Question re this type of towing...
Discussion
I've driven trailers in the past to track days and know how the mechanics of reversing work (As the trailer has no steering). Genuinely interested to know how this vehicle combination works if the motorhome has to do a tight corner reverse. What happens to the front wheels of the car?
I assume they won't turn? They are rotating on the road. Some sort of steering lock engaged? How does that work?
TIA
Edited by GetCarter on Saturday 28th October 14:01
The car is simply a four wheeled trailer. An A-frame tow bar is generally used and the car just follows the motorhome.
Car wiring loom is joined with the towing vehicle's loom so that the car's rear lamps are functional.
(I'm unsure whether the car in the image should be showing its own number plate or that of the towing vehicle.)
Car wiring loom is joined with the towing vehicle's loom so that the car's rear lamps are functional.
(I'm unsure whether the car in the image should be showing its own number plate or that of the towing vehicle.)
I get that, but if the front wheels are rotating (connected to the road), why do they not act like b
ds when the motorhome reverses.
The car's steering must be disabled in some way?
I'm sure there is an answer, I just can't see it. Triangular towbar stops front axle from directional travel?
ds when the motorhome reverses.The car's steering must be disabled in some way?
I'm sure there is an answer, I just can't see it. Triangular towbar stops front axle from directional travel?
MattCharlton91 said:
We occasionally tow a little Citroen c2 on an a-frame behind the truck if it’s a far away job to commute to/from.
Steering lock on, so it’s basically a fixed wheel trailer, 7pin trailer plug is mounted in the engine bay of the C2 for the electrics.
That’s got to be more than 750kg limit for an unbraked trailer? Or is there braking on the A-frame?Steering lock on, so it’s basically a fixed wheel trailer, 7pin trailer plug is mounted in the engine bay of the C2 for the electrics.
Have sometimes wondered how it works for those that seems to tow small cars with all four wheels on the ground?
Panamax said:
The car is simply a four wheeled trailer. An A-frame tow bar is generally used and the car just follows the motorhome.
Car wiring loom is joined with the towing vehicle's loom so that the car's rear lamps are functional.
(I'm unsure whether the car in the image should be showing its own number plate or that of the towing vehicle.)
It showing the number of the towing vehicle. Its own number plate should be obscured. Trailer lights that act in sync with the towing vehicle should be in operation, including brake and rear fog lights.Car wiring loom is joined with the towing vehicle's loom so that the car's rear lamps are functional.
(I'm unsure whether the car in the image should be showing its own number plate or that of the towing vehicle.)
LooneyTunes said:
That’s got to be more than 750kg limit for an unbraked trailer? Or is there braking on the A-frame?
Have sometimes wondered how it works for those that seems to tow small cars with all four wheels on the ground?
To do it legally, you have the car modified so the motor-home's brakes activate the car's. Have sometimes wondered how it works for those that seems to tow small cars with all four wheels on the ground?
I know someone with a Toyota IQ (I think) that is towed behind a motorhome. It’s got a cable kit sort of built into the car that hooks up to the brake pedal under the dash to provide a braked trailer. Just a lockpin to push in and the brake pedal is then controlled by the motorhome brakes.
The steering is unlocked with the key left in so it follows the tow vehicle because of the castor angle on the front wheels.
No idea on reversing!
The steering is unlocked with the key left in so it follows the tow vehicle because of the castor angle on the front wheels.
No idea on reversing!
I have a C3 tow car for my motorhome. Connects with an A frame, plugs into the motorhome 7 pin for rear lights and cable to the brakes on an overrun braking system just like a trailer. Steering lock off and away you go. As for reversing, basically you don’t, unless it’s on the flat and in a straight line, but only for a very short distance.
Sigmamark7 said:
As for reversing, basically you don’t, unless it’s on the flat and in a straight line, but only for a very short distance.
Sorry?When you have to reverse every mile or so on single track roads, up to 400 metres, round blind corners and up/down steep hills, what do you do?
You don’t. My A frame has a jockey wheel on it, so if you need to reverse for anything more than a few metres, the only way is to unhitch the car and drive it backwards. If you are on your own, this would be problematic, but in many years of towing a car behind the motorhome, I have never needed to reverse anywhere, so I’m either lucky, or it isn’t as much of a problem as you think it is.
Sigmamark7 said:
You don’t. My A frame has a jockey wheel on it, so if you need to reverse for anything more than a few metres, the only way is to unhitch the car and drive it backwards. If you are on your own, this would be problematic, but in many years of towing a car behind the motorhome, I have never needed to reverse anywhere, so I’m either lucky, or it isn’t as much of a problem as you think it is.
You do realise that the photo above was on a single track road? Are you seriously suggesting that every time he had to reverse he'd have to get out and unhitch his car and reverse both vehicles?
Yes and if you think that is a single track road, you clearly don’t live anywhere near me, because you could get an HGV passed the motorhome without any difficulty. There are hundreds of people doing thousands of miles, quite legally towing cars behind motorhomes on A frames, so you seem to be trying to create a problem which doesn’t exist.
Wills2 said:
If you meet that coming the other way, you're probably going to have to do the reversing much easier than whatever farce would ensue if you didn't.
I wouldn't expect the driver to reverse unless the passing pace was only a few metres behind them
Not going to happen. Firstly, the road is used every day by 40 ton artics transporting wood from the forestry commission (believe me, they won't reverse!), and secondly, he is likely to meet 30 cars on a pistonhead blat that simply cannot reverse as they would have to travel over a mile or two to find 30 passing places.I wouldn't expect the driver to reverse unless the passing pace was only a few metres behind them
I simply can't believe the answer to this is that he can't reverse, it's up to everyone else to do so. That's mad.
They SURELY must be able to reverse?
GetCarter said:
Wills2 said:
If you meet that coming the other way, you're probably going to have to do the reversing much easier than whatever farce would ensue if you didn't.
I wouldn't expect the driver to reverse unless the passing pace was only a few metres behind them
Not going to happen. Firstly, the road is used every day by 40 ton artics transporting wood from the forestry commission (believe me, they won't reverse!), and secondly, he is likely to meet 30 cars on a pistonhead blat that simply cannot reverse as they would have to travel over a mile or two to find 30 passing places.I wouldn't expect the driver to reverse unless the passing pace was only a few metres behind them
I simply can't believe the answer to this is that he can't reverse, it's up to everyone else to do so. That's mad.
They SURELY must be able to reverse?
I too travel on single track roads that have logging trucks and all many of vehicles on them in the dales, people generally cope.
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