Surf Towing & Caravan Things

[marky]

*PLEASE NOTE* THE FORUM DOES NOT ACCEPT RESONSIBILITY FOR ANY INACCURATE DATA PLACED ON THIS THREAD. PLEASE CHECK WITH MANUFACTURER FOR PRECISE INFORMATION.
I Hope We Can Use This Thread For Towing, Caravans, Trailers Towbars A-frames Etc
I have a 21ft shipping length Bailey Ranger 510/4 4 berth caravan it weighs in around 1250kg. My 2.4 ssrx surf pulls this with ease you only know its there when you look in the mirror. it is fitted with an ALKO stabiliser which makes it more stable. the towball is a swan neck type as in the photo which is useful for towing suzis.

[marky]

When towing with a 2 tonne surf you need to be able to stop or accidents happen.

[pops]

talking of towbars!!!
notice your electrics on left of towball there
most i see on right
is there an etiquette, for which side it goes on please.

[marky]

talking of towbars!!!
notice your electrics on left of towball there
most i see on right
is there an etiquette, for which side it goes on please.

NO sir there is no etiquette

[slydog]

towing my suzi

ok anyone know if its legal to tow my suzi with my surf on a fixed a frame please

[marky]

As far as i know it is as long as its securely fixed to the A-frame and you have a lightboard on the back of the suzi

[hormygollop]

ok anyone know if its legal to tow my suzi with my surf on a fixed a frame please

As far as I know, if any of your wheels are on the road you need mot and tax

Keith

[hormygollop]

Q I have a motor home and want to tow a Fiat Seicento behind it using an A-frame. This car has a kerb weight under 750 kg so am I legal with this outfit?
A Sorry no is the answer. The law regards this as an unbraked trailer and you are allowed to tow up to 750 kg Gross Trailer Weight, not a car’s kerb weight. The figure you have to use is the car’s Gross Vehicle Weight or Maximum Permitted Weight. This is usually at least 300 - 400 kg more than the kerb weight. We have no knowledge of any car sold in the UK that has a GVW under 750 kg. The only vehicle we know that is completely legal to tow with an A-frame is the French Aixam small "car". This is a full four seater and details can be obtained from Aixam UK on 01926 886100. An A-frame or dolly can only be used to recover a broken down vehicle to a place of safety. Transporting a car is, therefore, illegal. A-frames may be offered with a braking system that applies the car's brakes. These do not conform to the law as the car then becomes a "braked trailer" and has to conform to European Directives contained within the Construction and Use Regulations. It does not conform to the European Directive 71/320/EEC and amendments regarding braking requirements in any way. The use of this A-frame for transportation is illegal. It is still OK for use to recover a vehicle to a place of safety.


From here http://www.ntta.co.uk/faq/default.htm

[marky]

YOU LEARN SOMETHING NEW EVERYDAY. SO HOW WOULD YOU MAKE IT LEGAL BRAKE WISE

[hormygollop]

YOU LEARN SOMETHING NEW EVERYDAY. SO HOW WOULD YOU MAKE IT LEGAL BRAKE WISE

Best option is to put it on a braked trailor, and probably the only legal option

[pops]

hoping my son coming over tomorrow to fit my leccy to my towbar
he,s an

[rubblebags]

Best option is to put it on a braked trailor, and probably the only legal option

Thanks for that reply Keith. It just put a big holt on me towing 2ton of Surf. So rearly the big motor homes are running on luck at the moment if thier towing with an A Frame.?


Any Ideas on how much taking the back seats out and flat boarding might reduce insurance on a Surf. Possibly using it for transporting private tools to and from work.

Geoff.

[Ems and Jim]

Thanks for that reply Keith. It just put a big holt on me towing 2ton of Surf. So rearly the big motor homes are running on luck at the moment if thier towing with an A Frame.?


Any Ideas on how much taking the back seats out and flat boarding might reduce insurance on a Surf. Possibly using it for transporting private tools to and from work.

Geoff.

Geoff,

It is only illegal to tow using an A-frame if the vehicle is over 750kg, unbraked and un MOT & un taxed.

If the suzi / whatever has no tax or MOT it must be minimum 18 inches off the ground on a public road.

My mate tows a Renault 5 ( over 750kg) and has built a braking system linking the hitch brake parts to the car rear drums - via the handbrake and bowden cables. The A-frame simply conects to a linkage permanently fixed to the car, sharing the rear brake cables with the handbrake. This of course still means he has to have curent MOT, tax & insurance for both vehicles.

We asked this question of the police, the NTTA and the Ministry (of Spoilsport)

Jim

[rubblebags]

Hi Jim

Learning more by the min. Glad to see your avatar is up the right way.

Geoff

[Ems and Jim]

Car all sorted now, NOT pushing up daisy's anymore !!!!