A-frame towing legalities.
Discussion
I have a Westfield which weighs a little under 600kgs. What are the legalities of towing it to/from trackdays? ie towing it significant distances.
I have read that under 750kgs doesn't require the "trailer" to be braked. However, I have also read that these devices are only really legal for short distance "recovery" work.
What's the reality.
Paul
NB, I know a trailer would be a better bet, but I have nowhere to store one.
I have read that under 750kgs doesn't require the "trailer" to be braked. However, I have also read that these devices are only really legal for short distance "recovery" work.
What's the reality.
Paul
NB, I know a trailer would be a better bet, but I have nowhere to store one.
cmsapms said:
I have a Westfield which weighs a little under 600kgs. What are the legalities of towing it to/from trackdays? ie towing it significant distances.
I have read that under 750kgs doesn't require the "trailer" to be braked. However, I have also read that these devices are only really legal for short distance "recovery" work.
What's the reality.
Paul
NB, I know a trailer would be a better bet, but I have nowhere to store one.
I don't know the answer, but you might find more on a site devoted to Motor Caravanning (you can always use an alias so your Westie mates don't find out!!) - towing little cars behind is commonplace with these homes-on-wheels, and they drag Fiat Panda's and the like the length of Europe. Also think it depends on the towing and payload capacity of the towing vehicle. I remember my father-in-law researching this issue on the internet, but cannot remember much more than that now.I have read that under 750kgs doesn't require the "trailer" to be braked. However, I have also read that these devices are only really legal for short distance "recovery" work.
What's the reality.
Paul
NB, I know a trailer would be a better bet, but I have nowhere to store one.
TVR_nut
Don't laugh, but the people who are really knowledgable on this are the caravanners (or, more sprecifically, people who own motor homes).
We did some casual research into a motor home last year, and bought a couple of magazines (I know, I know
) and there was an article on A-frames and how a recent change to the law could mean that it was no longer legal to tow a runabout behind your motor home on an A-frame - it's quite a popular thing to do apparantly, so you don't have to move the entire motorhome to pop out to shops etc.
Edit: Note to self - learn to type faster.
We did some casual research into a motor home last year, and bought a couple of magazines (I know, I know
) and there was an article on A-frames and how a recent change to the law could mean that it was no longer legal to tow a runabout behind your motor home on an A-frame - it's quite a popular thing to do apparantly, so you don't have to move the entire motorhome to pop out to shops etc.Edit: Note to self - learn to type faster.
Edited by JonRB on Thursday 6th September 12:07
JonRB said:
Don't laugh, but the people who are really knowledgable on this are the caravanners (or, more sprecifically, people who own motor homes).
I've already pursued that line of investigation, but....JonRB said:
......and there was an article on A-frames and how a recent change to the law could mean that it was no longer legal to tow a runabout behind your motor home on an A-frame
....and there's the rub! I was hoping a BiB might know what it does mean. It's typical of modern Blighty; confuse the law enough, and you might just screw a few more fines out of the public! "Where there's sh*t law (muck) there's a fine (brass)."
Bib and ex-Bib discussion on this matter here plus another thread here
Upshot is more to do with what your Caterham gvw is, the kerb weight may be <750kgs but you need max plated weight to be under 750kgs for it to qualify, if it is <750kgs then I'd say it qualifies as an unbraked trailer and you're home and dry.
If over then you are in to the questions of a braking system or not, broken down or not and to be honest the law on that is a real bugger's muddle. ref above linked threads.
Hope that helps.
Edited to add, btw be interested about the gvw of your Caterham, if it is <750kgs, could be interesting for what I have in mind...
Upshot is more to do with what your Caterham gvw is, the kerb weight may be <750kgs but you need max plated weight to be under 750kgs for it to qualify, if it is <750kgs then I'd say it qualifies as an unbraked trailer and you're home and dry.
If over then you are in to the questions of a braking system or not, broken down or not and to be honest the law on that is a real bugger's muddle. ref above linked threads.
Hope that helps.
Edited to add, btw be interested about the gvw of your Caterham, if it is <750kgs, could be interesting for what I have in mind...
Edited by Flat in Fifth on Thursday 6th September 12:20
If your trailed vehicle has brakes they must be able to be operated on an overrun device by the application of brakes on the towing vehicle. If your vehicle has GVW over 750kgs it must be braked. The combination must also be capable of reversing (which I understand is difficult with an A-Frame attachment due to the steering geometry on the towing vehicle).
I understand some motorhome users have acquired a mechanism to link to the brakes of the trailed vehicle, but they will not reach the required efficiency (of 50% IIRC). They are also required to auto disengage in reverse which I understand is not possible with this mechanism.
I don't believe there is any legal use of A-Frames other than to recover a broken down vehicle to a place of safety.
On a practical note, not many police officers would bother, especially if the actual weight of the towing vehicle was significant in comparison to the actual weight of the trailed vehicle.
I've stuck on a few used car dealers returning from Glasgow auctions to south of the country, usually at ~80mph, usually trailing a heavier vehicle than the towing vehicle!
I wouldn't give it a second look if it was a Caterham being towed on an A frame by a significant 4x4 or similar, although it would still technically be illegal.
What would you be using to tow it?
I understand some motorhome users have acquired a mechanism to link to the brakes of the trailed vehicle, but they will not reach the required efficiency (of 50% IIRC). They are also required to auto disengage in reverse which I understand is not possible with this mechanism.
I don't believe there is any legal use of A-Frames other than to recover a broken down vehicle to a place of safety.
On a practical note, not many police officers would bother, especially if the actual weight of the towing vehicle was significant in comparison to the actual weight of the trailed vehicle.
I've stuck on a few used car dealers returning from Glasgow auctions to south of the country, usually at ~80mph, usually trailing a heavier vehicle than the towing vehicle!
I wouldn't give it a second look if it was a Caterham being towed on an A frame by a significant 4x4 or similar, although it would still technically be illegal.
What would you be using to tow it?
Edited by iaha on Thursday 6th September 18:25
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