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.

Hello Dovechic,

Welcome to the Forum.

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...

Best wishes, John

Thanks John for the advice.
My husband will venture into Halfords and see what they can do.

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...

Hello Dovechic,



Sorry I mis-read your post, Wimbo is right and you have no tow bar, sorry about this error. 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.

Best wishes, John

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

The question still remains: how to illuminate it... Or driving just in daylight?

To illuminate, get some number plate lights ma simply wire to a cig plug and plug in boot.

Having an unilluminated plate is just as bad as not having one!

Hmmm interesting thought.posting.php?mode=reply&f=20&t=9097# What do they look like and how do they attach on to the reg plate? Does anyone know where could we get some? We should be driving in daylight. We're avoiding night driving.

If it was me, would get a piece of wood, slightly longer than the number plate

Screw these on at the ends... http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Pair-of-Brita ... 1230550768

Number plate in middle and wire the lights to a cig lighter which could plug in boot.

I see no reason why it shouldn't work?