Tesla Model Y tow hitch for UK/EU vehicles - all you need to know

[@GoGreenAutos]

Since filming this video, I have measured the voltage output on the 13-pin electrical socket and it is 12.76V DC. I have the 16V lithium battery in this Model Y. Now on a follow up video kzbin.info/www/bejne/iprJfaOBjb-nbck

[@DeHerman64]

Thanks for providing a real instruction video. Even Tesla didn’t do a good job.

[@GoGreenAutos]

Thanks. Hopefully people will find it useful. I was certainly looking for this information when deciding whether to specify the tow hitch on a new order.

[@nihongobenkyoshimasu3190]

7:10 About the little difficulty to attach the breakaway cable, you could try putting one "Threaded Quick Link Trailer Safety Chain Hook Carabiner Clip" to the hook attached to the car frame, and attach then your cable to this additional chain link. There are various size of those, so you could find a good one providing a better matching size between the hook attached to the car frame and your cable hook.

[@Alois-sv9ft]

The hook will be a problem, because the cable or a chain must go thru the bumper and than it will be worn .I think it will make sense to protect the bumper with a neopren sleeve or a stuff like that.

[@GoGreenAutos]

Good idea. I'll look at these.

[@alfredspijkerman]

Thx, this was very helpful. It is about details. I watched another video, but they didn’t make clear that you have to create a gap. With your video it was easy. Thx

[@GoGreenAutos]

Glad it was helpful. You might also find this one useful kzbin.info/www/bejne/iprJfaOBjb-nbcksi=Ei5WpYHx9YFYOId-

[@w-wanderers]

This is just what I've been looking for. Thank you for taking the time to create this content!

[@GoGreenAutos]

Glad it was helpful. There's some additional info in the video description too.

[@GoGreenAutos]

You might also find this followup video useful kzbin.info/www/bejne/iprJfaOBjb-nbck

[@TimHoverd]

One issue with the Tesla tow attachment is that the 13 pin sockets doesn't have the power outputs enabled. There's normally two of these one which is "ignition switched" and one permanently enabled. For a caravan these are commonly used for, respectively, keeping the fridge going and, if you have it, powering the caravan's stability control system. The current Model Y has the new 15.5. volt low voltage system and I guess they're worried about discharging the tiny lithium-ion battery they're now using. Losing the fridge charging isn't really an issue, you can just take a bunch of freezer packs with you. The stability control is another issue; I've been looking to see if I can power this separately, perhaps with a 12V battery on the caravan.

[@GoGreenAutos]

Yes I noticed this. I guess they didn't want a power drain that they couldn't control.

[@patrickfavier4310]

I think you can just wire the non-permanent wire to the one that normally is "always-on" then just select camp mode in your car, it should keep the 16V enabled as the traction battery is connected to keep it charged. Be carefull though with the 16V output on devices like the fridge that is designed for 12-14V. A DC-DC converter can be a smart move to avoid damage.

[@GoGreenAutos]

@@patrickfavier4310 I've now measured the voltage on the tow hitch electric socket and its 12.7V, so even though I have the 16V lithium-ion battery in the Model Y, the voltage is being stepped down for the attached trailer.

[@Vallewok]

⁠@@GoGreenAutos Can you help me? i seemingly dont have power from the electric socket, no lights on the trailer, Even though it works on my model x, tried enablig towing mode but no results model y late 2023

[@GoGreenAutos]

@@Vallewok Check the outlet with a multimeter. I suspect its working and just a poor connection.

[@emilkulaga]

Thanks for the good content. That's exactly what I was looking for. 👍

[@GoGreenAutos]

Glad it was helpful

[@GoGreenAutos]

You might find this follow up video useful too kzbin.info/www/bejne/iprJfaOBjb-nbck

[@deltajohnny]

Great video! 👏👏👏👏 When I purchase the Model Y, without any doubt I will order the factory tow hitch, as it seems very well made 👍👍 Thank you very much from Spain 😁

[@GoGreenAutos]

Thanks. Glad you found the video useful. Some towing videos will be coming soon, looking at the efficiency.

[@deltajohnny]

​@@GoGreenAutos👏👏👏 Very interesting subject 👍👍 Thanks again 😉

[@michaelferguson1016]

Excellent video as couldnt find this information elsewhere

[@GoGreenAutos]

Glad it was helpful

[@jsouto77]

Nice trailer. Ive got the same one GD-84 and it tracks really well and ideal for towing 1 tone loads with is what I usually do. Its a shame the the model why does not have a good turning circle as this makes it hopeless at reversing around tight corners.

[@GoGreenAutos]

I've recorded the video towing my GD85 trailer and the efficiency drop is huge. That video will be live on the channel in about 3-4 weeks time.

[@oriolsabater1524]

Thanks for the video, really what I was looking for.

[@GoGreenAutos]

Glad it helped. You might want to look at this one too kzbin.info/www/bejne/iprJfaOBjb-nbcksi=Q5YqBzAwjtqZT18g

[@FredCacti]

excellent info. thanks.

[@CharleneUSA]

Great video. The hitch ball seems rather low to the ground. Have you had a chance to measure the height from the ground to the top of the ball? Does your trailer look leveled? The coupler seems much higher than the hitch ball.

[@GoGreenAutos]

Yes the trailer hitch was much higher as it was raised on the jockey wheel to manually move the trailer. As its a twin axle trailer, you need to lift the front wheels off the ground otherwise you can't turn it. As for the ball height, its about 43cm. What should they be?

[@GoGreenAutos]

Info I've found.... What is the height of a towball in the UK? The EC Directive 94/20/EC states that the towball height should be between 350 and 420mm with the vehicle in the 'laden' condition. For most Ifor Williams trailers the correct hitch height should be between 485mm (19”) and 535mm (21”) depending on the trailer and the type of wheel equipment fitted. So at 43cm, it possibly is a bit low.

[@CharleneUSA]

@@GoGreenAutos For my particular trailer, I need the hitch ball top to be 48cm/19" from the ground to have the trailer level. For a single-axle trailer, it's not a massive deal if the trailer isn't perfectly level, but for a twin-axle trailer, it's recommended to be. I'm considering MY, but I'm unsure if the low position of the hitch will actually work for me.

[@GoGreenAutos]

@@CharleneUSA I tow a twin axle trailer and yes, the hitch is a little bit low, but it seems to tow fine. A video on that coming up in a fortnight.

[@deltajohnny]

​@@GoGreenAutos Great info! 👏👏

[@Petlaw99]

This system is so much better than the clunky towbar system that Tesla supplies for the Model Y in Australia. We use a 50 mm square section which requires a manual pin and R-Clip. Mind you, ours is relatively cheaper at AU$1970

[@GoGreenAutos]

Sounds the same as the US versions then too. Sounds crude, but then there's other accessories which can plug in too. Plus you can get an aftermarket magnetic cover, which is much easier to use than the Tesla cover.

[@chargedup8491]

Very helpful thank you!

[@stefangeorgiev3593]

Thank you! I was in a situation twi weeks ago, where I needed to be pulled backwards (stuck hard in crushed ice), and could not find the hook. There is a round cap in the bumper, but nothing behind it. It is probably there for cars without a trailer hitch mount..?

[@kounoupidi]

The 1600kg trailer capability includes the trailer's nose weight. Once coupled to the car, you should not exceed 1500kg on the trailer axels and 100kg on the tow hitch. Thus the 1500kg difference in the weight plate. It's 1500kg axel weight and 100kg nose weight. Of course, you lose 100kg of the Tesla's loading capacity because the trailer uses it.

[@GoGreenAutos]

Good point, thanks.

[@paulkeene9916]

In the US, you can get a magnetic cover. Trying to find one of these in the UK if anyone knows?

[@GoGreenAutos]

Yes, I've seen the magnetic covers, but they use the box section receiver. I can't find anyone yet making a similar product for the European receiver.

[@deltajohnny]

​@@GoGreenAutosI guess one could DIY one, as the cover is affordable, but it would be a problem it it fails and causes an accident, as it should have its homologation... 😢

[@davidrooney6173]

Good video

[@GoGreenAutos]

Thanks

[@wyx087]

Did you investigate the rear tow eye on your vehicle with tow hitch? I suppose people would install the tow hitch and use that in an emergency.

[@GoGreenAutos]

I haven't removed the rear tow eye cover myself yet, but I did look it up in the user manual. When you have the tow hitch installed, you can't use the tow eye. I guess the tow bar bracket behind the bumper covers the hole. The manual states "Vehicles equipped with a hitch receiver cannot be pulled from the rear tow eye. Use the tow bar or hitch receiver only to pull the vehicle to a safe location, such as onto a flatbed truck. Do not transport the vehicle with wheels on the ground." www.tesla.com/ownersmanual/modely/en_eu/GUID-FA9E3DC9-805C-45BD-A64D-C4B3F491B8C0.html

[@deltajohnny]

​@@GoGreenAutos thank you very much for all the information 👍👍

[@Patchow]

I’ve bought a bike rack but the mount is square shape and the Tesla socket is round 😩😩

[@GoGreenAutos]

US cars have a square hitch.

[@drdomestos]

It's not very convenient, though, is it? On my Mercedes GLC, I press a button and the tow ball pops out. And then retracts itself again, at another press of the button.

[@GoGreenAutos]

I would agree, automatic tow bars are great. But they add weight and complexity, which Tesla don't do. And for most people, using the tow bar is a very occasional occurrence, so no big problem to get it out of the boot and slot it in place.

[@Scottixi]

Is this AL-KO compatible? Currently using a BMW 330e with an AL-KO 13 pin tow bar and would like a Tesla Model Y next but worried about the range/compatibility. Any info would be great 🙏 Towing a Swift Basecamp

[@GoGreenAutos]

I'm not sure if it has enough clearance for an Alko hitch. I would assume so as a quick search shows that its the fixed flangeball towbar that you can't use. There is no permanent 12v supply for a fridge on the 13-pin electrics though. See kzbin.info/www/bejne/iprJfaOBjb-nbck

[@rdcanyon]

Have you got a link to buy the 13 pin to 7 adapter? The Tesla has a funny connection and the twist adapters don’t fit.

[@GoGreenAutos]

I made a video about this, see kzbin.info/www/bejne/iprJfaOBjb-nbck An adapter such as this amzn.to/3KWYcEN will work just fine if the towbar is aligned properly.

[@rodden1953]

ive seen people towing but they go quite fast i thought that the speed limit is 55 mph

[@GoGreenAutos]

I've already filmed an efficiency test when towing video and kept to 60 mph max as that's the UK speed limit on dual carriageways. That video should be on the channel in about 4 weeks time.

[@bordersw1239]

60mph dual carriageways/ motorways, 50 on single carriageways.

[@birdingbilly]

Is the towball ALKO compatible ? and what is the vertical load limit ?

[@GoGreenAutos]

What's the requirements of Alko? Its a standard 50mm ball. From the manual... "When carrying accessories, the ball coupling is designed to support vertical loads of up to 72 kg." When towing a trailer... "The tongue weight is the downward force that the weight of the trailer exerts on the hitch. It must be at least 4% of the total trailer load. The maximum tongue weight (or technically permissible mass at the coupling point) is 160 kg. Carrying a significant amount of equipment, passengers, or cargo in the tow vehicle can reduce the tongue weight it can handle, which also reduces the maximum towing capacity. Maximum towing capacity is calculated assuming the TPMLM (Technically Permissible Maximum Laden Mass) is not exceeded"

[@birdingbilly]

Thanks@@GoGreenAutos. An ALKO compatible towball has a longer neck than a standard 50mm ball so as ensure adequate clearance for the stabilising hitch. Most Caravans in the the UK and EU have ALKO hitches and it would be very dangerous to tow such with a non-compatible towball. This is the kind of info that it is really difficult to get from Tesla and stuff like "Carrying a significant amount of equipment, passengers, or cargo in the tow vehicle can reduce the tongue weight it can handle, which also reduces the maximum towing capacity." is really not that helpful because it's totally vague.

[@deltajohnny]

​@@GoGreenAutos thank you very much, and it seems that USA Model Y tow hitches (2 inch receivers) have a higher capacity, as it is very common to see these hitches with a dirt bike on it, at least in other SUVs... I wish European hitches were that strong 👏👏👏

[@ansalc]

What is the voltage at the 13 pin socket in this current Model Y? Is it 15.5V or is it 12V?

[@GoGreenAutos]

I would assume 16V but I will check. Of course, 12V cars aren't 12V when the vehicle is running as the alternator or DC-DC converter is charging at 14.5V.

[@ansalc]

@@GoGreenAutos Correct, in a traditional setting, a car with a 12V lead-acid battery, the alternator charges the battery at about 14.5 V, and thus, all circuit is a this voltage when the alternator is running. I wonder, though if the slightly higher voltage of the current Model Y can damage the trailer lights. The owner's manual states that devices that do not accept 16V should not be plugged in the 12V sockets. So, it seems that all the low voltage system is at 15.5 - 16V. Have you or anyone else that you know of that is using a traditional trailer, had any problem with the trailer lights? Yes, I would appreciate it if you could measure the actual voltage when the car is awake. We know already that pin 10 is disabled, and thus no voltage can be supplied from it Thank you for your quick response.

[@GoGreenAutos]

@@ansalc I've just measured it. The socket output is 12.76V (and I have the 16V lithium battery in my MY).

[@ansalc]

@@GoGreenAutos Excellent! Very good that you checked. Nowhere did I find that info. It looks like they did put a small DC to DC converter in the wiring and assure compatibility.

[@GoGreenAutos]

@@ansalc Yes, its quite reassuring.

[@Patchow]

What bike rack is compatible??

[@GoGreenAutos]

Any towball mounted rack.

[@O01J]

Has anyone in the UK managed to buy a tow bar from Tesla? It's always showing as out of stock.

[@GoGreenAutos]

Most Tesla accessories, merchandise etc seems to show out of stock. However, this isn't the case if you go on the app and ask or book the job, you'll be fine. Many are getting them fitted within a week or so. I was at a service centre recently and they had four towbars on the shelf.

[@Genovese777]

👌

[@SuperBartet]

Just remember that when towing you are not going to get very far, and you wont be able to charge without removing the trailer. So if you plan to use a trailer, get a real car with a engine.

[@mondotv4216]

Really - that's your takeaway? A real car has an engine?

[@shanemartin56]

I’ll call BS on that, I regularly tow a 1.6t box trailer with my MY and get at least 200 miles of range (if not much much more, depending on how lead rotted I am). Decoupling is simple and therefore so is supercharging.

[@SuperBartet]

@@shanemartin56 You don't have to decouple with a real car, and it will have very little effect on your range.

[@mondotv4216]

@@SuperBartet Troll

[@SuperBartet]

@@mondotv4216 Ha Ha you don't even know what a Troll is :)