Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.

[ukdave2002]

Anyone know the law regarding A frames and dollies? does the towed vehicle have to be insured/mot'd/tax'd?

Whats the position if the towed vehicle is over 750kG ? (trailers need to be braked over 750KG)

Just been offered an A frame and wondering how much use it would be, I have a trailer but sometimes an A frame would be less hassle for short journeys!

Dave

[D4B]

Heres what the Department of Transport say:

http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20120606172804/http://assets.dft.gov.uk/publications/dft-information-sheets/a-frames-and-dollies.pdf

[pigtin]

I know I may have posted this before but thought it may help. During the 90s I attended all the shows with my 10/4 towed on an 'A' frame behind my Ford Camper.

It worked beautifully as long as you didn't try to tow on loose gravel. Not all 30s cars can be towed on an 'A' frame. It depends on the steering set-up. It didn't work with an Austin 7.



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Due to the onset of my mid eighties I'm no longer sprightly and rarely seen in my Austin special. I have written a book though. https://amzn.eu/d/7rwRRqL

[Rick]

I bought an AA-spec recovery frame years ago. It has been handy on occasion, very glad I bought it.

RJ
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[colwyn500]

I agree that these things can be really useful. But after some research I decided to stay local when using mine. They should really be used only if the towed vehicle is road legal and has broken down and is being recovered a fairly short distance. The vehicle has to comply as if it was a trailer, so the750kg rule will apply.

Change any of these parameters and there is a risk of an offence if stopped.

I feel safest if the car has very good light board, is quite a bit smaller than the tow car and looks half decent.

[clan chieftain]

I was told last year by a traffic cop that an A frame was illegal as it had no braking system but I dont bother. If I ever have to tow I will just do what I did before and use the A frame and a light board. If I was to get stopped I would just plead ignorant but I havent used the A frame for years now and probably might never use it again..who knows.
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The Clan Chieftain

[ChrisD]

I don't know what the law is, but I pulled my Hillman Minx home with an A frame last year for many miles on the M4 motorway using a Toyota Starlet!
A police car overtook me (along with everyone else) and had a good look, but he just carried on his way.....

Several years ago I pulled my Sprite back to South Wales from Manchester on the M6/M5/M50 with the same frame (with a Passat that time). Again, absolutely no trouble with pulling or the law.

[peter scott]

I tried "A" framing a Mk5 Jag behind a Transit a year or so back but the Jag refused to steer and cornering was just dragging it sideways!

Peter
_________________
https://www.nostalgiatech.co.uk
1939 SS Jaguar 2 1/2 litre saloon

[Mog]

Pleading ignorant of the law will not stop you getting booked, by a cranky cop. Check the law, you insurance might not pay up if you give a new RR a bit of a bump.
In New South Wales they are illegal. You cannot tow a car on a rope in Sydney, you have to get a tow truck.

[ukdave2002]

[Penman]

Hi UKD

If the towed car and (dolly for instance) are less than 750kg MAM then brakes are not required.
The motor home users who tug cars around with them have an electric inertia system which applies the car brakes in the same manner that an overrun brake on a caravan does.
The inertia device in the unit senses that the car is being slowed by the motorhome so it starts to apply the car brakes but it can also release them as the motorehome starts to pull again.

It is all a bit vague but I have only seen the system once when I asked an owner how they got round the trailer brake rules.



Hi MOG

Over here you can buy a rigid tow pole similar to those used by recovery people..
Obviously they can only be used for the situations where a rope tow used to be accepted.
Are they acceptable to NSW?
_________________
Bristols should always come in pairs.

Any 2 from:-
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V8 V10

[ChrisD]

Interesting that some cars don't work (Peter & Pigtin).

My Hillman has a straight beam axle on cart springs with a Burman Douglas steering box; and the Sprite is independant coil sprung with a rack & pinion.
Both pulled perfectly. Neither have steering locks mind you!

I find it uncanny the way the car being towed just follows.

As to the legality, well it seems to be luck of the draw.
I cannot see anyone going to the trouble of fitting a braking system for an A frame, which therefore renders them effectively useless for pulling most cars (IF you follow the letter of the law).

Has anyone here actually been stopped using one?

[ukdave2002]

[peppiB]

have used A frames numerous times - towed an Allegro up from Cornwall (465 miles) behind my landcrab. loads of police passed and ignored me, towed a second landcrab from Crewe to Durham without problem and using a transit towed another landcrab from north wales to Durham and a Nissan Skyline form Kings Lynn to Durham.

[ukdave2002]

Hi PeppiB

I know they can be used safely, but common sense and the law don't always see eye to eye

Dave