Trailer or Dolly

murial

Guest
Hi .We want to buy a trailer or Dolly, to tow a Toyota IQ ( This car is about the size of a smart car ) At the moment I am really confused as to what you can use legally in Europe. I want a Dolly as this is alot cheaper. But all the car trailers sellers say these are illegal or its a very grey area. yet the Dolly sellers say we will have no problems. What do you use ? any comments welcome.Thanks
 
I can't help you but think this is a really interesting topic.

I started to look into it last year and got sooooo confused that i gave up!

Look forward to the answers!

H
 
I agree it does seem a grey area even in the uk.

Ask the question at www.5ive-0.org a forum of serving police officers a lot within traffic and you will get a considered impartial response

Channa
 
I heard dolly's weren't allowed on Spanish roads. But you can buy tiny car trailers made solely for the Smart car, Always ads in the back of magazines for them. What about using an A-frame instead?
 
Only trailers are legal in Europe despite what the other suppliers assert ...
 
Canalsman said:
Only trailers are legal in Europe despite what the other suppliers assert ...
Click to expand...

I am sure that you're correct on this but do you have it in writing?

Kenspain recently posted on the subject of A-Frames in Spain and some people had been stopped/ The people had presented their translation of the "rules" or what they had been told by the retailer of the A-Frame were the "rules"

The Police were not interested, screwed the paper up and threw it at them. They were fined and made to continue their journey with both vehicles being driven separately.

I suppose that you could ask the retailers of the A-Frames if they were willing to re-imburse you for any fines that you may incur?
 
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baloothebear said:
I suppose that you could ask the retailers of the A-Frames if they were willing to re-imburse you for any fines that you may incur?
Click to expand...

Even if they were persuaded to do that, which I doubt, how does that help with the insistence by local police that both vehicles should be driven? That's particularly difficult if there's only one driver available ...
 
All I can do is repeat what my stepson and other officers have been told any motor that is towing another motor were the towed motor has four wheels on the ground is an offence.But after what we saw Sunday some are risking it still good luck if they get away with it but dont cry if they catch you.
Safe Travel :dance:
 
http://www.smart-trailers.co.uk/

Take a look here. Trailers are very simply built. Anyone slightly mechanically minded could build one. You can buy the ancillaries from Towsure. Probably £500 all in. You could build it in steel and it'll be even cheaper
 
this isn't a new law in spain , towing a vehicle is illegal as ken says , only breakdown trucks are permitted

nothing to do with A frames or not

can't say about the dolly

it's a bit like french autoroutes ....only the licence service for that particular road is permitted
 
this isn't a new law in spain , towing a vehicle is illegal as ken says , only breakdown trucks are permitted

nothing to do with A frames or not

can't say about the dolly

it's a bit like french autoroutes ....only the licenced service for that particular road is permitted
 
lebesset said:
this isn't a new law in spain , towing a vehicle is illegal as ken says , only breakdown trucks are permitted

nothing to do with A frames or not

can't say about the dolly

it's a bit like french autoroutes ....only the licenced service for that particular road is permitted
Click to expand...

Even the use of a dolly is illegal it is only allowed by the breakdown boys not to be used by any one else. You even have to have a ITV MOT on some of the car trailers over here.
 
brings us back to the eu ruling about free access to vehicles legal in one country can pass freely through another in the eu. as mentioned in the interiour ministers instruction 08/v-74 de la direccion general de trafico relativa a las autocaravanas. directivas 70/156/cee y 94/20/cee.
as your son in law ever seen this document ken? signed by el director general pere navarro olivella
there is also comunicat informatiu 3/2008 this one is signed by el director josep perez moya. this one is generalitat de catalunya. might be worth his views. both given to me by my helpers in spain.
have a good one ken regards to the family hope to see you end of the year. cheers alan.
even yellow lights on the roof like mine i believe need special permission so i,m told in spain.
 
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Hi Alan
So much changed here now I got pulled with the scooter rack that i paid all that bloody money to get it approved here in Spain but got the fine back son said every day they are told to issue my tickets to get more money in more road stops than ever now. I will ask him about that when i see him. Hope your ok and looking forward to meeting up when you come over next.:cheers:
 
hi ken. i realise that if challenged through the authorities fines are being payed back, trouble is most dont bother. i know this is happening i get messages from the clubs over there. there is a lead into the guardia through the clubs but cant say how . i get lots of snippets . same in portugal . there club is conected to the speeding job association. all good fun . see you later alligator .
 
I have copied this from another forum that may be of interest to yourself, Murial and others.


"I noticed the updated advice on the British Consulate website, which now accurately describes the situation as it has always been under Spanish law:-


"Towing a car with a motorhome.
Towing a car behind a motor home using an A-frame is illegal in Spain and you will be fined for using one."


Source:
Driving licences and vehicles "



Cheryl
 
think you will find thats for expats that change their licence as they should and live in spain. if you live there you cant use eu rules as a visitor.
unfortunately its the miss reading of things like this that cause confusion. an easy mistake i know .
there as never been any doubt that spanish drivers cant use them . ex pats will be classed as spanish drivers . it would have also been a requirement as they never had over 3,500kg licences . we did and a few others in the eu did . many of the other forums have posted this embassy notice but also reads it wrong .
 
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hi. easy done . we all get carried away sometimes . done it myself several times .
i now very often read govt items starting at the end .very often they go on for pages then right at the end give exemptions .
the spanish letters do the same .feed you with lots of ideas then cancel them at the last minute .but the brain as already took so much in.
 
If it were me, I'd get a trailer for future proofing if nothing else. Dollies used to be OK, but it looks like they may get increasingly squeezed out by EU safety regs.
 
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