A-Frame Towing Europe
Comments
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I've obviously failed to convince all on the Legality issue in the UK.
Maybe instead of Totally Legal, I should have said the onus would be on the police to show or provide proof of a failing of the requirements.
This is why even systems that probably do fail to meet trailer requirements don't get pulled up.I won't attempt to convince anyone of the questionable interpretation of the law in Europe by some Police Officers over what is a motor vehicle and what is a trailer.
I also certainly won't attempt to challenge one of these Officers if I come across one.Over the past 4 years I have towed through France and Spain a total of about 12000miles passing through police road checks and many police drive bys, so I have obviously been lucky up to now.
Due to our circumstances we need regular stops for refreshments / toilet breaks and we like to make use of French Aires whenever possible. We couldn't manage a trailer even if we wanted to, so I will continue A-Frame towing until I become unlucky.In my past life I was an Electrical/Mechanical Engineer so I will continue to ignore issues over electrical/mechanical suitability. Anyone that suggests that a car transport trailer is safer or more stable on the road, must need their head testing. A trailer that probably stands idle for 6-9 months with brakes and suspension seizing up and possibly unchecked/tested, then there is the issue of securing the car to the trailer and nose weight issues also the higher centre of gravity and weight distribution through a single axle.
Please let me know if anyone ever sees an A-Frame Tow snaking down a road.0 -
You are putting an awful lot of emphasis on the stability of A-frame towing as if that were the only justification for allowing it.
I don't think that any of the powers-that-be, whether in the UK or the Continent, would question whether an A-frame plus car is to be treated as a trailer or not. As long as A-frames are not recognised as such in any legislation, neither in the UK nor on the Continent, they have no other option.
The law in Europe is not questionable. It is the legal situation in the UK which is.
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Funny you should ask that Paul, the firm that made our trike trailer (also A frames) will not make A frames for certain makes, Smart cars being one, as they say they 'dance' around behind the motor home something awful.
We still use our A frame in the UK but abroad we now take a trike on a trailer.
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"Please let me know if anyone ever sees an A-Frame Tow snaking down a road"
Not snaking but I witnessed a car being towed on an A-frame only yesterday where the car was bouncing both up and down and sideways. That'll have done it a lot of good! In that instance it was less stable than a trailer so I guess I need my head testing but at least I accept the situation rather than keep stressing myself about it.
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Whether or not it's dancing or snaking or doing the shimmy, the chances of an A-frame being legalised on the Continent are just about zero. To me it therefore seems a waste of time and effort to discuss the issue relating to their use on the other side of the Channel any further. Only time will tell what the final outcome in the UK will be.
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totally off the wall, but would a smaller mh do the job?
imrealise youd be losing some space inside, but some PVC vans and certainly the slimmer coachbuilts are far easier to park and drive these days.
ours is 6.4m long, but cruicially for ease of driving, is only 2.12m wide, just 6cm wider than a PVC mh.
we have all the quality and most of the space (imcluding garage) of our previous Carthado, but a metre shorter and sufficiently slimmer to make a huge difference on the road and when parking.
slim vans are now made by continental and uk manufacturers in just about all floorplans so perhaps so,ething for everyone.
either way, just a thought and goood luck with your travels.
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What is ambiguous about this statement from the dept of Transport
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/a-frames-and.../a-frames-and-dollies
When an A-frame is attached to a vehicle (eg a motor car) and towed by a motor vehicle (eg motorhome) we believe the A-frame and car become a single unit and as such are classified in legislation as a trailer. As a consequence the car and A-frame are required to meet the technical requirements for trailers when used on the road in Great Britain.
All the arguments both in the UK and Europe revolve around one subject is the motor vehicle and A-Frame Assembly a Motor Car or a Trailer, the above clearly identifies the situation in the UK notice the highlighted statement classified in legislation check out the gov.uk website.
This is like is an amphibian vehicle a motor car or a motor boat.
Another interesting definitions issue could be is a Trailer/Caravan with a motor mover a motorised vehicle.
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