When shifting Land Rovers any distance we favoured A frames really, made a couple of those too, ( well over engineered of course), they just slot over the square bumper with a couple of big bolts behind it nipped up totally solid. You can technically tow with no one in the towed vehicle as it just follows on, though we usually had a 'brakesman' in the rear vehicle to ensure fair play.
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KemppiFrog
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Back in the mists of time (around 1970?) I bust the crank on my Mini. Slightly deserved, as it was around 80hp from 850cc... Friend with another Mini Cooper that I had built from scratch, towed me back to Norfolk from Herts. All we could find was a bit of washing line that was about 10ft long. He was a bit keen and we were hitting 80mph at times... Bit twitchy, you bet! Only had to snap it once, but my foot was hovering the whole time.
More recently, recovered a Golf from S of Bordeaux with a bar. Around 100km. Still feels weird being so close. Supposedly, one is limited to 30kmh, but we averaged around 60.
More recently, recovered a Golf from S of Bordeaux with a bar. Around 100km. Still feels weird being so close. Supposedly, one is limited to 30kmh, but we averaged around 60.
KemppiFrog
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I have just adapted a ball hitch to go in the front towing eye of a Kangoo, so he can launch his boat more easily. The screw thread is 22mm and the bits on the chassis are pretty robust.
The Golf I recovered came here a bit later for a sump replacement, as the owner had clipped a curb at the local supermarket and dumped the oil. I made a solid tow out out 50x 30 x3 mm tube that bolted to his screw in tow eye.
At the last turn he lost it a bit and over shot, almost trying to overtake me... the bar bent a 'bit', but there was no damage to either car.
We had an old day cab ERF unit with the 5th wheel removed,as a recovery vehicle and as it was under 7 1/2 ton we could drive it on a car license. So we would take it out to the broken down truck and the HGV driver would drive it back and we would be in the broken down one .
Not sure quite how legal it was. My first recovery was about 10 miles away but my 2nd was in London but luckily only a 4 wheeler.
willie.macleod
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Can't beat the a frame type for recovery, no messing around finding screw eyes, self steers and way safer for slowing down as well as force goes into tow ball of towing vehicle.
ezytow.co.uk
2.6 Ton Car Recovery Towing A-Frame - Ezy Tow
Ezytow A-Frame Dolly Our A-frames can be fitted in minutes and offer safe and stable towing. The quality of our tow bars and A-frame dolly’s mean they are regularly used by mechanics, garages, recovery services, motorhome, RV and campervan owners and private motorists to safely tow a vehicle…...
ezytow.co.uk
dieselsamurai
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Ive used one for a few years but ive reverted to a stretchy rope now as any long distances with a solid pole and someone behind you who does not know how to drive when being towed by one is brutal. The last outing with it and the hook part on one end actually broke off at the weld mid journey . I had a stretchy rope as a backup and we used that for the remainder of the journey and it was a breeze. Id never use a tow pole again either a rope or A frame is the way to go now
Can't beat the a frame type for recovery, no messing around finding screw eyes, self steers and way safer for slowing down as well as force goes into tow ball of towing vehicle.
2.6 Ton Car Recovery Towing A-Frame - Ezy Tow
Ezytow A-Frame Dolly Our A-frames can be fitted in minutes and offer safe and stable towing. The quality of our tow bars and A-frame dolly’s mean they are regularly used by mechanics, garages, recovery services, motorhome, RV and campervan owners and private motorists to safely tow a vehicle…...
I thought these aren't allowed anymore - every wheel on the ground needs to be braked? (apart from short/emergency recovery)
I'll order that one then
I think the problem is, they all look the same in the photos and a lot obviously lie about the spec
I'd make one myself but no free time, and (forgot to say) it's nice if it folds up so I can leave it in my boot - if one of the vans breaks down across the country I can head straight to it wherever I am
I'd always used a rope/strap, then the pole when I got it, then strap again after the pole went missing
but... got pulled over last time by a cop who didn't like us using a strap and said it should be a pole (he also said a range rover is totally unsuitable for towing....)
he was ok (ish) about it, once he established we're insured/legit etc. but might as well get a pole ready for next time
used to have recovery company but the one time we used it, it took 13 hours to get a van back from Leed's.... I could have driven there and towed it back in 3 or 4 hours
northwest
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I have had way more experience than most towing vehicles and by far and away the best "tow-er" I had was my mother. Even up to when she reached eighty she was very good. We both had lots of practice together you see.
It started off badly though, she put my forehead onto the dashboard of a Triumph Herald at speed and I still carry the scar but she (we) got progressively better. Had a few incidents though, the Police car that tried to nip between us at the roundabout at the bottom of Church road in Stockton and a few other memorable incidents.
My longest tow was two transit vans, one towing the other from Brixton to Great Ayton back in the seventies, boy was I glad to see the Cleveland hills. I don't think we could get away with it nowadays, towing up the M1 or rather the A1M as it was back in the day.
Never used a pole, always a rope or strap.
It started off badly though, she put my forehead onto the dashboard of a Triumph Herald at speed and I still carry the scar but she (we) got progressively better. Had a few incidents though, the Police car that tried to nip between us at the roundabout at the bottom of Church road in Stockton and a few other memorable incidents.
My longest tow was two transit vans, one towing the other from Brixton to Great Ayton back in the seventies, boy was I glad to see the Cleveland hills. I don't think we could get away with it nowadays, towing up the M1 or rather the A1M as it was back in the day.
Never used a pole, always a rope or strap.
dieselsamurai
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This it the main thing the person behind has to have some sense or experience being a tow'er too as the worse thing someone can assume if your using a pole is that they dont need to brake as it a rigid connection. Its a lot easier nowadays with mobile phones as at least you can talk to the person behind .
Having used both for cars/light vans i find a rope so much more straightforward i find
CompoSimmonite
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I'd say the same. Use a length of scaffolding with a suI'd say fabricate one, I saw a mate who does Land Rovers the other day who's still using one I made about 20 years ago. If you make it yourself you can have it virtually indestructible
I've got a 2500KG Intertrade version. Haven't towed on rope or pole sinceCan't beat the a frame type for recovery, no messing around finding screw eyes, self steers and way safer for slowing down as well as force goes into tow ball of towing vehicle.
2.6 Ton Car Recovery Towing A-Frame - Ezy Tow
Ezytow A-Frame Dolly Our A-frames can be fitted in minutes and offer safe and stable towing. The quality of our tow bars and A-frame dolly’s mean they are regularly used by mechanics, garages, recovery services, motorhome, RV and campervan owners and private motorists to safely tow a vehicle…...
Migmac
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I got pulled 20 miles nearly by a 110 landy, I was nearly on his tow bar the chain was so short! Winters morning and my Suzuki wouldn’t start. Fuel system full of ice. Couldn’t see out the windscreen, had to rely on the red glow to know when to brake! Amazed we survived.
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BTDT. Bloody frightening.
Barking Mat
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When I bought my Commer horsebox in 1999, had to get it towed 12 odd miles, to a field I'd borrowed.
It had no brakes, and was a non runner.
Eventually borrowed an HGV double eyed bar, tractor pulling, took the bumper off, think a D shackle held it on.
Hair raising, but did it, last few minutes was down a huge hill on the old A30 going down into South Zeal.
In hindsight, I should have low loaded it.
It had no brakes, and was a non runner.
Eventually borrowed an HGV double eyed bar, tractor pulling, took the bumper off, think a D shackle held it on.
Hair raising, but did it, last few minutes was down a huge hill on the old A30 going down into South Zeal.
In hindsight, I should have low loaded it.
Tinbasherdan
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What you need is a set of hollebones !
willie.macleod
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Correct, they're a better alternative than the poles discussed earlier but only for emergencies. You do get legal versions that have brake integration systems these days but they're a good bit more expensive.
CompoSimmonite
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Yep. One of the Mazda models, maybe the older 3, does that. Citroens with height adjustable suspension can be difficult as well
