Towing a car behind a motorhome
We have just traded in our caravan for a motorhome and plan to tow a little car behind it so we can use that for sightseeing when we are away on holiday. We thought that A-frames were reasonably cheap (a couple of hundred pounds), but have been advised that, due to a change in legislation, we now have to have an A-frame which controls the tow car's brakes and this will cost us around £1,200 to have fitted. Is this advice on the new legislation correct? Is the price quoted an acceptable price? and can anyone recommend a supplier/fitter who can do this for us at a reasonable cost? We live in the Midlands.
We would be grateful for any help and advice. Thank you.
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Nothing has been changed regarding legislation. Fact is that there is no legislation which refers to towing with an A-frame. Therein lies the problem. It is and remains a very grey area although information issued by the Department for Transport suggests that, for lack of specific legal requirements, A-frames are tolerated in the UK on condition that they meet legal requirements concerning trailer braking performance.
The position on the Continent is somewhat different. On the other side of the Channel a car with A-frame attached would be considered a trailer and would have to be type approved as such. However, such a combination has never been type approved so it is considered illegal there.
It all boils down to what is not forbidden is allowed in the UK and what is not allowed is forbidden on the Continent.
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There is a very recent thread "Towing with an A Frame" which you may find informative, if not, for you, helpful.
I posted on that, see below, and the key part is what Lutz is saying;
"Here laws forbid certain things so, as there is no law saying you cant use an A frame, its OK.
Abroad however laws permit certain things and, as there is no law that says you can use an A frame then you are not, as illustrated by the posts above, allowed to."
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What this means in the UK is that by fitting an A-frame and towing your car, you turn the car into a trailer. Trailers over 750kg must be braked and, at lower weights, if brakes are fitted, they must work. Therefore, your A-frame and wiring must be of one the types that enables the car's brakes to be applied via the towing vehicle.
£1200 sounds quite cheap for supplying such an A-frame to me. I recommend doing further research - Lutz has given you a pointer.
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What has always been a thought in my mind is ,if a vehicle is modified to have A frame fitments installed ,how would that affect the "type approval" of the vehicle?
Some vehicles so fitted also have protrusions on the front how does that affect pedestrians as i thought pedestrian "safety" was also included
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I have had the very same thoughts. The front end of the car is designed to be 'pedestrian friendly' and then people add, perhaps, a cross member and connecting bolts🤷♂️.
It's just one reason why the car's insurer should be informed of the modification for fitting an A-frame.
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due to a change in legislation, we now have to have an A-frame which controls the tow car's brakes and this will cost us around £1,200 to have fitted.
Nothing to do with legislation, typical cost of a fitted A-Frame is £900-£1200. £1200 is the top end and sounds like what a company called Tow-bars-2-Tow would charge. They supply one of the best in my view. You can pick them up second hand then it will cost about £300 to fit to the car or if you look at >Tow-bars-2-Tow web site< they sell cars complete with A-Frame.
peedee
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PS. Those protruding bolts/eyes are removable but some folk prefer to leave them in place to break pedestrians' legs.
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You have mentioned an important issue there.
If the provisions for the A-frame in any way affect crash performance due to the presence of anchorage points for the A-frame affecting the crumple zone of the front end or pedestrian safety because of protrusions, as laid down in Regulation 78/2009/EC, they do affect type approval of the car itself and render the car illegal unless removed when the car is used solo.
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If Lichfield Staffordshire is close to where you live in the Midlands, I can certainly recommend
They have supplied and fitted tow bars to my cars and Thule products, all at very competitive prices. They have always served me very well.
I am sure they would be able to assist you with their recommendations for your particular issue because they also supply for sale and hire trailers and also custom build motor homes and conversions.
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