Towing a car behind a motorhome
Towing a car behind a motorhome
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Discussion

john_p

Original Poster:

7,073 posts

280 months

Thursday 24th June 2010
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Drove down to Cornwall last weekend and saw several large motorhomes towing cars - I'm sure the cars were on all four wheels with nobody 'driving' but I couldn't see how they were attached to the motorhome

How is it done? Seems like a total nightmare with brakes, steering, lighting etc?



tr7v8

7,623 posts

258 months

Thursday 24th June 2010
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A frame & trailer board job done.

SystemParanoia

14,343 posts

228 months

Thursday 24th June 2010
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its the new mercedes radar cruise control, spliced with citroens lane departure system.

with the new age of electric power steering its an easy mod to make. just google it smile

was8v

2,013 posts

225 months

Thursday 24th June 2010
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They attach via rigid bar. Key in ignition to disable steering lock so wheels follow.

Lights are sometimes wired in. Also handbrake sometimes attached via cable.

was8v

2,013 posts

225 months

Thursday 24th June 2010
quotequote all
Here you go:

http://www.caratow.com/home.php







How does the braking system work?
We fit a brake cable to the tow car which attaches to the foot pedal. Once the pin connection is made to the towing frame, and you are all hooked up, the braking system then works in the same way as an over-run system found on most trailers / caravans.

What happens with the steering?
You will need to leave a key in the accessory position in the tow car to release the steering lock. The natural castor action will then allow the car to follow the motorhome / towing vehicle.

What about electrics / lights?
In most cases, we wire directly into the tow car loom, leaving a 7 pin socket at the front of the vehicle to allow easy plug in. The power is provided by the motorhome / towing vehicle, which then illuminates the relevant light clusters on the tow car. However, on certain vehicles this is not possible. This is overcome by a neatly fitted lighting board.

Edited by was8v on Thursday 24th June 12:13

john_p

Original Poster:

7,073 posts

280 months

Thursday 24th June 2010
quotequote all
tr7v8 said:
A frame & trailer board job done.
So how do the brakes work? >750kg trailers have to be braked don't they?

Aviz

1,669 posts

199 months

Thursday 24th June 2010
quotequote all
john_p said:
tr7v8 said:
A frame & trailer board job done.
So how do the brakes work? >750kg trailers have to be braked don't they?
Technically illegal unless you are "recovering" the vehicle to a safe place. (200 miles down the motorway doesn;t count as a safe place smile)

Edited by Aviz on Thursday 24th June 12:54

Balmoral Green

42,561 posts

278 months

Thursday 24th June 2010
quotequote all
was8v said:
Highly recommended.

We used to tow an old shape Fiat Panda behind our Swift Kontiki motorhome with one of their devices. No problems whatsoever, no difference to the cars stability, and the brakes worked fine. I once towed the Panda behind our XM with it too, the Panda went faster then that it ever did under its own power biggrin

JumboBeef

3,772 posts

207 months

Thursday 24th June 2010
quotequote all
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&a...

Anyway:

was8v said:
What about electrics / lights?
In most cases, we wire directly into the tow car loom, leaving a 7 pin socket at the front of the vehicle to allow easy plug in. The power is provided by the motorhome / towing vehicle, which then illuminates the relevant light clusters on the tow car.
....it also needs reflective triangles to be fitted to the rear, which will need removing each time the car is driven solo.

mcford

819 posts

204 months

Friday 25th June 2010
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I heard of someone who purchased a new Subaru Justy to tow behind a motor home. Unfortunately on one occasion he happened to leave it in first gear.