

2. Also how much gap do you get between the rack and the Kuga ? Like can you stand in there to stick your arms into the top tailgate opening ?

I haven't measured the distance, but off the top of my head I'd say there's a gap of approx 25cm between the rear bumper and the main frame of the carrier.  I'm away working at present and due home on the 25th, but would be prepared to take a photo for your benefit.

3. Are the bits that attach the bikes to the rack lockable, or do you just stick your own big chain around ?

Nothing lockable, the kit supplies 2 straps to secure each bike to the carrier via the wheels (8 straps total) and 2 additional straps to go over the bikes.  I personally would use a bike lock in addition if leaving the bikes fitted to the carrier for a short time.

Sorry to ask so much, but thanks for any info you can give,

KS.



KS,

If you'd like more info just ask, but for any measurements etc I'm not able to help until I get home.

Cheers,

Andy
Ford Kuga Titanium 2.0 TDCi AWD, 163PS, Frozen White, Appearance & Convenience Pack, 19" 5-spoke alloys, removable towbar, tyre deflation system, F & R mud flaps, F & R mats, plus 'Thingy'.
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