Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.
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Rick
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Joined: 27 Apr 2005
Posts: 22780
Location: UK
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Penman
Joined: 23 Nov 2007
Posts: 4850
Location: Swindon, Wilts.
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 Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2011 11:13 am Post subject: |
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Hi
Well it is not illegal according to the HC.
| Quote: | Rule 98
Vehicle towing and loading. As a driver
•you MUST NOT tow more than your licence permits. If you passed a car test after 1 Jan 1997 you are restricted on the weight of trailer you can tow
•you MUST NOT overload your vehicle or trailer. You should not tow a weight greater than that recommended by the manufacturer of your vehicle
•you MUST secure your load and it MUST NOT stick out dangerously. Make sure any heavy or sharp objects and any animals are secured safely. If there is a collision, they might hit someone inside the vehicle and cause serious injury
•you should properly distribute the weight in your caravan or trailer with heavy items mainly over the axle(s) and ensure a downward load on the tow ball. Manufacturer’s recommended weight and tow ball load should not be exceeded. This should avoid the possibility of swerving or snaking and going out of control. If this does happen, ease off the accelerator and reduce speed gently to regain control
•carrying a load or pulling a trailer may require you to adjust the headlights
In the event of a breakdown, be aware that towing a vehicle on a tow rope is potentially dangerous. You should consider professional recovery.
[Laws CUR reg 100 & MV(DL)R reg 43]
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You will see that there is no MUST NOT in reference to ropes.
The biggest problems I can see with ropes are:-
Do both drivers know that the towing vehicle pulls and the towed vehicle brakes?
Modern vehicles: lack of PaS if engine not running, lack of braking effort because of no vacuum assist, and steering locks left on inadvertently.
Older vehicles: are the brakes good enough to slow/stop the train?
Rigid bars and A frames are now available from motor factors, they used to be only available to the trade.
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Bristols should always come in pairs.
Any 2 from:-
Straight 6
V8 V10 |
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Rick
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Joined: 27 Apr 2005
Posts: 22780
Location: UK
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Inglewood
Joined: 28 Dec 2010
Posts: 183
Location: Stone, Staffordshire
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| Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2011 10:44 pm Post subject: |
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Towing a car using an A-frame or dolly
If you attach an A-frame to a car in order to tow it with a larger vehicle, the car plus A-frame counts as a trailer.
If you use a dolly to tow a broken-down vehicle, the dolly counts as a trailer.
In both cases the usual safety regulations for trailers apply.
When towing you have to ensure your licence is appropriate. New licences issued after 1997 do not permit towing at all unless the driver takes a trailer test.
If the a frame & towed car exceed 750kg it needs over-run brakes.
Most cars weigh more than 750kg. Generally, a car towing a car using an A frame is an unsafe combination.
Basically, A frames are tolerated for emergency recovery but it is almost impossible to use an A frame as a means of transporting vehicles other than in an emergency.
http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Motoring/DriverLicensing/CaravansTrailersCommercialVehicles/DG_192285
Tow ropes are generally only good for emergency use. Lack of power steering/power brakes etc has already been discussed.[url][/url] |
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Penman
Joined: 23 Nov 2007
Posts: 4850
Location: Swindon, Wilts.
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| Posted: Wed Aug 31, 2011 11:50 pm Post subject: |
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Hi
| Inglewood wrote: |
When towing you have to ensure your licence is appropriate. New licences issued after 1997 do not permit towing at all unless the driver takes a trailer test.
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Not entirely true,
You do not receive a B+E licence BUT you can tow any trailer upto 750 MAM.
There are also conditions where you can tow heavier trailers.
i.e.
Providing the vehicle MAM + the Trailer MAM does not exceed 3,500 and also provided that the Vehicle Kerbside weight exceeds the trailer MAM.
_________________
Bristols should always come in pairs.
Any 2 from:-
Straight 6
V8 V10 |
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ukdave2002
Joined: 23 Nov 2007
Posts: 4232
Location: South Cheshire
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| Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2011 9:02 pm Post subject: |
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Thought I was going to have to tow with a rope on Sunday; The Stag suddenly developed a virbration and then lost drive, what I didn't initially realise was that the hand brake was now on without the ability to release it (obviously some automatic saftey feature developed by Triumph) 
Tow rope wasnt going to work so I had to recover the car with a trailer (only a mile from home).
Not confirmed the fault yet but suspect its the diff quill extension, its a bit of a known weak point.
Will update
Dave |
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Penman
Joined: 23 Nov 2007
Posts: 4850
Location: Swindon, Wilts.
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| Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2011 9:08 pm Post subject: |
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Hi
Here's a poser for you.
Bloke has a problem with his car and can't get it home on his own. so he calls his mate who comes out with his car and his towrope, they link the two cars together and drive off with the failed car in front and the recovery vehicle behind.
What was the failure??????
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Bristols should always come in pairs.
Any 2 from:-
Straight 6
V8 V10 |
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3xpendable
Joined: 19 Dec 2010
Posts: 222
Location: USA
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| Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2011 10:27 pm Post subject: |
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Brakes, the recovery vehicle being pulled can slow the towing 'problem' vehicle down...
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2013 Dodge Durango R/T Hemi
1965 Ford Anglia 106e Estate (LHD)
1964 Ford Anglia 105E 1500 GT (Dad)
1980 Porsche 911 SC Targa (Uncle)
1971 MGB GT (V8 project) -SOLD 2016
2005 MINI Cooper S JCW - SOLD 2016 |
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