towing cars

[briggie]

rules for the motorway

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Highwaycode/DG_069862

 

[briggie]

if you are bored and have some time to fill .... heres the road traffic act

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/52/contents

interesting innit ? :augie

 

[Deleted account DD]

anoraks :augie

 

[briggie]

how about the m.o.t testers manual !!! :naughty....... exciting huh ?

http://www.motuk.co.uk/mot_testing.htm

 

[Thomas-the-Terrano2]

Even if under 750kg they must have functional over run brakes as must any trailer that has brakes fitted even if under 750kg. Also must have auto reverse brakes if manufacturered after a certain date (quite a while ago now) a frames are legal for recovery to a place of safety only.

Any doubters go on Mudclub or Difflock and ask - you'll get hit with a whole barrage of abuse LOL

dunno about this surely 750kg gtw has been a cut off for need for brakes and is
also limit of trailer weight for many classes of vehicle do avoid need for a +E
trailer licence extension.

i do know a motor home owner with an aframe, AND a mechanism to connect
with the brakes, though frankly for cost involved of modding his little citreon
van been cheaper to buy a trailer to put it on.....

as for plonkers, someone came into work other day said seen a car towing
a car single handed with a strap with what appeared to be broom handles
to stiffen it out. well lead car had gone one way at fork in road, the tugged
the other.lol

 

[briggie]

http://www.motuk.co.uk/manual/contents.htm

 

[rustic]

http://www.motuk.co.uk/manual/contents.htm

Read that one, a couple of points I noticed, tow bars if fitted are checked. corrosion, tow ball and towing eyes etc

Replacement panels of different material may affect the structure and strength of a vehicle, what springs to mind is the fibre glass bonnet and wings that were fitted as a one piece to minis in the 1970's, wow what a bodge.:doh

 

[TONUP]

I was alway told that you may not tow a car on the motorway with a rope, but you can with a rigid bar. Makes sense when you think of it.

I didn't know that you could tow with a chain. Sounds dangerous!

Alan

 

[Deleted account DD]

Out of necessity I did a fair bit of research on those tow poles and frames a while back.

They are , as has been eloquently put already, strictly for recovery only. The definition of recovery is fairly well open to case by case interpretation but certainly doesnt extend to removing a spark plug to pretend your A Class id u/s and is to be towed behind your motorhome :augie

On the subject of motorhomes, the weight alone of a small car often hits their rated tow capacity often because the coach builder hasnt put the model through due process to get the rating or they fall back on the chassis manf rating (rare) which can be low. Remove the unlawful tow dolly and put the vehicle on a trailer and its too heavy.

You can easily get tow bars for most mobile homes because theyre commercial chassis's and the holes are there.

Not all fall into this black hole but a vast proportion do (from memory )

 

[Muckypup]

My understanding... ropes on motorways are illegal, as are all a-frames as they exceed 750kgs and are unbraked.
They become legal if you stick a driver in the drivers seat to press the brake pedal...

As for rigid bars, perfectly legal as you have to have a driver steering and braking for them to work.
I had an ace rigid bar for towing my samurai, long piece of box section with two trailer couplings one at either end. The samurai had a tow ball on the front so it made a very secure and centrally located towing bar.

They are also ace for hills as the towed car can aid the towing vehicle with a skilled driver at the wheel, but only if the towed is a runner!

I also didnt think you needed mot & insurance to be towed as the towing vehicle's insurance normally covers towed items...
I know mine does but I have a proper bespoke traders policy

 

[MudLifeCrisis]

Check here for towing tips ;O)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3G0GulNP_M