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Towing with an A frame


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Anyone now any good "A frames" or towing units that I can use top tow my punto to uni with behind the 90? Will be on the motorway 60ish and 300miles from yorkshire to Shropshire?

Sam

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Anyone now any good "A frames" or towing units that I can use top tow my punto to uni with behind the 90? Will be on the motorway 60ish and 300miles from yorkshire to Shropshire?

Sam

A frames are not legal, unless the car you are towing is under 750kg, which is the maximum weight for an unbraked trailer, which is effectively what the combination has become. They can only be used for greater loads than that for recovery purposes i.e. if you are rescuing a broken down car, like the AA do. Proving whether you are recovering or moving is the difficult bit, if you do get pulled over (as happened to a mate last weekend).

Toby

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Definitive answer from the National Trailer and Towing Association website.

I have a motor home and want to tow a Fiat Seicento behind it using an A-frame. This car has a kerb weight under 750 kg so am I legal with this outfit?

Sorry no is the answer. The law regards this as an unbraked trailer and you are allowed to tow up to 750 kg Gross Trailer Weight, not a car’s kerb weight. The figure you have to use is the car’s Gross Vehicle Weight or Maximum Permitted Weight. This is usually at least 300 - 400 kg more than the kerb weight. We have no knowledge of any car sold in the UK that has a GVW under 750 kg. The only vehicle we know that is completely legal to tow with an A-frame is the French Aixam small "car". This is a full four seater and details can be obtained from Aixam UK on 01926 886100.

An A-frame or dolly can only be used to recover a broken down vehicle to a place of safety. Transporting a car is, therefore, illegal. A-frames may be offered with a braking system that applies the car's brakes. These do not conform to the law as the car then becomes a "braked trailer" and has to conform to European Directives contained within the Construction and Use Regulations. It does not conform to the European Directive 71/320/EEC and amendments regarding braking requirements in any way. The use of this A-frame for transportation is illegal. It is still OK for use to recover a vehicle to a place of safety.

Interestingly, the 750kg limit also means Smart cars are illegal on an A-frame on the back of campers

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IIRC Yes towing dolly trailer should only be used to transport to a place of safety or repair, but the AA use them with thier patrol vans to recover cars to members homes or to a garage for repair, they [AA] must have a exemption for that use. this is similar to the latest AA kit http://www.aframes.co.uk/

this may be of interest to all

http://www.protowframes.co.uk/

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IIRC Yes towing dolly trailer should only be used to transport to a place of safety or repair, but the AA use them with thier patrol vans to recover cars to members homes or to a garage for repair, they [AA] must have a exemption for that use. this is similar to the latest AA kit http://www.aframes.co.uk/

this may be of interest to all

http://www.protowframes.co.uk/

Interseting thread, but now very confused!

If it is all illegal then how come the link to a company specialising in A frames? If it aint leagal then how do they have a business? :huh::blink::unsure:

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I thought the distinction was between a working vehicle and a broken one.

By definition, the AA and RAC only use their frames on broken-down cars.

Towing a perfectly roadworthy car behind a landrover/camper van/lorry is illegal because there's no actual need to, as it's not 'broken down'

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I thought the distinction was between a working vehicle and a broken one.

By definition, the AA and RAC only use their frames on broken-down cars.

Towing a perfectly roadworthy car behind a landrover/camper van/lorry is illegal because there's no actual need to, as it's not 'broken down'

Seems this is fact. Not much info on either of the above websites regarding conditions of use, restrictions or licence category needed.

More to it than meets the eye.

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I was talking to a guy who was towing a new "non-runner" project back home from big bang VW show last month. He got pulled on the way back and told to leave the car at the side of the road until he could return with a trailer - the A frame was not an option as far a the law were concerned - regardless of what was on it.. I think it's something they are getting wiser to?

Jas

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I was talking to a guy who was towing a new "non-runner" project back home from big bang VW show last month. He got pulled on the way back and told to leave the car at the side of the road until he could return with a trailer - the A frame was not an option as far a the law were concerned - regardless of what was on it.. I think it's something they are getting wiser to?

Jas

Ive not looked it up, but I seem to remember words similar to "ambulance use only, i.e. to the nearest point of refuge"

I have always understood this to be true, for example, if you break down on the motorway, you are only legally allowed to tow to the nearest safe exit to a reasonable layby or services etc.

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  • 2 weeks later...

During the MWWC the Series 1 in Bert's team (sorry I only know Bert so I don't the team members names) was A framed to the event.

I started the conversation from this thread and no one thought it was ilegal.

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