Towing with A-Frame

CJ1949 wrote:

FreelanderUK wrote:I would rather tow a car with 4 wheels on the ground than a caravan with 2 wheels on the ground and shaped the same as as a large box

I had a number of Twin axle ( funny it had 4 wheels) caravans over the years never had any problems towing very stable on the road. Never had problems touring a 2 wheel one either.
The A frame is not legal in many countries personally think better to put the car on a trailer that got brakes.

I have seen plenty of caravans on there sides and smashed up and strewn all over the roads in my 38 years of driving, I have never seen a towed car in the same situation, we no it’s not legal to use an A Frame abroad but in this country we can use them so that’s what I intend to do

CJ1949 wrote:The A frame is not legal in many countries personally think better to put the car on a trailer that got brakes.

Which unfortunately just illustrates your ignorance of A Frame towing.

All A Frames must operate the car's brakes in one way or another, and the better ones operate them electronically in exactly the same way as if it was being driven.

Just accept that not everyone thinks the same way as you do, and that some of us have done the research and know what we are talking about. 

Has anybody used Tow Bars 2 Tow Cars at Keelby near Grimsby? Seems a good system from the website.

Mike

I enquired about there system but they have stopped fitting it to smart cars saying that taking panels of the older cars causes them to crack, I am getting ours fitted by Lincoln towing and mobility centre

Thanks Chris, I’ll have a look at them as well, not totally decided on towing or what car our present car is a VW Polo so a bit to big.

Mike

Mike187 wrote:Has anybody used Tow Bars 2 Tow Cars at Keelby near Grimsby? Seems a good system from the website.

Mike

Made inquiries with them last year Mike with the intention to add an A frame to our wee car,unfortunately the COVID came in and we had to cancel,tried to book this year and was told all booked up until October and priority given to sales made at shows.
I have seen several makes of A frames during the past few years ,both mechanical and electronic, I have opted for a trailer instead as I will be changing our car later in the year.
Boaby

Thanks for the reply Boaby, storage of a trailer would be a problem for us so that route would be difficult.

I was also thinking of changing our car, so the warranty issue would raise its head as well for the mods to the car.

Mike

Watching A frames being removed and re-attached has become favourite on site entertainment since they replaced caravan awnings that used poles with blow up awnings.

Peter Brown wrote:Watching A frames being removed and re-attached has become favourite on site entertainment since they replaced caravan awnings that used poles with blow up awnings.

Don't blink then Peter.

Ours takes less than two minutes - unless the hired help fumbles with the hitch!! 

Same with the one I am having fitted, they are reported to fit in 2 mins and same to remove

Out of interest would people who tow cars like share what cars they tow?

Mike

I am having a 2013 smart 451 dci converted

I Tow a Kia Picanto

Skoda Citigo.

Toyota iQ

Mike187 wrote:Thanks for the reply Boaby, storage of a trailer would be a problem for us so that route would be difficult.

I was also thinking of changing our car, so the warranty issue would raise its head as well for the mods to the car.

Mike

Benderup is a popular trailer make Mike and for storage it sits on its rear end and the A frame folds down. ,I've ordered the 1205s XL with ABS lid, also my wee car I had intended to convert is a Vauxhall Aquila B.eco flex.
Hope you find what you want. 
Boaby

Occasionally tow a Smart 451.  Its also fun to drive with its F1 style paddle shifters!  Still raises a smile from others who can't believe the space inside compared to outer dimensions.  Carry it on a dedicated Brian James trailer. Tows a dream and easy load/ unload .  Have occasionally encountered hostility from sites not wanting 2 vehicles on one pitch but can't see that argument as its still well within pitch markers, especially when you look at the large twin axle caravan , with full sized awning and Range Rover tow car on the pitch next to you!. 
        Find it far less stressful exploring a new area in the Smart than worrying where you will park a 6.3m motorhome safely with so many areas now paranoid with height barriers and ridiculously small parking spaces  .

fred1 wrote:I Tow a Kia Picanto

Just come back with a 14 reg Kia Picanto  vt7, nice wee car , handles well being towed behind the Warwick.
The Vauxhall Agila didn't look very good underneath ,up the front end,despite passing an MOT test last week.
Tow cars seemed to be very busy with lots of people looking at prepared cars in their showroom.we are very pleased with the A frame and the fixtures, Terry demonstrated the installation and undoing the A frame.
Would recommend them     Down to earth guys.
Boaby

burlingtonboaby wrote:

fred1 wrote:I Tow a Kia Picanto

Just come back with a 14 reg Kia Picanto  vt7, nice wee car , handles well being towed behind the Warwick.
The Vauxhall Agila didn't look very good underneath ,up the front end,dispite passing an MOT test last week.
Tow cars seemed to be very being with busy with lots of people looking at prepared cars in their showroom.we are very pleased with the A frame and the fixtures, Terry demonstrated the installation and undoing the A frame.
Would recommend them     Down to earth guys.
Boaby

Is this the company at Grimbsy, bit of a stink on Facebook at the moment over them, as one of the cars they have converted the towing eyes pulled away due to rust and other factors, no emergency brake fitted and the car was a damaged repaired, and this has also been  found with other cars that’s been converted by them, will try and copy the post

A copy and past from the info on Facebook

Catastrophic A-Frame Failure!
Sadly, I have to report that an event I’ve warned frequently about has now occurred.
This incident involves a fairly elderly vehicle (a ’10 plate) but with VERY low mileage (less than 10,000) on the clock.
I would urge ALL users of A-frames to have their systems checked thoroughly, if it hasn’t been done in the last few months.
The problem in this instance was both towing eyes being pulled out of the car’s front crash protection beam within seconds of each other.
There was no emergency breakaway system installed by the supplier though the car and a-frame were supplied by them, ostensibly brand new. I Say ostensibly, as it was ordered as a new vehicle, but on delivery, had a previous owner listed on the V5.
The end result is, the car is a total right off. A fence and lamp-post prevented it, luckily, from finishing up on a railway line. Instead of that, it parked up on a pedestrian footpath, just a short distance from a school. Again luckily, it was a Sunday. There were no schoolkids going to and fro.
let this be a salutary lesson to all! Don’t overlook those checks! If you don’t have the skill, get your vehicle booked in at a specialist and have the front bumper removed.
This incident could have finished up so much worse!
DVSA and the original supplier are aware….

Do YOU know your towed car’s (TOAD’s) history?
There are adverts on eBay for ready converted TOADS but be aware, some are undisclosed Cat S insurance write-offs!
selling Cat S write offs is not illegal, but not disclosing the fact to potential buyers almost certainly is, and it’s not even reflected in the price!
You can get an HPI check at £30 a throw, or you can check for free on autotrader!
Simply start an advert to sell ‘your’ car, input the registration and a suitable mileage, and the vehicle details will pop up

Hi Chris.thanks for highlighting the Facebook article on the said company,I hope we haven't purchased a pig in a poke.
I will contact Terry tomorrow regarding the comments made on Facebook ,we are not on social media,only this forum.
Our Kia has a dealership f/s/h, annual bodywork check etc.
Boaby

I am sure that the new conversions are all good and you will have no problems at all ,there are plenty of very happy customers of there’s on the posts on Facebook

FreelanderUK wrote:I am sure that the new conversions are all good and you will have no problems at all ,there are plenty of very happy customers of there’s on the posts on Facebook

I'm happy with it Chris, would have liked to have kept the wee Vauxhall, 14 reg. however I can now see why Terry rejected the car with the visible external corrosion around the front chassis members,especially in the manufacturers towing eye area.
Thanks once again for highlighting the topic.  
Boaby