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The Towing thread

314K views 2K replies 156 participants last post by  SouthernComfort 
#1 ·
Please place your queries and comments regarding towing, towbars, wiring, Brake Controllers, and any other Aussie towing matters here.

This way the information will be contained, and others will not need to plough though other irrevelent threads to find info.
 
#383 ·
Towing novice here. Does anyone know if the Tekonsha 2 plug connector (3045-P) that is used for the 2011-13 model years will work with the 2014 model? This is the harness that connects a P3 brake controller directly to the Jeep's under dash jack. I have been talking to Tekonsha for 5 weeks now and they can't give me an answer. Thanks in advance for any info.
 
#385 ·
Hi guys, just thought is give you all my 2 cents worth. I'm not familiar with your controller nor do I do much towing other than a boat every now and then. But I am familiar with BUS and CAN BUS. I think a lot of you are confusing the BUS as controlling lights etc. The BUS is simply a network that links all the controllers together, and allows them to communicate. The lights etc, still work the same old fashioned way with +12v and ground. Some LED lights have controllers that take the +12v and have an output for the lights. These controllers aren't necessarily on the BUS. In order for a device (be it a brake controller or something else) to disable cruise control, the device would need to communicate on the BUS or simulate a signal from the brake pedal switch. Most modern vehicles these days have a BUS, and this is becoming more and more common with the computers in cars. I hope this helps someone.
 
#387 ·
I have just had the dealer fit a Best Bars towbar, and he insists, a 2014 wiring loom. I requested a 12 pin plug.
Two points: The rear sensors are NOT disabled when the trailer is plugged in; and pins 8 - 12, as far as I can see, are not connected. Certainly there is no 12V on the pin that is supposed to have 12V.
Probably can't do much about the rear sensors, and it doesn't worry me that much, but does anyone know whether the "official" 2014 loom should have all the wires for a 12 pin plug? I haven't pulled it apart, but the cable does not look like it has 12 wires in it.
Thanks,
Russell
 
#390 ·
Most trailers that require a 12v supply, require it for fudges and secondary batteries. The current required is usually way in excess of a standard trailer plug's current carrying capacity. On the 12 pin plug, pins 8-12 are the high current pins rated at 35A. That might be sufficient for your needs but the Jeep has 220A alternator so it can provide a lot more if you want it. It is common to use a 50A Anderson plug to provide the high current. Allypally and I have gone for 175A Anderson plugs.

Regarding the backup sensors, I'm pretty sure your overland has a means of disabling the backup sensors from the dash. I don't have this on my Laredo so I installed an isolating switch in the back for that purpose.
 
#392 ·
Thanks for that Bobt and Bigskiddy. I guess I figured that the loom was underpopulated, but when they agreed to install a 12 pin plug, I expected that the extra pins would be functional. Given that the only one I will need is the 12V, then the Anderson plug will be the go. I can disable the sensors, although it is both front and rear - and it holds across ignition cycles, so I have to remember to turn them on again.
I will need to check the electric brake wire as I do have electric brakes on the campertrailer, and am considering a controller.
Thanks,
Russell
 
#393 ·
The blue wire should be the electric brake wire. You will probably find that it is terminated at the other end of the loom. It's here that you connect the output wire from a brake controller.
 
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#394 ·
Well, I've finally received my GC with the P3 fitted. The P3 works as expected, however when using the manual override NONE of the brake lights on the camper or GC illuminate (perplexing). I'm away on a trip at the moment and will investigate when I get home in a couple of weeks.
 
#395 ·
I have dealer supplied and fitted tow package including Redarc brake, Andersen plug, towbar and trailer plug. I have only towed the 2.3tonne van about 300km, but everything seemed OK.
However, I found when I got home, that the van tail lights and left hand car tail light were not operating. I couldn't find a fault so had an auto electrician check out the van and car and he found that something in the car was rejecting the electrical load. I investigated further and found that removing the globes from 6 of the clearance lights (30w), corrected the problem. The total load in the van circuit was about 100w.
I reported this to the dealer who informed me that the car was operating correctly and the Body Monitoring Module (I think that was what he called it) was detecting an overload. He suggested I put in an extra wire from the right hand tail light to share the load, or put a relay in the van.
We buy the latest technology and find that we have to modify existing equipment to correct incompatibilities.
Barry 41
 
#396 ·
This is the exact issue which has me waiting for details of the MY14 harness. I occasionally tow trailers additional to the ones I own and would really like to have zero parking lot rewires / fault diagnosis to attend to. Maybe I am off target, but my expectation is that the MY14 harness will have a box to buffer the car to trailer lighting connection. Details are still thin on the ground.

Barry I guess your solution could be to replace your marker light globes (or more) with LEDs to reduce the load? This way other electrically wimpish cars won't break under pressure ;) The amount of trailer lighting you have now could borderline pop fuses on conventionally wired vehicles too.

Cheers,
Steve
 
#399 ·
I have a 2014 CRD jeep GC.
Just towed a 2.7 T caravan, when fully loaded, from Brisbane to Charleville.
The transmission never got above 93 deg however the engine oil reached 123deg and engine water temperature under load was continually close to the red line. When not under load on hill descents the temperature would drop quite quickly. The temperature on my previous Prado would hardly move.

Any comments on this.
 
#400 ·
Yep have the same issue
Eng temp goes up quickly on large hills
My patrol never moved
But i am assured that with the special coolant and the sealed system and it does not go past 125 all good
 
#404 ·
Hi
I previously posted this in the wrong thread and was unable to redirect it so i will start fresh.

I have been a long time lurker since taking delivery of my JGC my14 in July.

I picked up my Jeep today after getting numerous jobs performed under warranty and one of these in particular i would like to share with you.
It has occured to me that a lot of my14 models that have brake controllers such as Redarc or Tekonsha do not have the three stop lights working as well as the caravan lights when the controller is manually activated.

This is LAW!!! They must activate manually.If you were to take a caravan in for licencing one of the test requirements would be for you to manually apply trailer brake and drive forward to see if trailer brakes are working.
If your brake lights are not working you will probably get a work order on your Jeep.
Mine all work now and it wasn't a quick fix.
If you have had a brake controller fitted and your lights are not operating as they should take it back to the installer asap.
A quick test is to turn ignition on and press over ride brake.
If all 3 stop lights don't come on take it back.

I have owned my Jeep for 87days and it has been in the Vic Park workshop for 37 days.

This unfortunely it has to go back to rectify more shoddy workmanship.IE Rear interior panels not fitted or misalighned and broken clips etc.
The panel trim on the tailgate has got a big clump of wires under stopping any of the clips from being pushed in.

My bumper bar is secured by cable tires to the towbar.Yes that is correct.

My 3rd wheel alighnment is probably as good as i am going to get.About 50% compared to my XR6.The 1st two alighnments were done for want of a better word by the dealer and the last one was organised by the dealer in a specialist centre in Bayswater who to his credit has made the car drivable.

Ask me about wheelalighnments.aircond,lefthand rear window trim,TOWBARS,low fluid levels,poor pre delivery,crackling am radio,i've had the lot ,coupled with the worst possible workshop performance possible.

While i may sound a bit negative about the car i can assure you if i ever get all these problems sorted i will have a magnificent vehicle.I recently towed my 2.3 ton van up north and it has no peers.It is incredible powerful and quiet and tows effortlesley with unmatched economy .I regulary get 6.3 to 6.5 lph mixed driving (yes i am a steady driver )and 13 to 14 lph towing the van.

Choose your dealer very carefully and don't be shy to phone Jeep Aust if you have a problem.They need the feedback and we must keep the dealers honest.

Elvin
 
#412 ·
Get a Redarc .It's a neat installation on the dash with only a knob protruding.
You can see it visually and it is in a good place to use if you need emergency braking if you get a sway up.
It is a non proportional type but more that adequate .I dont have a problem with it at all.
Have always used Tekonsha and IQ type before .

Elvin
 
#408 ·
Where do you see the transmission temp?
I know where to fine the water temp but not the transmission temp
Any help
 
#418 · (Edited)
The problem with non-proportional controllers is that they have a 'one size fits all' setup. You get the same braking force whether smoothly rolling to a stop or emergency braking. I had one years ago and would never again. It's like having a carby vs fuel injection (poor analogy I know). I think I'd prefer mechanical override brakes to non-proportional electric....

Just put your controller in the cubby. That's where mine is, and it works well :)
 
#421 ·
Very funny Snuke and Allypally. I guess they're looking for the easiest option.
As I said I've never towed before using electric brakes, but I've done some research and whilst the P3 is a 'set and forget' device, you still need to see the display to make sure you haven't lost your connection and also to make adjustments. So under the seat not a option.

Once I take delivery of my car (still waiting for the reverse camera...errhh) I'll go pick up the brake controller from the caravan dealer and mount it in the cubby myself and then let their auto electrician connect the wires.
 
#423 ·
I'm loving my new JGC CRD Laredo, now run in and ready for towing my van. Need to get my van rear camera monitor wired in. In Sydney visiting so in unfamiliar territory . Can anyone recommend a reliable business probably an auto elect, in or near SW Sydney (Bankstown)? Experience with Jeeps a real must-have for me. Not keen on using the dealers for obvious reasons! Thanks
Max

Sent from my GT-N5110 using Tapatalk 4
 
#424 ·
The Dealer has called me back tomorrow so they can have another look at the tow bar wiring / brake controller / brake lights not all coming on.

Not sure what they are going to do.

Can any one advise if they have seen a correct MY14 loom yet and if all 3 Jeep brake lights come on with the manual override used on the brake controller?

Thanks.
 
#425 ·
Xdra10,
I had a P3 fitted by the dealer, and although it seems to work fine with normal braking, when I use the manual override lever NONE of the brake lights on the car OR the camper come on. The camper brakes work as expected when I do this.

I'd like to know what the American standard is regarding brake light activation with the override lever on the brake controller. If it's not a requirement it would go some way towards explaining our dilemma.

Mine is a July build and was delivered 3 weeks ago with the rear camera and mudflaps already fitted. I had the genuine towbar and wiring fitted by the dealer.

I'm having a few minor warranty issues attended to tomorrow, and will raise this also.
 
#426 ·
Xdra10,
I had a P3 fitted by the dealer, and although it seems to work fine with normal braking, when I use the manual override lever NONE of the brake lights on the car OR the camper come on. The camper brakes work as expected when I do this.

I'd like to know what the American standard is regarding brake light activation with the override lever on the brake controller. If it's not a requirement it would go some way towards explaining our dilemma.

Mine is a July build and was delivered 3 weeks ago with the rear camera and mudflaps already fitted. I had the genuine towbar and wiring fitted by the dealer.

I'm having a few minor warranty issues attended to tomorrow, and will raise this also.
This is exactly how the North American version works. There is no tie back to the brake lights on ours. Manual Bar activation does not illuminate ANY lights on either the Van or the tow vehicle. Lights only function with brake pedal (both Van and Vehicle).
 
#427 ·
Thanks, willx. That answers the question as to wiring. Now, my next question is whether the Australian Design Rules require the lights to activate, or if it is just accepted as 'convention'. My 2005 Prado does activate all the brake lights when operating the manual override lever.
 
#432 ·
In one of my earlier threads i covered this.

Your brake lights on your Jeep (3 lights) and all your trailer lights must come on when you manually activate the over ride system.

Mine didn't and i took it back and they fixed it and it was,nt a quick job.

Check your interior panels to make shore they are fitting properly after wards as they can botch that up as well and some may have to be replaced as mine were.

My neighbour has a my13 and all his lights work correctly.

It is law to have your stoplights work when you activate over ride braking.
I have fitted all my own brake controller devices since 1974 and declined to do this one as i could see there may be problems involved so i paid the dealer $500 to supply and fit a Redarc non proportional unit which is only a knob in the dash and works more than adequate for my 2.3 ton caravan.

Elvin
 
#434 ·
Hi

I have read that people are happy with how their trucks tow. After a lot of research and lots of caravan shows we (my wife and I) are seriously looking at 20'0" Spinifex NomadiX with air bag cruise master suspension at 3.2 tonn fully loaded completely capable of free camping. I have a JGC Overland CRD and would like some input will the truck be too close to the towing limit or will it be no problem. I will hopefully get to talk to someone who is towing one but if this falls through are there any comments. I would be thankful for your comments as this is a big investment.

Thanks
 
#435 ·
Hi

I have read that people are happy with how their trucks tow. After a lot of research and lots of caravan shows we (my wife and I) are seriously looking at 20'0" Spinifex NomadiX with air bag cruise master suspension at 3.2 tonn fully loaded completely capable of free camping. I have a JGC Overland CRD and would like some input will the truck be too close to the towing limit or will it be no problem. I will hopefully get to talk to someone who is towing one but if this falls through are there any comments. I would be thankful for your comments as this is a big investment.

Thanks
Fantastic caravan great choice
Your jeep will tow it easily
Some pictures of the van would be nice
 
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