Changes to law on towing with A-Frame

Nathan · Jun 23, 2013

Does anyone know whether it will become illegal to tow a car on the back of a motorhome using an A-Frame next year? I understand the UK will be changing the law in line with EU regulations but some forums suggest it will not be applied retrospecitvely. The law does seem confusing though and companies like Towtal in Stoke on Trent will keep fitting them until next year but its not clear whether these will become illegal. I really want to start towing a small car behind my Swift Sndance 630L but have no idea if there is any point.

chrisb · Jul 18, 2013

Don't know if this link will help, I found it on the Caravan and Camping Club site. Seems pretty comprehensive and up to date. Sad to say it has put me off an A frame until the law has been enacted and interpreted.

http://www.campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk/helpandadvice/technicalhelp/towing/towing-with-a-motorhome/

katetaylor1 · Jul 19, 2013

Hi Nathan, What a coincidence! Our Gentleman Jack has given his own answer to a question just like this in the Sept issue of Practical Motorhome - see his 'Ask Jack' column - the mag's due on sale in the shops from 1 August. (Subscribers get it earlier.)

DonC · Jul 14, 2014

When I see an account of someone being fined on the Continent of Europe for towing a properly marked car with a braked A frame, I might start to reconsider what we are doing now. We tow a Smart car on a braked A frame and have done multiple visits to France, Switzerland and Italy without any problem at all. We do know that Norway does not allow it because we made a specific enquiry through their equivalent of the Ministry of Transport, and we know Spain can demand separation of the two units (although many report many journeys in Spain with no such demands). Until we see specific evidence of anyone actually being fined for towing a car on a braked A frame we will continue to regard all the correspondence on braked A frame towing as irrelevent and misleading.

StuartO · Jul 16, 2014

So until you know that someone has been prosecuted for using an A frame you have decided to assume there is no offence?

Not unreasonable in that our laws, especially the laws on trailers, are complex and attempting to prosecute would create a lot of work for a policeman who has better things to do. I can't see our UK police suddenly getting interested in prosecuting A frame towers simply because the EU has changed something with effect from November. Apart from anything else they'll be too busy investigation historical sexual assaults.

But there are parts of Europe where A frames are well known to attract police interest (and fines of foreigners) so it is already blinkered and foolish to tow a car on an A frame into Spain hoping to get away with it. After November 2014 I would expect the police in other mainland European countries to do similar - especially those where they already have a reputation for targeting foreign tourists and marching them to a cash point to impose a spot fine.

rayjsj · Feb 8, 2015

Well, I had my car converted 18 months ago, and have been towing it behind my Motorhome ever since. Only in the UK though. Autotrail Savannah M/H, with a tow limit of 1060kg. car, Toyota Yaris 2010, weight 1040kg (A-Frame 20kg) So, I would be unable to use a trailer if I wanted to, which I don't. A-Frame is a 2011, Car-A-Tow, which are still for sale in many magazines and at shows. Found the whole unit to be very Stable, (far more stable than a Caravan for instance, which I have also towed in my past). And the braking to be excellent, this is a standard 'Overrun' system the same as a Caravan system. Had several 'Emergency stops' with no ill effects.
The ability to 'Laugh' at the Height barriers and petty 'Anti-motorhome' restrictions in the UK, is PRICELESS.
And we are carrying on. Ray

TonyJones · Feb 8, 2015

Seems like the ideal answer is, use your A-frame in the UK (because you can, and there are so many restrictions on motorhomes) but don't take it over the water (where you'll be fined, but can park your motorhome anywhere so no need).
Is that a fair summary of the position?

rayjsj · Feb 12, 2015

Spot on.

StuartO · Feb 13, 2015

Well more or less. I take a car with abroad on a trailer because its handy if we are pitched up on a site for a while - but we abandon it (on its trailer, usually on a site with the owner's agreement) while we take the motorhome touring on its own.

Nothing wrong with an A Frame if you are only interested in the UK but a trailer works for us in UK too if we want to take the little car with us.

rayjsj · Feb 13, 2015

Horses for courses.

I won't go through all the reasons again here, but for me, a trailer is a 'non-starter'.

StuartO · Feb 14, 2015

rayjsj said:
Horses for courses. I won't go through all the reasons again here, but for me, a trailer is a 'non-starter'.

If a trailer doesn't suit you, it doesn't suit you. Lack of storage space, having to handle heavy skids to unload, clattery to tow when empty, something else for the wife to tell you how to do when you are reversing, etc etc ......

TonyJones · Feb 14, 2015

Love it Stuart!
Slightly OT, but has anyone else noticed the way French mh couples deal with reversing, even without a trailer?
1. Drive slowly through Aire (twice?) to identify best spot
2. Madame gets out and moves to rear.
3. Monsieur reverses in, following detailed voice-and-arm instructions from Madame.
4. (here's the dangerous bit) When Madame is happy, before switching off the engine, Monsieur gets out and goes aft, to check she's got it right!
If I ever needed to ask Elizabeth to do this, I wouldn't dare get out and check! I'd avoid the whole area around the back of the van for the rest of the afternoon!

rayjsj · Feb 15, 2015

StuartO said:
rayjsj said:

Horses for courses. I won't go through all the reasons again here, but for me, a trailer is a 'non-starter'.

Click to expand...

If a trailer doesn't suit you, it doesn't suit you. Lack of storage space, having to handle heavy skids to unload, clattery to tow when empty, something else for the wife to tell you how to do when you are reversing, etc etc ......

main problem, motorhome tow limit 1060kgs, Car 1040kgs, A-frame 20 kgs, (a low tow limit, but thats a long overhang Autotrail for you !)

StuartO · Feb 15, 2015

My OH, despite careful briefing beforehand on how to indicate distance, cannot stop herself, as the MH or trailer starts to get close, raising both hands to her mouth with anxiety.. She also finds it difficult to stand somewhere where she can see the mirrors, so I will be able to see her.

Fortunately however she doesn't take offence when I laugh so I just let her get on with it, wandering around and waving her arms in meaningless ways because at least that way she isn't inside the MH giving a commentary. If she happens to be in view at the time and raises her hands to her mouth, I know I'm within striking distance.

She doesn't know about me using this Forum.

3211123 · Feb 18, 2015

Have to agree with Ray, we have towed with both trailer and A frame and frankly find A frame soo much easier.

Have been to the continent with Aygo on braked A frame behind Autotrail many times. France, and Germany, Netherlands, Belguim and Luxemburg, never stopped once and have even driven past French Traffic police and was not stopped, Driven past French Police at Toll booths and they appeared un interested to.

I have spoken to colleagues at work who have had homes in France for many years all over France from North to South and they all say the same, it is the unbraked A frames that the police are interested in.

Now if the people reading this can be bothered, the EU directives are as follows, 98/37/EC, Machinery Directive, 2004/108/EC Directive EMC Directive and 2006/95/EC Low voltage Directive.
and quite frankly the UK can change the law in line with these directives it wont make a difference to what stands at the moment to braked trailers.

Individuals will believe what they want and I believe that I am not breaking any traffic laws whilst towing the car behind my motorhome on the system I have ,I have satisfied myself that I am within the law as I believe it to be and until I am stopped and fined I will continue to holiday in my motorhome towing my Aygo . I too will know better when I am stopped.

gjh · Feb 19, 2015

We don't tow so it's immaterial to us. However, I did notice a short article in the latest C&CC magazine (received yesterday).

The guidance they have received from the DfT is that there is no intention of implementing recent changes to EU light-trailer brakes regulations in the UK, meaning A-frames are still acceptable here. They advise, though, not to use an A-frame in mainland Europe. They also point out that the assumed protections of the 1968 Vienna Convention do not apply.

Graham

516yuanyuan · May 16, 2016

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