Towing Frame/ Trailer Advice

CliffyP

Guest
Hi everyone.
I am thinking of getting a small car Smart/KA/C1 or whatever to take with me on the odd occassion when I am going to stay in one place for a length of time. My questions are :-

1- What can you use in France Germany etc Frame or Trailer.
2- Whats the situation re Braked and Unbraked on both systems
3- Is there anything else that can be used, i.e. dolly
4- Is anone selling any of the above.
Any advice or help, I would be very gratefull.
Cheers for now
Cliff
 
I use an a-frame but do so legally here in OZ. Wouldn't do it any other way

My reading of this and other forums makes it clear that using an A-frame is at least tolerated in the UK but is apparently illegal under EU design rules even if it is apparently ignored in many or even most European countries. You just have to take your chances.

Main thing is to make sure that your car can be flat towed. There is a thread current at the moment about a couple who followed all the 'rules' for setting up their Smart car, but 300km down the road have a new car with the guts hanging out underneath.

I believe that tow dollies have similar problems reading legality and similar problems regarding whether a vehicle must be towed forward, backwards or not at all.

Trailers appropriately outfitted and provided the tow vehicle is rated correctly should be legal everywhere - but they are heavy, a maintenance problem and a real pain to store at home or at your destination.
 
A-Frames are legal for use in the UK as long as they comply with C&U regulations for trailers.

The main issues are braking and reversing. Trailers with a gross weight of over 750kg must be braked, and if brakes are fitted to ANY trailer they must work at a given efficiency. Trailer brakes must allow the trailer to be reversed without causing significant resistance and without the manual operation of any device.

Towing dollies are ONLY legal for the recovery of a broken down vehicle.

As Tony Lee says, there does seem to be an issue with Smart cars, it's my understanding that Mercedes say they should not be towed (like most automatics), however some people seem to do it without problems whilst others have found the the gearbox has been seriously damaged.

I understand that A-Frame towing is not legal in some European countries, but EU legislation does allow vehicle combinations that are legal in their country of registration to visit other countries where it would not be legal for locally registered vehicles. Not sure I'd want to argue the point with foreign cops at the side of a motorway though...

AndyC
 
Last edited:
A Frame

Hi I have an A frame and I use it to tow my Bambi motorhome behind my car as the car is bigger.
I am now selling my Bambi motorhome and going to buy a bigger one so the A Frame will be made redundant so I will be selling it for about £90 if you might be interested please feel free to PM me.
Regards
Steve
 
Legality of 'A' Frames

CliffyP said:
Hi everyone.
I am thinking of getting a small car Smart/KA/C1 or whatever to take with me on the odd occassion when I am going to stay in one place for a length of time. My questions are :-

1- What can you use in France Germany etc Frame or Trailer.
2- Whats the situation re Braked and Unbraked on both systems
3- Is there anything else that can be used, i.e. dolly
4- Is anone selling any of the above.
Any advice or help, I would be very gratefull.
Cheers for now
Cliff
Click to expand...
Hi, all the legal requirements are available from Car-A-Tow website. You will be able to download All the info. Would advise you not to consider the \smart car as there are mechanical issues. Have spent a long time in research. If I can assist further, call me.
Best wishes Skipper
 
Thanks for replies, I have been offered Fiat Siencento 1.1SX 02-02 with 22k for £1,000 from a pal in the trade, so may go with that, cheap enough to use three or four time a year. Will check weight etc and refer to those of you who have kindly offered to help, any more infor would assist.
Thanks
Cliff:D
 
steveandpat said:
Hi I have an A frame and I use it to tow my Bambi motorhome behind my car as the car is bigger.
I am now selling my Bambi motorhome and going to buy a bigger one so the A Frame will be made redundant so I will be selling it for about £90 if you might be interested please feel free to PM me.
Regards
Steve
Click to expand...

Will do, thanks. Is it braked ?
 
There should be no problem, auto,s are the main trouble. But will check. Thanks
 
a frame

yo
iv'e seen loads of seicento's being towed all over europe so no probs there.
i have read the car-a-tow legal part through a number of times and it doesn't say catagorically that they are legal, it says deemed to be legal, and that it may take a court case to define either way.
good luck
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Users who viewed this discussion (Total:0)

Back
Top