a frame towing

[james butler]

hi everyone,
how does a Towing A frame work? i know it fixes one vehicle to another quite securely but how does it steer the towed vehicle?
surely the towed vehicle will only want to go in a straight line especially seing as the front wheels of the towed vehicle arent lifted off the ground.

regards
james

 

[Spark plug]

You need to leve the keys in the towed vehicle so the steering lock doesn’t come on and it just steers it’s self. It’s hard to get your head around until you see it but it just works.

 

[gaz1]

 

[frank horton]

don't think they are legal anymore in the UK........I know it's a bum hole but use a trailer...........still see them in Europe but seems that most are now using trailers....that's big Motor Homes pulling a small car.........
actually in France it's ileagal to tow with a rope now......I have a solid bar but won't risk it.........I use a trailer or just pay to get em on the back of a truck..........just add it to the bill.........!!!!!!!!!!!
Frank

 

[Wendelspanswick]

don't think they are legal anymore in the UK........I know it's a bum hole but use a trailer...........still see them in Europe but seems that most are now using trailers....that's big Motor Homes pulling a small car.........
actually in France it's ileagal to tow with a rope now......I have a solid bar but won't risk it.........I use a trailer or just pay to get em on the back of a truck..........just add it to the bill.........!!!!!!!!!!!
Frank

I still see a few in the UK behind motorhomes so I guess they are legal or at least it's enough of a grey area that people will risk it.

 

[rcx132]

I still see a few in the UK behind motorhomes so I guess they are legal or at least it's enough of a grey area that people will risk it.

It may have been a grey area once but if you go on the gov.uk site they have now cleared it up now.

An A-Frame is only legal to use to recover a broken vehicle. They are not legal for routine towing because the towed vehicle is on the ground, which makes it become a trailer in the eyes of the law and needs to meet trailer rules, which it won't.

 

[Bill Edwards]

If the brakes are linked - which some frames do - or linked in other ways I believe it is legal. Or if the car weighs under 750kg - old mini's anyone...?

 

[rcx132]

If the brakes are linked - which some frames do - or linked in other ways I believe it is legal. Or if the car weighs under 750kg - old mini's anyone...?

Lol were they really under 750 kg? Incredible.

 

[Wendelspanswick]

It may have been a grey area once but if you go on the gov.uk site they have now cleared it up now.

An A-Frame is only legal to use to recover a broken vehicle. They are not legal for routine towing because the towed vehicle is on the ground, which makes it become a trailer in the eyes of the law and needs to meet trailer rules, which it won't.

I must see at least 2 or 3 a week while driving round Somerset so either the police are not prosecuting or there must be a loop hole.

 

[masleeve]

My 2002 smart car was weighed recently and is 720kg with fuel. I was a bit surprised.
You do see quite a few on A frames behind motor homes which is a bit odd as the recovery organisations won't tow them.

 

[CompoSimmonite]

I use an A frame. Have been stopped by Police twice - first time was accident ahead that totally blocked road and they asked if I needed a hand turning the towed vehicle around, second was on motorway and asked why I had rear fog light on (loose wire to rear cigar lighter illumination kept blowing side light fuse and I'd run out of spares. They saw all the blown fuses and simply told me to get it sorted when back home). Neither time was any comment made about A framing.

 

[rcx132]

The police either don't know or don't care.

 

[colnerov]

Hi, They are classed as a trailer so have to have brakes connected to the hitch or the vehicle. There are some cars because of their steering geometry that can't be towed and they try to go the wrong way or go to full lock as soon as they are moved.

Colin

 

[CompoSimmonite]

Hi, They are classed as a trailer so have to have brakes connected to the hitch or the vehicle. There are some cars because of their steering geometry that can't be towed and they try to go the wrong way or go to full lock as soon as they are moved.

Colin

Citroens with hydro supension are a PIA to A frame as you have to raise car to highest setting for access and then they don't always tow nicely. Mazda 6 diesel proved impossible to A frame even with engine running (for PAS) and somebody trying to steer as wheels kept going to full lock whenever you moved. 4x4's with beam axle are no problem.
My A frame is a 2500kg Solo-Matic but many years ago I helped somebody move a Skoda Estelle behind their Granada with the old type of A frame that rested against the front bumper. No problem until the rusty Skoda bumper inner steel beam crumbled away so the A frame became loose and we were left with a car that tried to overtake us
Over the years I've had towing "ambulance" that was difficult to load, ex AA recovery trailer than was nightmare to store due to size and eventually settled on the A frame. I wouldn't, however, hessitate to hire a trailer or pay somebody off Shipley etc if necessary.
With the ambulance I moved a 1500 Beetle with my own 1200 Beetle and was surprised at how easy it climbed hills. Turned out the 1500 was in gear so with ignition being turned on the engine was actually firing and pushing the 1200.

 

[gaz1]

garage owners still use the bar and driver behind a wheel and also the a frame to tow vehicles back to there garages

ive been the driver with the bar often whilst being towed

 

[Spark plug]

It’s not so mutch the police that you need to worry about but VOSA.

 

[Bill Edwards]

Lol were they really under 750 kg? Incredible.

Kerb weight 580-686kg, according to Wikipedia.

Probably why it was so common for kids to turn them round in parking spaces for a laugh!

 

[steviec_lj]

It’s not so mutch the police that you need to worry about but VOSA.

Don't need to worry about VOSA, they don't exist. The DVSA and their road side inspection areas along by with mobile patrols are the ones to be concerned with.

A frames are legal for recovery, or for what they now class as "Tow Cars" - anything under 750kg that's usually modified for towing behind a motor home.

 

[Justme]

Using a car under 750kg does not make it legal to not have working brakes.

Simply put the trailer rules are that all trailers plated to over 750kg must have brakes & trailer plated under that dont have to have them BUT IF FITTED must work.

So any car fitted with an A frame must have working brakes if being towed as a trailer.

There are two ways to legally use an A frame.

Recovering a road legal broken down vehicle with a driver in the towed vehicle.
(towing a broken down vehicle does not need a BE licence)

OR
For the A frame & vehicle to become a legal trailer, towed by a vehicle that is legal to tow that weight with a driver that is legal to drive a combination of that weight ie must have BE.

Some countries (Spain for one) do not allow A frames unless for professional recovery.

 

[rcx132]

It is annoying when people use the argument, "the Police saw me and didn't say anything so it must be legal". Or "everyone does it so it must be legal", both of these have been used in this thread.