Wouldn't a dolly sort it all out?Warning about A-Frame towing posted on MHFun forum
Ensure you regularly check the frame mountings on your car and that the car is not suffering with any distortion or metal fatigue.
Report 1...
Ford Ka 8 or 9 years old - a part of the "chassis" on the near side has broken allowing the a-frame to twist and pull the front of the car forward. ... Both front wings have popped out & forward by a couple of inches. it had a strong sub frame bolted to the car chassis. The vehicle had to abandoned while on tour in Scotland to be returned by the breakdown service.
The car was MOT'd last month and is in excellent condition otherwise with absolutely no rust and very low mileage.
The poster in the past had been an avid a-frame user but has always considered they should be subjected to annual testing along with the MOT.
The poster said, If the car is repairable, which he doubts, he will not continue towing it or any other.
The A-Frame was attached to a solid bar which is in turn fixed to strong steel plates bolted to the "chassis" ..... All very strong but possibly maybe too strong, putting a load of stress on the car.
Report 2.
Another user posted on the same thread regarding a 5door hatchback fitted with a new A frame and only a couple of years old.
The whole front end was loose where the chassis had snapped, luckily it all got noticed before the front of the car was pulled off..
The law for tow bars has been strict for many years that you can only bolt to reinforced points on the car designed for the purpose. a frames are bolted through thin pressed steel at the front of the chassis. in no way are cars designed for this or it would have to be type approved and crash tested etc.
Another reason that a frames are not legal, but rely on grey areas of the law.
Check them all regularly. Maybe the Spanish and Germans are right after all.
A dolly would be classed no different than an A frame in Europe, probably worse because they are not braked and a dolly is impossible to reverse, an A frame is just difficult but possible with care and practiceWouldn't a dolly sort it all out?
Wouldn't a dolly sort it all out?
Dollies
The use of dollies is intended for the recovery of broken down vehicles, not for the transportation of a vehicle from “A” to “B”. Under Regulation 83 of C&U a motor car is permitted to tow two trailers when one of them is a towing implement and the other is secured to and either rests on or is suspended from the implement.
When used for recovering broken down vehicles dollies are exempt from having an operational braking system fitted, provided that the towing vehicle is capable of meeting the minimum prescribed braking requirements for the combination. However, if dollies are used for the transportation of perfectly functioning vehicles they will need to be fitted with an operational braking system. Additionally the brakes on the wheels of the towed car which are in contact with the road must work and meet the specified 50% braking efficiency required for a trailer.
The dolly would also be required by Regulation 22 of C&U to be fitted with suspension. Regulations 19 and 22 in C&U permit a broken down vehicle to be recovered without complying with these requirements. However, there is further legislation under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 that introduces a limitation on the maximum speed that the combination can be driven - this is 40mph on motorways and 20mph on other roads.
Because we are not always wildcamping, I have a disability, I also have a disabled dog so need sometimes to find places suitable for him to walk with his wheelsWhy do people need to take a car with them at all? Seems particularly unsuitable if you are wildcamping.
I was following this with interest especially after they took the original legislation offline, I was pleased when they posted the new regulations and I am still confident to tow my car but we need someone to be prosecuted, then appeal and the powers that be overturn the decision so we have a definitive answerThis update has recently been published by Dept for transport on the 10th May 2018. It appears to give a little more clarity on the subject, though not the stamp of legal approval that would settle the discussions which periodically pop up.
A-frames - GOV.UK
Davy
You're a tugger at heart :scared::scared:
There are people that can help , go on you know what to do .
I bet you've got an aquaroll and a wastemaster too :scared::scared:
Just to add my little bit I need to know What smart car gearbox , CAN be towed without self destructing, I asked another site but got no replies but there is bound to be one on here that knows when they changed from the older gearbox to the dual clutch one that is engaged all the time. I want one for my daughter to go to work and still be able to pull it when I want it to go away.
Reply from VOSA
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