Towing a car.

[BrianStAlbans]

Lol,you may be able to answer this ,if you are not on a 24 hr ban ;O(

How do I know what size car I could tow behind a Hymer motor home?

Thinking maybe one of the larger A Class models.

Brian (",)

 

[sparkes]

I am going to get a lot of greif for this but don't expect an answer for, lets say a day!

Steve,

 

[BrianStAlbans]

Could I appeal Steve on behalf of Lol. I understand why but think that the comment was obviously meant as a joke , had no relevence to the heated topic and could scar Lol for life as he may treat it as some sort of ASBO and wear it as a badge of honour ;O)

Better to let him back on and maybe send him on a adventure holiday in Wales paid for by the tax payer.

Go on Steve ,will ya Ah,Ah,Ah

Brian (",)

 

[sparkes]

lifted as you are right in that he played no part in the thread other than to play me up.

Plus I do not want Gaye to chase me around Sherwood later in the year!

 

[BrianStAlbans]

Thanks Steve ;O)

 

[colin(bridgend)]

I seem to have missed a number of yellow cards and a few red cards being shown by our illustrious referees. Now if you were Manchester United they have their own referees who help them to achieve "free kicks, penalties, etc." over and above the norm. thereby out scoring the opposition. Anyway back to the original posting.

I have been informed that by a very high ranking employee of VOSA that if you were to tow a vehicle/trailer over 800kg. behind a motor home you will require a towing device which has an over riding brake system fitted similar to a caravan braking system. Alternatively the towing bracket must be such that when the towing vehicle is braking the car brakes are activated. To tow a car by means of an "A" frame, spectacles or stiff bar is for emergency work only and is illegal for normal car towing behind a motor home.

 

[Lutz]

Basically, you have three solutions at your disposal:

1. You put the car on a low loader trailer and tow that behind the motor home.

2. You get yourself a motor home which is large enough to accommodate the car inside (yes, there are motor homes with a garage large enough to take a Smart or a Mini).

3. You drive the motor home on your own and get your wife to follow behind with the car (don't laugh, I know a family that actually does that).

 

[Lol1]

I'm told that these A frames might possibly fit the bill. I would ask the manufacturer about the legal standing though.

http://www.protowframes.co.uk/

 

[Lol1]

Had another look at the item. I noticed that it has a pressed steel hitch which is probably rated at 750kg. So you would need the braking system to work well in order for it not to be over it's capacity in an emergency maneuver. Or you could change the hitch for a better design. .

 

[BrianStAlbans]

Thanks Lol,spotted that one last night. They do braked kit upto 1600kgs for just over

 

[sparkes]

emmm

Change the caravan to a motor home to stop the issue of towing, then tow a car.

So, caravan in front of car? Is that not backward?

 

[Lol1]

That just makes them proper tow cars, Steve. Besides, towing at 25% can't be bad........

 

[Robert_374242026]

I do not mean to be disrespectful , but where have you been? have been reading comments of others and the answer is just take a look at all the other people towing cars behind motorcaravans and are you in the Hymer club as many of them enjoy the pleasure of a small vehicle to get around in .Many of them use the "A frame" others a trailer ,what model do you have?.

 

[Lutz]

Like Colin (bridgend) says, towing a car with an A-frame is, strictly speaking, illegal except in an emergency.

 

[MikeP]

And I'm pretty sure that I've seen guidance (can't remember where) that whilst motorcaravanners might get away with an A-frame in the UK, if going abroad they should use a proper trailer so that the towed car's wheels are all off the ground.

 

[Lutz]

You're right, Mike. Here in Germany such a combination would be immediately impounded if stopped by the police. One can even be fined towing like that in a genuine emergency if you tow further than absolutely necessary to get the vehicle repaired, i.e. not half way across the country to get back home.

 

[Stephen_5122599]

Hi Brian,

Putting things simply.

The first thing you must do is have a look at the vehicle's plate to find out it's towing capabilities. Then you have to take into consideration that any trailer which exceeds a gross weight of 750kgs must be fitted with an operative braking system (a car being towed is by definition a trailer) unless the trailer is a broken down vehicle. The trailer braking system can be operated by overun or other means depending on it's weight.

Finally one has to check that the driver holds the correct class of driving licence.

 

[Stephen_5122599]

I seem to have missed a number of yellow cards and a few red cards being shown by our illustrious referees. Now if you were Manchester United they have their own referees who help them to achieve "free kicks, penalties, etc." over and above the norm. thereby out scoring the opposition. Anyway back to the original posting.

I have been informed that by a very high ranking employee of VOSA that if you were to tow a vehicle/trailer over 800kg. behind a motor home you will require a towing device which has an over riding brake system fitted similar to a caravan braking system. Alternatively the towing bracket must be such that when the towing vehicle is braking the car brakes are activated. To tow a car by means of an "A" frame, spectacles or stiff bar is for emergency work only and is illegal for normal car towing behind a motor home.

Hi Colin, Trailers over 750kg not 800kg gross have to be fitted with a braking system. P.S. I'm also a senior enforcement officer with VOSA.