Towing Dolly/A-Frame Legalities

[dern]

What are the legalities of moving a non-running sierra from London to Newbury using a towing dolly (raises front wheels off road) or an a-frame (connects to wishbones I think and steers towed car)?

I realise that I'm stretching the meaning of recovery but what are my chances of being stopped and what risks do I run?

If I subsequently stick a 7 type kit on either of these things in order to tow it to and from a track day am I really starting to take the p*ss?

Basically I'd like something I can regularly(ish) tow cars with but don't have the room to store a trailer and hiring trailers is normally pretty inconvenient given the nearest hirer to me when I wanted one last time was 20 miles away and not open saturday afternoons or at weekends and I have to be at work from monday morning.

Thanks,

Mark

[cptsideways]

What you need is a braked tow dolly, a very cunning piece of kit with a brake assembly like a trailer, a long cable thingy, a piston thingy that is clamped to the seat that operates the brakes. Your in excess of 750kg car becomes a braked trailer

Available from here, i'm just about to buy one after chatting to Mr Plod about them, very good apparently.

www.trealestrailers.co.uk/car_recovery_trailers.php

[Mikey G]

I'm worried about the stability of these 'A' frames, would prefer a dolly like the second one but that 'Stowboy' is expensive! you can get a proper Brian James for less than that!

[towman]

intertrades website said:

Intertrade's Solomatic one-man tow `A' frame has been nationally adopted by the AA, RAC and many others. It has been acclaimed by the motor trade in general as being the most cost effective vehicle recovery unit available today. As an RAC spokesman said; `Being towed on the end of a rope is a nightmare to many drivers". Only after exhaustive tests was the Solomatic given the seal of approval. Now many thousands are in use. The Solomatic is made from high quality R.H.S. tubing with high tensile components and fully zinc electro-plated. Folding simply and quickly to fit in the boot of any car the Solomatic stays conveniently at hand for profitable use in seconds. Easily fitted by one man in 3-4 minutes the `A' frame connects to the lower wishbones or track control arms by a combination of high tensile chains and heavy duty webbing straps. It connects to the recovery vehicle with a 50mm ball coupling as standard or an eye type option is available at no extra cost. The standard Solomatic (part no. SA25) has a capacity of 2500kg which is capable of towing cars and car-derived vans. In addition there is a heavy duty 3500kg model (part no. SA35) available for recovering transit size vans. The Solomatic Sovereign (part no. SA25B) is the totally high integrity `A' frame for one-man towing. Not only does it tow as efficiently as the Solomatic, but it applies the brakes smoothly, safely and automatically during deceleration. Optional extras for the Solomatic include safety straps, intermediate extension legs (to overcome the problem of towing cars with exceptionally long overhangs from the front axle to the front of the spoiler), lighting boards with extra length cable and fog light, lighting board straps, powder coating finish, etc. SA25 £265+ carriage and V.A.T. SA25B £435 + carriage and V.A.T. SA35 £310 + carriage and V.A.T. All of Intertrade's recovery units come complete and ready to use with assembly and operating instructions, and a peace of mind 12 month guarantee. Tel: [phone] Fax: [phone]

Available with brakes!

[eliminator]

Or you can have my old braked trailer

[towman]

eliminator said:

Or you can have my old braked trailer

pointless without pics! how much? (Mark has no room for a trailer)

Steve

[Byff]

towman said:

eliminator said: Or you can have my old braked trailer pointless without pics! how much? (Mark has no room for a trailer) Steve

He can have my old braked trailer, comes complete with a suzuki on its back. He can then sell the suzuki seperately and spend it on beer!

BTW, I have pics.

www.pistonheads.com/sales/detail.asp?i=29498&s=226

[dern]

towman said:

eliminator said: Or you can have my old braked trailer pointless without pics! how much? (Mark has no room for a trailer)

I have potentially negotiated space on the drive by ejecting the wife's car to the road so this may now be an option. How much do you want for it and how big is it?

Mark

[dern]

Byff said:

He can have my old braked trailer, comes complete with a suzuki on its back. He can then sell the suzuki seperately and spend it on beer!

Tempting though that is you're a bit far away from me.

Cheers,

Mark

[Eliminator]

I have a double axel braked trailer, electrics OK, manual winch. Carrier for 2x Jerry cans. Dates back to 1978. Black, currently carrying a TR7 track car. Not pretty - needs painting with Hamerite to bring it back. Would not miss a service either as the handbreak does not work well. Four tyres - no spare and at least one tyre really ought to be replaced.

I am close to J10 M25. £300 if you collect. If interested, email me and I will sort out 'photos.

[dern]

Eliminator said:

I am close to J10 M25. £300 if you collect. If interested, email me and I will sort out 'photos.

Thanks for getting back to me, I'll work out if I really need one and then get in touch and find out if you still have it.

All the best,

Mark

PS. any chance of some pictures of the tr7, it sounds fantastic

>> Edited by dern on Sunday 5th December 00:04