Will it tow? That is the question

[Toaster Pilot]

(If you've never watched "will it blend?" youll probably not get the title )

I have an Audi A6 1.8T Avant. 200k mile old drivetrain issues aside, will it be able to tow cars on an A frame? Does it have enough grunt or towing capacity?

Passed my test in 2008 - do I need to do a trailer test?

[skip_1]

You will need the trailer test for anything above 750kg or more than half of your vehicles kerb weight.

[frodo_monkey]

^wrong. See Rog's thread in SP+L for the most accurate guidance.

[kambites]

Indeed. See the sticky thread in SP&L for details on the licencing requirements.

It looks like the maximum braked towing weight of your car is 1800kg if it's a quattro; 1500kg if it's 2WD but your licence will limit you to considerably less than that anyway.

The unbraked towing limit is 750kg.

[FiF]

Also read the FAQ on towing with A frames in SP&L here

[powerstroke]

And sorry but an a frame is only legal for recovery or if the car being towed has its brakes hooked up .

[Toaster Pilot]

powerstroke said:

And sorry but an a frame is only legal for recovery or if the car being towed has its brakes hooked up .

damn!

[FiF]

Toaster Pilot said:

damn!

If you look in the FAQ linked above it does give you links to two A frames which do that, but NOT cheap. I think the weight issue is a problem for you too. These things are mostly of interest, per the FAQ, for motorhomes towing v small runabouts.

[Toaster Pilot]

I don't mind getting the required license but it looks like a proper car trailer is pretty expensive too.

Back to the drawing board!

[kambites]

When one of my lodgers was racing an MG Midget, I think (this was a while ago) we got his trailer for about 200 quid (second hand, obviously).

[Toaster Pilot]

Wow, I'm seeing £500 for one that needs a brake overhaul at a minimum, and £900+ for one ready to go!

[kambites]

This needed a jockey wheel but that was all, although it did need some welding a year or so later. It was pretty ropey mind, I think it was probably a home-brewed jobbie.

ETA: Looked a bit like this: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/car-transporter-trailer-... but red.

[kambites]

The biggest problem with owning a car transporter trailer is that they take up so much space - they're bloody big things.

[Hooli]

kambites said:

The biggest problem with owning a car transporter trailer is that they take up so much space - they're bloody big things.

Park the car on it

[kambites]

Hooli said:

kambites said:

The biggest problem with owning a car transporter trailer is that they take up so much space - they're bloody big things.

Park the car on it

The car lived in the garage, usually in pieces until the night before a race. The trailer didn't fit in the garage.

[cptsideways]

Hooli said:

kambites said:

The biggest problem with owning a car transporter trailer is that they take up so much space - they're bloody big things.

Park the car on it

I did exactly this, mine was a tiltbelt & wherever I parked it was always still a parking space

[mybrainhurts]

Toaster Pilot said:

I don't mind getting the required license but it looks like a proper car trailer is pretty expensive too.

Back to the drawing board!

If it's a one-off, you can hire one for £50ish a day...

[Toaster Pilot]

Nah, it's going to be reasonably regular. After the eye watering quotes I've had for trade insurance I was exploring potentially cheaper alternatives to move cars around

[GroundEffect]

'Grunt' is not the issue with towing, it's cooling system performance.

[Toaster Pilot]

GroundEffect said:

'Grunt' is not the issue with towing, it's cooling system performance.

It has the occasional issue with that