Being legal towing abroad

Michelina
Michelina Forum Participant Posts: 17
edited March 2016 in Towcars & Towing #1

I am getting so confused with the legal requirements for towing a car on an A frame abroad.  Some people are saying its not legal yet another company I went to have told me that as long as it is a vacuum powered braking system it is legal.  I would be extremely
grateful for any help or if someone can point me in the right direction if this discussion has already been started somewhere on the site.  Thanks

Comments

  • JVB66
    JVB66 Forum Participant Posts: 22,892
    1000 Comments
    edited March 2016 #2

    I have tried to find it  also but it is somewhere in towcars and towing 

  • commeyras
    commeyras Club Member Posts: 1,853 ✭✭✭
    1000 Comments
    edited March 2016 #3

    This has been covered before.  The answer is that in most European countries it is illegal to use an A Frame.  There are stories of it being ignored, to warnings plus.  As a caravanner far be it for me to advise.  Type 'Using an A Frame abroad' in the search box top right of this page and you will find the answer.

  • EJB986
    EJB986 Forum Participant Posts: 1,153
    1000 Comments
    edited March 2016 #4

    It's a very grey area and even a can of worms....apart from that Google may well point you to other forums.

    The subject is everywhere!!!!!

    PS.Just tried it myself and got 12 sources on the first page.....there are many pages!

  • eurortraveller
    eurortraveller Club Member Posts: 6,830 ✭✭✭
    2,500 Likes 1000 Comments
    edited March 2016 #5

    If you go to the website of the Camping and Caravanning Club and type Data Sheet 25 into the search box you will get their best summary of the situation. 

  • Lutz
    Lutz Forum Participant Posts: 1,564 ✭✭✭✭
    edited March 2016 #6

    In short, there is no reference to 'A'-frames in any legislation, neither in the UK nor abroad. The position taken abroad is that because there are no such provisions, the unit 'A'-frame plus car is treated as though it were a trailer and it must fulfil all regulations which apply to trailers, which they obviously don't. For a start no 'A'-frame/car combination has ever been type approved.

  • Jenro
    Jenro Forum Participant Posts: 1
    edited March 2016 #7

    We are also confused, have had the M'home and car adapted by Car a Tow and were assured that it would be fine in France and Italy. Spain was a 'no no' as well as Austria and Switzerland. We were even told that you could print off a description of modification
    which you could hand to the local law enforcement officer!!!! We have also read that there might be some relaxation of the road laws ( eg for French nationals) for tourists......as you're not staying! It is all most frustrating as we happily tow round  the
    UK, and one of the reasons for doing it in the first place was to go abroad, rather than having the faff of hiring a car.

  • Lutz
    Lutz Forum Participant Posts: 1,564 ✭✭✭✭
    edited March 2016 #8

    Actually, the position is quite clear on the Continent. All one can hope for if you do tow a car with an A-frame is that the local police show a bit of discretion towards a UK visitor, but that doesn't change the fact that, strictly speaking, it is illegal.

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