For anyone that's interested here's a locost way of towing a a locost, it won't take up much room and virtually no maintenance
either.
Just found it on the net... just though I'd post it up.
Linker
[Edited on 11/3/11 by Slater]
I have done alot of research regarding towing in the UK and I think this is illegal.
There are rules inplace about towing a car and using its wheels to touch tarmac.
It must have tax
it must have an MOT.
It must be broken, non running and being recovered.
If your car is fit for use and road legal (like mine) you cant tow it on its wheels.
I was looking at getting an 'A' frame for towing but didnt in the end due to this. I dont know how caravans get away with it!
You can get around this by telling the traffic pig that pulled you over that the car does not work and that s why your towing it. AMybe even
disconnect the coil or fuel pump so you can prove it dont work.
Just a thought, and I do hope Im correct!!
Biz
^ i think you're correct too, but you do see quite a few camper vans towing smart cars and the like with A-frames when you go up and down the M6 in the summer... never noticed one stopped for it
As said, A-frames are for recovery to a safe place only.
There are two ways to look at this:
1. You're towing a car and therefore, it has to be fully road legal.
2. You're towing a trailer so it has to comply with the trailer regs. That means that if fitted with brakes, irrespective of if is over the 750kg
limit for the 'trailer' to need brakes, then they have to be proper overun trailer spec brakes. It also needs to have the correct
'plate' stating the various stuff trailers are supposed to have, as well as the correct lights and markers.
Some of those folks who are towing behind campers think that by fitting an overun brake from the tow hitch to the brake pedal, they are satisfying the
brakes regs. It's not because normal car brakes aren't fitted with the reversing gubbins that are needed.
I see dozens of off roaders travelling to and from the off-road center up the road, covered in mud and battered to bits, being towed on A-frames.
I've seen the BiB pull over a convoy of them butthat was to check their docs and tell them to fit proper lighting boards and number plates.
Nothing was said about the use of A-frames. That must be because the BiB didn't know the rules or they couldn't be bothered with too much
paperwork.
A-frames may be OK in Jo'burg though!
[Edited on 11/3/11 by owelly]
Surely that's just a different A-frame?
And if it is, it's illegal, and I have a top of the range, brilliant one, in my garden.
[Edited on 11-3-11 by designer]
I hired one from HSS and then copied it. I use it when I need to but I usually use the trailer. Incidentally, the guys at HSS said that they couldn't confirm if it was legal to use on the road for 'general towing' so suggested I hired a trailer instead!!
I was pretty sure this was a grey area where no specfic law governs towing.
A frames are legal, dollies aren't. Something to do with being classed as a trailer.
A frames are legal, dollies aren't??
Would like to see that written down somewhere.
I used a braked dolly for loads of trackdays and never got pulled. ok its grey area but I'd use one again if I didn't have the bus ,actually I'm considering getting one just for n alternative to the bus for short journeys,
One thing I am sure about is the flimsy tow hitch in the example shown isn't fit for purpose, fine for a camping trailler but not anything heavier.
quote:
Originally posted by designer
A frames are legal, dollies aren't??
Would like to see that written down somewhere.
Completely left field
But it gets better. The Chevy 3.4L V6 that was installed in early '90's Camaros was rated at 160 hp in Camaro trim. The neat thing about
this engine is that it is primarily a bored and stroked 2.8L and uses the same external engine accessories as the weaker 2.8L. Stalkers have been
built with the 3.4L in more or less stock trim with the factory EFI, but I decided to follow the lead of several builders and upgrade the 3.4 with a
Holley 4V carb, a torque cam kit, and of course, the standard Stalker tubular exhaust headers. Best estimate is that this takes the little V6 out to
180-190 hp, and sends the fun-meter needle way up the scale!
Thats a rubbish engine......
^ ? Duh!
quote:
Originally posted by marcjagman
quote:
Originally posted by designer
A frames are legal, dollies aren't??
Would like to see that written down somewhere.
Not very good with links http://www.towingdelivery.co.uk/TowingTips.aspx about 2/3 way down the page.
I have read this "is or isn't" legal argument on a number of different forums. However, I am yet see anyone quote the relevant section of the road traffic act that settles the argument one way or the other. So if anyone knows which bit of the law covers it I'd be interested in reading it.
3.4 litre tweaked and only 180-190bhp.... 2.0litre zetec or vauxhall redtop get there on TB's and exhaust. without tweaks its a miserable 130bhp so rubbish!
quote:
Originally posted by mark chandler
3.4 litre tweaked and only 180-190bhp.... 2.0litre zetec or vauxhall redtop get there on TB's and exhaust. without tweaks its a miserable 130bhp so rubbish!
quote:
Originally posted by chris-g
I have read this "is or isn't" legal argument on a number of different forums. However, I am yet see anyone quote the relevant section of the road traffic act that settles the argument one way or the other. So if anyone knows which bit of the law covers it I'd be interested in reading it.