Towing
Does anyone know about the 'A' frames you can get to tow another vehicle?
Begining to think it would be usefull to have one of these.
I am a little dubious about braked/unbreaked towing weights. Phoned up the local traffic police and they said they can't see a problem but what do they know. :lol:
Cheers
Chris
If your towing over 750kg it's a very grey area, to say the least, recovery to a safe place being an exception.
Discussed a lot at Difflock
I would contest milud,
that it is not a grey area,
anything over 750kg requires a minimum of overrun brakes
and owt over 3500kg requires air brakes.
This for non agricultural vehicles.
I do not know the law on "Recovering to a safe area"
Cheers
Marcus
Thanks for that, just as I thought really - a grey area - which is why I phoned the traffic police. What he actually said was that he used one himself and if I did get stopped say that I had asked at the local nick and they said it was ok!
I tow a trailer alot and am very concious of staying within the law.
BTW HSS hire shops will hire one of these to you and rate it at 2500kg
Cheers
Chris
Yes,, a very grey area, and hopefully will remain one :lol:
Being pulled by the cops is one thing, being involved in an incident and have an insurance company combing through the law is another.
[
Being pulled by the cops is one thing, being involved in an incident and have an insurance company combing through the law is another.
Exactly, thats my main wory
Hi Chris you could do a "rigid pole" tow as you have the front pin in the fender hazards on and a large "on tow" illuminated board...let the engine idle so you have power steering and even servo assisted brakes all your partner has to do is steer......
Chris,
I've just been towed in a 230swb 460 manual 25 miles behind the lexus. didnt need the PAS or servo'd brakes, we managed fine, and the Mrs had never towed me for about ten years. Used a 3 ton Sealey none-damped bar, got it for around 40 quid trade. Its about 5'6" long, packs down to half length for storage. Its a bit scary at first being so close to the tow car, mini roundabouts are interesting! It's easy to drift off line, too, but overall a much better experience than a rope....
Have a word with scouse Graham - he told me you cant use an A frame with a G anyway.......
OK so an 'A' frame is not legal or ilegal and if I were going 50 miles I would risk the wrath of the law.
If done off the front tow pin is legal for short recovery because the front pin is considered legal with a rigid pole
A combination of the 2 with a channel section wraping around the bumper, locking pin each side and loop into the pin hitch - Ideal, except you still don't have any breaks.
Can't tow on a dolly because of the front propshaft/transfer box/oil issue.
Question, if you haven't got bored already, is if the car is in 4wd does the transfer box oil pump work ok and if not can you put the rear wheels on the dolly ?
NB I have to tow about 300m and do not want to a, get a hefty fine or b, most importantly do any damage. :?
The dolly would be braked and I have the bits to make it.
£50 to hire a car trailer from Indespension mate, seriously, think about it, only one driver required too, you'll need the tie down straps tho
I presume you mean 300 miles not metres.......
Thanks Johny, thats a much better rate than round here, though I can borrow a trailer. I seem to spend too much time moving cars from one place to another, so having something to do it with would be usefull, and I have got all the bits in the workshop. Yes - 300 miles not meters :cry:
300 miles! Trailers the way to go.
Hi Chris,
Yeah, I would concur with Mark and the others too. For that distance the car trailer is your only man and relatively hassle free. The other methods are only for short hops really.
Mind you this coming from the fool who towed a crashed Peugeot 205 250 miles with a light nylon rope, roll on the thrill seekers.
Regards,
Mike
Well, as someone once said " whatever it takes"
Don't wory I know what it feels like with that overloaded trailer wagging away :roll:
Has anybody any idea if this would help while towing or anybody use theses thing that you put into the rear coil springs?
"Coil Spring assisters ensures the vehicle springs do not bottom whilst towing. The are sold in pairs and once inserted into the vehicles rear springs they remain in position even when not towing."
I think if your springs are in good condition and the nose weight is correct you shouldn't need them. You would be pretty hard pressed to bottom out standard springs and you have got rubber bump stops anyway. Don't forget that MB springs are progressive on the rear.
If you do want to go with spring helpers have a look at Air helpers
But I wouldn't. put your money into a heavier set of MB springs if yours are knackered
Do you reckon that with this air set up you would get a smoother ride for the passengers/driver, on road driving or off roading?
Do you reckon that with this air set up you would get a smoother ride for the passengers/driver, on road driving or off roading?
I think the thing to remember with mercedes original springs is that they are progressive ie. the spring wire is tapered - thicker in the middle, thinner at the ends and this makes them soft to begin with and then firm up as the load increases or on rough terrain to prevent bottoming out. If your springs are in good condition I don't think there is much to be gained - I have towed at the limit and regularly cary1/2 tonne without a problem.
If increased load carrying is your need then the chart below will help.
Note, the free length of all MB springs is the same, roughly
If you need spring assistors while towing a four wheel trailer you've got it seriously badly loaded. The noseweight should only be about 100 Kg. I've towed all sorts of 4wd vehicles on a four wheel trailer with no problem. Put it on nose first, but don't always set the chocks right at the front of the trailer. Try and get the point of balance of the towed vehicle just on the leading trailer wheel.
No your right about loading, I wanted to avoid any potential damage done by pulling heavy loads and face costly future bills as a result?
Thanks for taking the time to upload the Graph.
ok what is it with this tranfer pump, what happens when stationary and using a pto? The pump is for the pto only , select neutral in the trasnfer box and you can tow fine .
??????? :roll:
With regard to "A" frames. For the purposes of towing, the "dead" vehicle is regarded as a trailer and, as such, must have over-run brakes if its gross weight exceeds half the mass of the towing vehicle or 750kg, whichever is the lesser. I suggest that copper gave you a bum steer, which could well have dropped you right in the proverbial. Telling you to say, if stopped by the police, that your local "nick" said it was alright, doesn't actually get you off the hook when the shit hits the fan, and subsequently, no doubt, the advise given in such a cavalier manner would probably have been hotly denied. And, as someone else said, the insurance companies do know the law and will wriggle out of any liability if they can. The other thing about towing trailers, if you do it as a function of your business, is that your "tug" must be equipped with a functioning tachograph if the combined mass of the towing vehicle and its trailer is 3500kg or more. A G towing another G on a half sensible trailer would meet those criteria without much difficulty, I would suggest.
"Dollies"" may be used for emergency recovery purposes only. They may not be used to tow a vehicle from "A" to "B".
References: http://www.ntta.co.uk/law/
http://www.ukmotorhomes.net/a-frames.shtml
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Thanks for that, just as I thought really - a grey area - which is why I phoned the traffic police. What he actually said was that he used one himself and if I did get stopped say that I had asked at the local nick and they said it was ok!
I tow a trailer alot and am very concious of staying within the law.
BTW HSS hire shops will hire one of these to you and rate it at 2500kg
Cheers
Chris