GolfGTIforum.co.uk
General => General discussion => Topic started by: Bellend on 17 September 2013, 14:24
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So I've been doing some intense research on the subject and come to the conclusion with help of VOSA that both are perfectly legal.
BUT
You need light board etc and the numberplate of the towing vehicle on the back.
The towed vehicle becomes a trailer so therefore doesn't need tax, MOT or insurance to be on the road, no matter if 4 or 2 wheels are on the ground.
BUT the big thing is
All wheels on the ground MUST be braked if above 750KGs. This actually means 4 wheeled trailers that only have two wheels braked if used with over 750kgs of weight are technically illegal.
It gets pretty hard after Googling and different things coming up here there and everywhere.
Both an aframe and a towing dolly means the car becomes a trailer, not a car as such.
So it's pretty impossible basically to use either unless you have a way of operating the vehicles brakes. This could technically be a solenoid on the brake pedal wired up to the brake light circuit on the towing vehicle but it's all very messy!
So really in all realism, you can't do it unless it's an emergency and you're going to the nearest safe point.
I'm currently in the market for a hefty 4 wheel braked trailer... :whistle:
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I've often thought about this when I've seen motorhomes towing cars.
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Old ex-AA A-frames have a device that pushes the foot-pedal on a cable-operated over-run system so they can tow over 750kg.
Unless you have a system like that then towing on an A-frame won't be legal on anything over 750kg.
Dollies are only to be used to tow a vehicle to the nearest safe location. You should disregard them entirely.
TBH I'd disregard A-frames unless you can find one with a full braking system. Even then you'll have no servo assistance on the brakes so it won't have much impact when you hit the brakes.
I've never seen a 4-wheeled trailer with brakes on two wheels. :huh:
If the vehicle has wheels on the ground it needs to be taxed etc to be towed.
Make sure you have the correct license before you start towing large objects about the countryside.
Isn't it funny how people can read things and then make conclusions to suit what they want. :grin:
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Old ex-AA A-frames have a device that pushes the foot-pedal on a cable-operated over-run system so they can tow over 750kg.
Unless you have a system like that then towing on an A-frame won't be legal on anything over 750kg.
Dollies are only to be used to tow a vehicle to the nearest safe location. You should disregard them entirely.
TBH I'd disregard A-frames unless you can find one with a full braking system. Even then you'll have no servo assistance on the brakes so it won't have much impact when you hit the brakes.
I've never seen a 4-wheeled trailer with brakes on two wheels. :huh:
If the vehicle has wheels on the ground it needs to be taxed etc to be towed.
Interesting on the ex-AA bits. Still wouldn't risk it as you said though.
I've seen a couple although probably at a guess DIY caravan chassis conversions.
The car DOESN'T need tax. ;)
There was a PDF released I think 2012 on the VOSA site stating it becomes a trailer of the towing vehicle, not a seperate vehicle. Hence the weights and what needs to be braked and doesn't etc all comes under that of trailer regulations.
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The car DOESN'T need tax. ;)
Good luck with the police on that one, nipper.
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The car DOESN'T need tax. ;)
Good luck with the police on that one, nipper.
Will do. I literally rang VOSA about 10 mins before making the thread. All the while it's attached to another car/van it's a trailer, not a separate motor vehicle.
Ring for yourself and find out. ;)
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vosa one set of rules and regulations
stroppy police officer - another.
if a vehicles wheels are in contact with the road, it needs tax and mot.
I know these things :whistle:
Welcome to the BIGGEST grey area going, add in the rules about what you can tow on these new licences that doesnt give you 7.5t, minibus & trailer etc
I am now one of only 3 people allowed to go rigid bar cars back to the garage at our place as all the nippers ARENT covered to tow on the company insurance for that very reason.
Being old does have some advantages :grin:
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bellend what about weight? I had problems getting a volvo estate towed due to it's weight and I guess your licence will only let you have a max of 3.5t
what weight would be left after a decent sized car & 4 wheel trailer for you to carry?
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what weight would be left after a decent sized car & 4 wheel trailer for you to carry?
I believe the common term is 'f*ck all'. :grin:
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a decent size 4 wheel trailer weighs almost bang on 750KG
other things to note -
A Frames damage wishbones :(
A frame overun barkening devices damage cars,
it's possible to bend the, brake pedal, steering wheel and damage the steering columb, the one i had went between the pedal and steering wheel, it was sh!t and with a big flaw that to make a car stop in reasonable order you need load of pressure on the pedal if there is no servo, transit vans haul up quite well so the overun device gets and gives alot of stick, anchor up hard once and for teh rest of the trip everytime you slow down you hear the overun hitch crash into the end of the slide.
dollies - are just hatefull if there are ruts on the road you have to crawl else it'll be throwing it and you all over the road
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and dont forget, unless you got a big barge, or a 4x4, towing limts are v poor.
trailer i hired was 600kg, my towing limit was 1600kg, so that would mean I COULDNT tow a mk2 legally :laugh:
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All the weights etc are explained here:
http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=227419.msg2100935#msg2100935
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clear as mud now then :laugh: :grin:
:kiss:
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bellend what about weight? I had problems getting a volvo estate towed due to it's weight and I guess your licence will only let you have a max of 3.5t
what weight would be left after a decent sized car & 4 wheel trailer for you to carry?
I got B+E. Paid for by my old workplace :wink:
Choice of Passat, VW LT or if my neighbor is about a Range Rover Vogue. Would like to get a Fourtrak but only if I really start doing a lot of towing otherwise no point.
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vosa one set of rules and regulations
stroppy police officer - another.
if a vehicles wheels are in contact with the road, it needs tax and mot.
I know these things :whistle:
Welcome to the BIGGEST grey area going, add in the rules about what you can tow on these new licences that doesnt give you 7.5t, minibus & trailer etc
I am now one of only 3 people allowed to go rigid bar cars back to the garage at our place as all the nippers ARENT covered to tow on the company insurance for that very reason.
I can't see how police can argue with VOSA legislation???
How do you tow with a rigid bar then if it pretty much is impossible or are we talking someone in the towed car?
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Have you had a look on here? these things come up for sale all the time on ebay, and Pistonheads etc http://www.brianjames.co.uk/range/range_details.aspx?id=4&rid=6
http://www.brianjames.co.uk/pdf/BJT_UK_2011q3Hi-max_2.pdf
Any of the race cars need shifting individually, we tend to use the Brian James Race Shuttle, which is perfect and discreet, and a Mitsubishi L200 pickup to tow with, which is also perfect for the job
A frames and Dollies are crap, end of
Thom
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Yeah was thinking about one. If the need will arise big time I may be traveling here there and everywhere picking cars up. I've seen a reasonably priced twin car trailer I could probably go halves with a semi partner on just I can't really see how easy they can be to use?
I mean whack two MK5 Golfs on at roughly 1300kgs a go, that's 2600kgs. Trailer weight is 1040 so that's a total of 3640 which is 140 over even the Range towing weight.
I guess they're got kit cars or something?
TBH I think the sensible option is just get a decent trailer and use an appropriate towing vehicle, Passat can do a few things I just think on a frequent basis it's a bit light, use the LT or something then if it gets busy just bite the bullet and buy a dedicated truck.
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What you really need is to build a recovery vehicle, just like my mate did,
(http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t264/dubber36/scaniav8_zps874425a3.jpg) (http://s162.photobucket.com/user/dubber36/media/scaniav8_zps874425a3.jpg.html)
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What you really need is to build a recovery vehicle, just like my mate did,
(http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t264/dubber36/scaniav8_zps874425a3.jpg) (http://s162.photobucket.com/user/dubber36/media/scaniav8_zps874425a3.jpg.html)
No idea why people feel the need to airbrush sh!t all over their lorries. Looks absolutely awefull.
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Towed my golf 60 miles on an aframe when I first purchased it ,was some scary sh!t as tow vehicle was an escort van which im guessing is lighter than the golf,never again.
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I towed a mk4 on a A frame, story short it ended up trying overtaking me on a duel carriageway.
As above never again and now only use a trailer.
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I towed a mk4 on a A frame, story short it ended up trying overtaking me on a duel carriageway.
As above never again and now only use a trailer.
How did that happen?
Used one on a C3 in the Passat and that was fine although we're talking 30MPH and a Subaru in the van which fet like it wasn't there.
No real experience with them, Subaru was about 2 miles of bypass.
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It was my mates cheapo eBay one and the first and only time I have used one. Looked like the design let the A frame arm slip under th wishbone causing the chain and strap to come loose.
I needed fresh underwear after that incident.... :grin:
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User-error.
Done at least a thousand miles with them completely without issue, including towing a T25 camper from Manchester to Bristol. If it wasn't for the legalities of it I'd use mine for all sorts of things.
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I have no problem using an aframe, done many miles with them, usually a landy towing but even then we found a 90 too light to tow my military 109 safely,that was 170miles of cheek clenching,just the time using escort van /golf was the worst I admit user error as i used an unsuitable tow vehicle,was a case of the tail wagging the dog. lesson learnt,have a car trailor at my disposal now anyhow