Any of the socket options below can be wired in to your vehicle in two different ways: Universal wiring or Dedicated wiring.

Universal is the traditional norm for towing electrics, it works by taking a small current signal from the vehicle’s lights to trigger a relay and send a direct power supply to the towing socket. It does not communicate with the vehicle and will not activate any safety or convenience systems. It does however isolate the trailer wiring from that of the towing vehicle, thus protecting the car’s wiring from damage should the wiring in the trailer (or cycle carrier) malfunction. It is a tried and tested system in very wide use. Bypass systems are found both in universal (non vehicle-dedicated) systems and in dedicated and OEM (original equipment manufacturer) systems.

In older cars you could simply connect the wiring from the rear lights to the tow bar socket, meaning the trailer lights would run on the same circuit as the light cluster on the car. Nowadays a Smart Bypass is required in order to avoid pulling power from the vehicles own lighting circuits, to avoid bringing up error messages because the car has detected a drain on the lighting circuits.

Pros: Cheaper, Smart bypass modules are widely available (in event of a failure it can be replaced by any towbar centre without sending away for a new module).

Cons: Vehicle is unaware, thus cannot apply advanced towing functionality (bulb warning is an audible buzzer, no trailer stability operation). No vehicle software re-coding required.

Any of the socket options below can be wired in to your vehicle in two different ways: Universal wiring or Dedicated wiring.

Dedicated wiring came about with the introduction of CANbus systems, whereby there is a computer and local network within the vehicle controlling all components, rather than analogue wires to each individual component. These kits connect into that network and are therefore integrated with the vehicle’s systems, enabling advance functionality.

For most older vehicles universal wiring is still the preferred choice given the higher cost of dedicated, however for many vehicles it is advisable to choose the latter especially if towing larger items. These include:

1. Vehicles with advanced towing/safety features, towing trailers or caravans e.g. TSP* or ACC** (see explanation below); 2. Vehicles still under warranty (new and high value vehicles); 3. Vehicles on which the dedicated wiring kit saves labour time or is inexpensive.

Please note: With dedicated wiring some vehicles require re-coding at the dealer in order to activate TSP and PDC/Fog light cut-off (where present) – in the vast majority of cases we can do this in-house.

Pros: Enables towing features the vehicle has. Usually plugs-in rather than clipping onto existing wiring, integrates to vehicles own systems (e.g. bulb warning on dashboard).

Cons: Usually more costly, sometimes longer to fit, replacement modules need to be sent-away for thus cannot be fixed as quickly in event of a problem.