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Need advice on rear Cycle Carrier for my Xtrail TEK 2011

16K views 11 replies 4 participants last post by  Dovechic 
#1 ·
Hi we have an xTrail TEKNA 2011 which hasn't a towbar provided as it is a business car. We've bought a rear cycle carrier to take some bikes on holiday with us to France soon. We've just tested it and found that the registration plate is obscured. The lights are large as you know and seem to be ok. My question is do we need to get a lightboard if so can we only use it to display the reg plate or would we need the lights on the lightboard need to work too? If that is the case could we get way with a wiring kit to get the electrics to work? Can you suggest some compatible ones? Also how easy is it to get the electrics to work as my husband is not a techno or mechanic geek? :)

Cheers.
 
#2 ·
Hello Dovechic,

Welcome to the Forum. :biggrin:

If you are likely to obscure the lights or number plate you should really fit a trailer light board - they are not expensive. Your tow bar should have seven or euro thirteen pin electrics to it...

You can pick up trailer light boards from ebay for very little money {£15.50]...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/390575840717? ... =54&ff19=0

If your X-Trail is fitted with a Euro 13 pin plug - this adaptor simply plugs into the 13 pin plug and then you can plug in the 7 pin plug for the light board [costing approx. £9.00]...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/TOWBAR-SOCKET ... 43a954fec0

Also, Halfords do supply a light board which could be fitted by them if you are concerned [£35.00]... http://www.halfords.com/webapp/wcs/stor ... 7803644|nw:

Hopefully the company have a trailer number plate that you can fit with Velcro or double sided tape.

I am sure you will be able to sort something out. Enjoy your trip... :thumbs:

Best wishes, John
 
#5 ·
Hello Dovechic,

Wimbo said:
Ehhhhhhhh..... it has NO towbar John.... so, you can manage it another way I think, by moving the number plate? Only problem is the illumination on it... :frown:
Sorry I mis-read your post, Wimbo is right and you have no tow bar, sorry about this error. :oops: There is no reason why you could not have the rear lights electrics extended to take the light board - I am sure Halfords could advise you how this can be done.

Let us know how you get on. :thumbs:

Best wishes, John
 
#6 ·
Hi John / Wimbo,

Yes my husband explained all to Halfords and they agreed, with the bikes on you can see the lights as they are not totally obscured, but you can't see the reg plate. So we've had a euro reg plate made up and Halfords advised my husband on how to attach it to the bikes and rear cycle carrier.

So here's hoping when we go to France we shall be ok.

Thanks for your help
:biggrin:
 
#11 ·
Hello Dovechic,

I am sorry this is becoming so complicated... :oops:

I do feel you should really accommodate some lighting for the number plate. I take it that the brake and indicator lights are fully visible with the cycles mounted on the carrier? So all we are looking for is the number plate mounted on the rear of the cycle/cycle rack, and I would feel happier if you could light this somehow. :thumbs:

JackNorris has now offered one possible solution. :thumbs:

Alternatively, I would fix a trailer number plate light like this to the number plate board...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Britax-867-tr ... 3f2699c2ef

I would then purchase a 12v extension cable something like this...
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/CIGARETTE-12V ... 4d0287a359

The plug would go in the rear ancillary socket as mentioned by JackNorris. :thumbs: Then remove [cut off] the socket and connect the number plate light directly to the cable. The cable should be thin enough to come through bottom of the rear hatch without too much trouble.

I would hope you could get the work done locally - if you are unable to wire this yourself. :thumbs:

I hope this is clear for you to follow, best wishes, John
 
#12 ·
Hi Guys,

Many thanks for your suggestions and steps to install. We're going to get a trailer light and the extension lead and see what we can do. My husband knows someone who is a bit savvy with wiring so hopefully we can get this sorted.

Thanks again.
:biggrin: :thumbs:
 
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