Can anyone lend me an A-Frame (aberdeen)

[Tinohead]

Is there any chance one of you fine people could lend me an a-frame for first thing tomorrow morning? I need to take a VW camper from Bridge of Don to Methlick. I've plenty of experience of towing with a-frames (amongst other things I used one to bring my Integra up from Newcastle) so you'd have nothing to worry about.

I was going to be using my brother's but a late change of plan has meant he needs it. If anyone can help, ideally I would want to drop it off on Sunday, because I'm planning on staying in Methlick all day, but if needed I could have it back to you by Saturday lunch time.

If anyone can help, reply on here or give me a phone [phone].

Cheers!
Tino (aka Martin)

[Broomsticklady]

Be careful - you might be better off bvorrowing/hiring a trailer, as MrP has been known to regard a car on an A-frame as an 'unbraked trailer' and then accuse the unfortunate victim of being over the towing weight....

You can find chapter and verse on this at www.ukmotorhomes.net/a-frames.shtml

Edited by Broomsticklady on Friday 5th October 10:03

[Tinohead]

Thanks for the advice, my understanding however is that as long as the car you are towing with the a-frame isn't of a higher weight than the vehicle you're towing it with, it's classed the same as if you were to use, for example, a tow pole.

Using a trailer also isn't an option because, due to the age I was when I passed my test, I need an additional test and license to tow a trailer with a car on it.

Cheers for the input though

Thinking this is a long shot anyway, but worth a try!

[Corpulent Tosser]

I think your understanding is incorrect, the use of A-frames/dollies for recovery of vehicles is permitted but not for transporting them, though how the distinction is made I am unclear.

The police themselves seem unclear about this and some forces are strict on it and others are not, as you are travelling a relatively short distance you will probably be OK and could claim you were recovering the vehicle.

[Tinohead]

Ah right ok, I think there is a bit of a grey area with them, not helped by the fact that the police themselves aren't even sure!

I've brought cars up from England using an A-frame in the past with no bother from the police, despite seeing plenty of them out on the road. But I've maybe been lucky.

Either way, if someone's willing to lend me one I'm happy to risk it

[Broomsticklady]

Read the link I left to the DOT advice. You can use an a-frame for recovery purposes, but not for transport. They are limited by law to 40mph on the motorway and 20mph on other roads. Meet MrP with a slack notebook, and you could be in trouble...

[Tinohead]

The link seems to mostly be talking about the regulations regarding trailers and 'dollies' (which I take as being the things that like the 2 front wheels off the ground), and it seems to me that its the motor homes website's take that a-frames are classed as trailers, and therefore under these regulations.

However the other side is that, because a-frames keep all 4 wheels on the ground, they are not classed or regulated as trailers. Its this uncertainty that seems to cause the grey areas surrounding a-frames.

I'm going to start a thread in the law section of the forum to see if anyone can clear it all up.

Cheers.

[Fugster]

Bugger my A Frame is in Ayr at my brother's house, probably no use as we have shortened it to fit the roll cage. Hope you get one sorted out!!

I use it regularly for towing the Buggy to Santa Pod and never been stopped yet....

[Tinohead]

Cheers Fugster! Usually don't have a problem sourcing one because my brother has one (he needs it tomorrow) and I can borrow a friend of a friend's one (he's on holiday!), just crap timing this time.

[thinfourth2]

I have a fecking enormous trailer sat outside my house just now

But i am off on the town tonight

[Tinohead]

Cheers for that offer mate, but don't have the license for a trailer so wouldnt be able to use it. Thanks though!