Track car and trailers

[V8A*ndy]

This may seem like a daft question but I really know nothing about towing trailers.

I am seriously thinking of buying a small car for track use and a small trailer (total budget 5k).

The thing is, having never towed anything in my life, can I realistically tow (for example) an MX5 and a small trailer with a Kangoo van?

[papercup]

Add the weight of the trailer to the MX5; the result of that must be less than the towing weight of the tow car.

My RX-7 is around 1250kg now, my trailer is 620kg (I took it to the local scrappy and gave them a drink to put it on the weighbridge).

So i bought a 540 BMW with a towing weight of 2 tonne.

Worth mentioning that my trailer is a heavy one.

If you track day then you will generally park on tarmac and be fine. If you sprint, hillclimb or autotest then muddy fields will be your natural habitat and you WILL need 4WD....


Only other snagging point is....when did you pass your car test? At some point they took off the automatic towing entitlement from the carlicence. Before 1997 or 1998 i think and you are fine. Someone else can confirm?

Andy

[Scho]

I sometimes use an A frame, Apparently it's not 100% legit but my mate uses one all the time and has never had a pull.

Would perhaps save you buying a heavier car as the frames don't weigh a great deal.



It attaches to the wishbones on either side of the car and operates the steering.

[Dave 500]

Scho said:

Apparently it's not 100% legit but my mate uses one all the time and has never had a pull.

They can be legit but they must use the braking system on the towed car (like the braking system on a normal trailer) and all four wheels need to be on the road

[Scho]

Dave 500 said:

They can be legit but they must use the braking system on the towed car (like the braking system on a normal trailer) and all four wheels need to be on the road

What if the car on tow is sub 750kg?

[Dave 500]

Scho said:

Dave 500 said:

They can be legit but they must use the braking system on the towed car (like the braking system on a normal trailer) and all four wheels need to be on the road

What if the car on tow is sub 750kg?

This is where it get complicated

Any size trailer that has a braking system fitted must be in working order the fitted bit overrules the 750kg limit which seems stupid.

[Scho]

Dave 500 said:

This is where it get complicated

Any size trailer that has a braking system fitted must be in working order the fitted bit overrules the 750kg limit which seems stupid.

Hmm, Might remove the brakes on the MX5 then.

Weight saving

[PAULJ5555]

So are these "one man tow" A frames legal. Are you saying that the brakes on the towed car need to work with the car in front?

I assume that you also need a light board on the back of the towed car?

[supertouring]

papercup said:

Only other snagging point is....when did you pass your car test? At some point they took off the automatic towing entitlement from the carlicence. Before 1997 or 1998 i think and you are fine. Someone else can confirm?

Andy

I believe this is the case as a younger friend of mine wanted to borrow my trailer once but found his license did not support it so had to rope his dad in to do the towing.

One thing you will find is that it takes a lot longer to get to the track and then home again afterwards compared to driving the tack-car, but having a large estate to tow does allow you to bring lots of additional kit such as spare wheels etc.

Oh, and take time learning to tow and esp reversing. It is a bit of an art-form which took a while to master. Best to do it away from a large crowd in a circuit carpark.

[Dave 500]

PAULJ5555 said:

So are these "one man tow" A frames legal.

No unless you have some sort of braking system fitted.

PAULJ5555 said:

Are you saying that the brakes on the towed car need to work with the car in front?

Yes

PAULJ5555 said:

I assume that you also need a light board on the back of the towed car?

Yep

Have a read of this

When an "A" frame is attached to a vehicle (e.g. a motor car) and towed by a motor vehicle the "A" frame and car become a single unit and as such are classified in legislation as a trailer. As a consequence the car and A-frame are required to meet the technical requirements for trailers when used on the road in Great Britain. These requirements are contained within the Road Vehicles (Construction and Use) Regulations 1986 (SI 1986/1078) as amended (C&U) and the Road Vehicles Lighting Regulations 1989 (SI 1989/1796) as amended (RVLR).

Trailers having a combined axle mass not exceeding 750kg are not required to have brakes fitted. However, if the trailer (regardless of mass) is fitted with a braking system, then all brakes in that system must operate correctly. The regulations do not include design constraints on how this should be achieved but, for example, it could be met by direct linking of the trailer brakes to the brake system of the towing vehicle or by automatic inertia (overrun) operation via the towing hitch. Inertia systems can only be used for trailers with a maximum combined axle mass of 3500kg.

Regulations 15 and 16 set out the braking requirements - including minimum braking efficiencies for trailer brakes. Subject to certain age exemptions, the regulation requires the braking system to comply with the construction, fitting and performance requirements of European Community Directive 71/320/EEC along with its various amending Directives. The most recent consolidated directive is 98/12/EC. Alternatively the braking system can comply with the corresponding UNECE Regulation No.13.09.

In addition, C&U Regulation 18 requires the braking system to be maintained in good and efficient working order. If the brakes of the towing vehicle do not directly operate the trailer brakes the use of an inertia (overrun) system is acceptable. If the trailer braking system has power assistance (i.e. servo or full power) it is likely that this assistance will be required while in motion to meet the required braking efficiencies. This is because once the vacuum reservoir is depleted it is possible that the brakes will not meet the braking efficiency. To prevent the trailer being used illegally a remote vacuum pump, powered from the tow vehicle, could be installed to recharge the reservoir, alternatively a source could be made available from the tow vehicle. From 1 October 1988 the inertia braking system was required to allow the trailer to be reversed by the towing vehicle without imposing a sustained drag and such devices used for this purpose must engage and disengage automatically. This will be very difficult to achieve on an "A" frame using an inertia (overrun) device.

Other provisions from Regulation 15 and Regulation 86A of C&U require the fitting and use of a secondary coupling system in which the trailer is stopped automatically if the main coupling separates whilst the combination is in motion. Alternatively, in the case of trailers up to a maximum mass of 1500kg, the drawbar must be prevented from touching the ground and the trailer able to retain some residual steering.
Whilst being towed, trailers are subject to the relevant requirements given in RVLR, including the use of triangular red reflectors. There would be further requirements for the display of the appropriate number plate, etc.

Edited by Dave 500 on Monday 4th April 13:40

[PAULJ5555]

Wow thanks for the info Dave.

So whats the legal way to tow a track car without having to link up break systems?

[Rob Impreza]

The automatic entitlement doesn't apply if you passed your test after 1997. Definately! If on your licence there is no symbol showing a car and trailer you're your not covered. I'd been towing illegally (unknowingly) for over 2 years until last wednesday when a police officer stopped me and presented me with 3 points and a £60 fine for otherwise driving inaccordance with a licence. Was irritated at the time but can understand that had i had an accident and caused someone some harm my licence and therefore my insurance would have been invalid. All things considered got away with it lightly. Had 2 years experience so hoping to pass the trailer test first time...

[noone986s]

What about one of these? They have brakes and are a bit easier to store than a full trailer. Could be useless if you have a big off though.



http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Car-Towing-Dolly-Recovery-Ve...

[Scho]

noone986s said:

What about one of these? They have brakes and are a bit easier to store than a full trailer. Could be useless if you have a big off though.



http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Car-Towing-Dolly-Recovery-Ve...

Owch!

[Dave 500]

noone986s said:

What about one of these? They have brakes and are a bit easier to store than a full trailer. Could be useless if you have a big off though.



http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Car-Towing-Dolly-Recovery-Ve...

Nope it doesn't look like it

The use of "dollies" is intended for the recovery of broken down vehicles, not for the transportation of a vehicle from "A" to "B". Under Regulation 83 of C&U a motor car is permitted to tow two trailers when one of them is a towing implement and the other is secured to and either rests on or is suspended from the implement. Therefore as a trailer if the maximum laden weight of the dolly exceeds 750 kg it must be fitted with operational brakes, additionally the brakes on the wheels of the second trailer (the towed car) must work and meet the specified requirements. Again this would be very difficult for the rear brakes of a motor car, on their own, to meet the 50% braking efficiency required for a trailer. The dolly would also be required by Regulation 22 of C&U to be fitted with suspension. Regulations 19 and 22 in C&U permit a broken down vehicle to be recovered without complying with these requirements. However, there is further legislation under the Road Traffic Act that introduces a limitation on the maximum speed that the combination can be driven; this is 40mph on motorways and 20mph on other roads

Looks like a major pain in the ass.

[PAULJ5555]

PAULJ5555 said:

Wow thanks for the info Dave.

So whats the legal way to tow a track car without having to link up break systems?

Dave500 do you know please?

[Dave 500]

PAULJ5555 said:

PAULJ5555 said:

Wow thanks for the info Dave.

So whats the legal way to tow a track car without having to link up break systems?

Dave500 do you know please?

Use one of these as long as you hold the right licence and your car can pull it.

http://www.brianjames.co.uk/range/range_details.as...

[PAULJ5555]

Thanks, looks like this track day thing is gonna get expensive.

[Dave 500]

Nothing stopping you getting a second hand one

Loads on here....

[200Plus Club]

1k will get you a good 2nd hand BJ or similar trailer and £2k+ will get a decent covered trailer. i bought a hyundai santa fe for towing, as they are cheap compared to some 4x4, will pull 2 tonne, and are good on economy, and very reliable. so you dont need to break the bank to get towing safely. spend decent money on proper tie downs, and a winch if need be, dont faff about with cheapo tie downs they are unsafe.

Edited by 200Plus Club on Monday 4th April 21:12