Towing with an AFrame or Trailer
We've recently bought a motorhome and would like to tow a small car. We have been advised that we can do this either via an A Frame (we have seen a few of these out on the road), or loading the car onto a trailer. Our question is - Do sites allow you bring a car on a trailer, we have not seen this scenario on any sites we have visited to date.
We would not want to turn up on site (pre booked) and be turned away.
Any thoughts / advice would be much appreciated.
Thanks
Brian and Belle
Comments
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Yes, club sites accept cars on trailers. I don’t know what the current situation is but when we did it some 14 years ago there was no extra charge for the car or the trailer. We used to always book awning pitches to give us the best chance of having space for all 3 items.
I expect you’re aware that A-frame towing is not legal in Europe but its big advantage in the UK is that you tow far less weight than a trailer + car. A lot depends on the towing ability of your MH.
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There was a MH with small car on the last two sites I was on (not the same MH I should add). They were towed behind the MHs.
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This is my opinion as a retired motor engineer (others will disagree obviously ,but as I say my opinion!).The modern small car is not designed to be towed for miles using an A frame.Substantial damage can be caused to the structure,which is one reason that some countries do not allow it.If you need to take a car on your travels,use a purpose built trailer.I am now taking cover in my anderson shelter and awaiting the flack!
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Why do you think we used a trailer rather than an A-frame!
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The towing points do all seem to fasten to the chassis legs .... whether they damage it or not, I don't know. But I do always wonder what damage that car might then do to a person if it ran them over when it's crumple zones now have a rose joint bolted to each side. Kinda makes a mockery of NCAP
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i have been towing cars on A-Frames in the UK for 22 years with out serious problems. I have had the overrun system but I currently tow with an electronic system, a far lighter system to fit and carry around and there are no front end protrusions. I will acknowedge it can put a strain on the front end of the car but with regular checks, especially for corrosion on older fitted systems, it is a safe and convenient system.
peedee
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Some friends of ours tow vehicles behind the motor caravans they have owned, ,and have had some structural problems with some vehicles but the it is the low millage they get from the front tyres as they tend to "scrub"when turning. behind the motor caravan ,
,One up side they ay as the towed vehicle does not show the actual millage it has done as the mileometer does not increase when being towed,
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but the it is the low millage they get from the front tyres as they tend to "scrub"when turning. behind the motor caravan ,
How low is low JVB? I have just over 10,000 miles on the clock of my 6 year old tow car and it has probably been towed a further 5,000. The tyres are fine and I will probably have to change them because of age rather than wear.
peedee
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The reason why A-frame towing on the Continent is illegal is not a structural one. After all, it would be the manufacturer’s responsibility to ensure that it isn’t. The issue is actually twofold:
1. The combination of car plus A-frame is effectively a trailer. As such it would have to be type approved as a trailer, but no such combination has ever been put through the type approval process.
2. The car to be towed is modified to enable the A-frame to be attached to its chassis. Such a technical modification would render the existing type approval of the car null and void because the car manufacturer has never tested nor approved the modification.
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....2. The car to be towed is modified to enable the A-frame to be attached to its chassis. Such a technical modification would render the existing type approval of the car null and void because the car manufacturer has never tested nor approved the modification.
What about this type of A frame then? The towed car is unmodified as the A frame is a one size fits all. I know that when I mentioned this type of recovery frame in the past, you said you'd never come across one before. They're intended really for recovery of dead/dying vehicles.
They're not quite so simple to fit to the towed car because it involves crawling on the floor to pass the chains over the bottom radius arms. I've got something similar & have towed/recovered a Smart Fortwo some considerable distances with no problem.
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That sort of A-frame would be totally out of the question for anything but purely for recovery purposes, even in the UK, because it doesn't provide any braking, let alone any lighting connections.
I shudder to think what damage the chains could do if an A-frame like that isn't anchored properly on the towed vehicle's suspension elements.
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Thank you to everyone for your comments etc, a bit to think about.
Brian and Belle
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Can you attach a tow-bar to your Mhome ?
Often there are problems with tanks being in the way of the tow-bar frame.
The weight of a tow-bar + the nose-weight of the trailer maybe above 100kg which will affect your payload and rear axle capacity .
Keep in mind that the additional weight behind the rear axle, increases the axle loading, also has the effect of lifting the front axle, making the steering and front grip lighter, together with transferring that lose of weight onto the rear axle.
Very (very) rough calculation. A tow-bar with nose-weight of 100kg 1 meter behind the rear axle. increases the rear axle load to 120kg and decrease the front axle load by 20kg.
Rgds
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We towed a Pug 108 on a trailer behind a coach built for a couple of years. When we downsized to a PVC and motorbike I sold the car trailer for what I had paid for it. If you pay to have a small car converted to be A framed, you are unlikely to get your money back.....
Both systems of towing have some merits.......
We had no issues parking van, car & trailer on club pitches, only once a commercial site cheekily charged extra for the car. Needless to say they never saw my business again....
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Evening
I too towed on an over run braked a frame for 10 years and 35000 miles. That was on a ford ka which after 155000 miles went gracefully to the scrappy. Never any corrosion around the strengthened mounts though.
JK
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Not sure about tyre scrub jvb. As I said above and also mentioned by peedee, I towed for 35000 miles and never had any tyre issues. I even did a couple of years (skint) on second hand tyres with no bother. Perhaps your friends forgot to unlock the steering in the toad?
Normally the car just follows the tow with the front wheels turning to follow the rear wheels of the van.JK
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