Inappropriate towcars
Discussion
I used to tow a speedboat with my old Audi A6 (2001) 2.4 petrol. I'm a confident tower but it was still a big boat on a dual axle trailer. Never went above 60 and glad I didn't.
One day, driving down the M3 to the slipway in Southampton, I was in the middle lane going up hill overtaking a very slow lorry. Just as I was about level with him there was a huge bang and I lost one of the tyres on the boat trailer. she wobbled a bit but I could control it and get safely over to the hard shoulder. So glad it was dual axle as it could have been so much worse.
I towed responsibly but some people have no idea how dangerous to other road users towing can be and are just reckless. I've seen tiny cars towing huge weights trying to go as fast as possible. I either stay well clear or get past them as quickly as possible
One day, driving down the M3 to the slipway in Southampton, I was in the middle lane going up hill overtaking a very slow lorry. Just as I was about level with him there was a huge bang and I lost one of the tyres on the boat trailer. she wobbled a bit but I could control it and get safely over to the hard shoulder. So glad it was dual axle as it could have been so much worse.
I towed responsibly but some people have no idea how dangerous to other road users towing can be and are just reckless. I've seen tiny cars towing huge weights trying to go as fast as possible. I either stay well clear or get past them as quickly as possible
I remember being persuaded by a "friend" to move his caravan for him "just up the road",
Car - my first car (many moons ago) Morris Marina 1.3,
Caravan one of those large "static" types with the tiny wheels!!!
Tow bar - home made out of 2 bits of 3inch galvanized angle iron bolted directly to the chassis-rails, through the rear valence. The tow ball attached to a cross piece of another bit of 3 inch angle iron bolted across the ends of the bits bolted to the chassis rail, all made by said friend who I was towing the caravan for!!! And yes I did get stopped, only given a warning though.
Car - my first car (many moons ago) Morris Marina 1.3,
Caravan one of those large "static" types with the tiny wheels!!!
Tow bar - home made out of 2 bits of 3inch galvanized angle iron bolted directly to the chassis-rails, through the rear valence. The tow ball attached to a cross piece of another bit of 3 inch angle iron bolted across the ends of the bits bolted to the chassis rail, all made by said friend who I was towing the caravan for!!! And yes I did get stopped, only given a warning though.
I saw a baby-blue OAP spec Rover 25, presumably a 1.4, broken down on the hard shoulder of the Westbound M4 just passed Swindon with a huge cloud of steam emanating from the front. Attached to the back was one of those big American-style twin-axle aluminium caravans. In hindsight it was hilarious, but at the time I was so amazed that I didn't have time to find it funny.
Often see things like Jimnys & SJ413s towing bigish boats at the start & end of the season.
Towing 2 enduro bikes on a trailer was at the limit allowed for the ex's-Vitara but people think they'll tow anything because they're 4 wheel drive.
Once took my fathers caravan on holiday behind my Impreza, at 15mpg would have been cheaper staying in a hotel!
Towing 2 enduro bikes on a trailer was at the limit allowed for the ex's-Vitara but people think they'll tow anything because they're 4 wheel drive.
Once took my fathers caravan on holiday behind my Impreza, at 15mpg would have been cheaper staying in a hotel!
kdri155 said:
I've seen a few sights in my time of unsuitable towing combinations but this still beats all an old clip but still funny;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7q7K1bBhjkY
LOL https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7q7K1bBhjkY
That one always makes me laugh.This is the right way to do it ! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFNkrwRmba8
kdri155 said:
I've seen a few sights in my time of unsuitable towing combinations but this still beats all an old clip but still funny;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7q7K1bBhjkY
Brilliant, just had to watch that 3 times. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7q7K1bBhjkY
Edited by kdri155 on Thursday 23 October 09:39
MitchT said:
vehicles made since aug 1998 so S plate onwards, needed to be type approved with a towbar to be allowed to tow
i very much doubt Ferrari do this even on their grand tourers.
I suspect that is just for show, doubt they went to the effort of getting an iva or what ever they'd need to it
Lee540 said:
How many drivers know what they are legally allowed to tow?
depends if they've binned the leaflet that comes with your driving licence and/or read ROG et al in the pinned thread in SP&Lit's really rather simple and much of the confusion comes from peoplewho don;t read things like the leaflet that comes with your driving licence
1.anyone with a car licence of any period of issue can tow unbraked trailers ( max all up weight 750kg)
which covers the little trailers you can buy off the shelf in Halfords, dinghy trailers, crosser trailers etc.
2.anyone with a car licence issued before 1/1/97 OR who has passed a B+E test can tow up to 3.5 max trailer mass tonnes on overunbrakes if the vehicle can take it (big 4*4s , certain heavy duty towing pack Sprinters , but not most othervans and not crewcabs)
3. the confuision comes with the derogation which allows people to tow braked trailers ( within the design constraints of their vehicle) to a Train Mass of 3500kg on a cat B licence, this covers a lot of single axle caravans being towed by family cars ,
but DOESN'T cover most car trailers, horseboxes apart from single pony boxes which might be light enough to tow on the derogation, the box goods trailers or powerboat / trailer-sailer trailers. where you need B+E
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