If you have a motorhome and are going on holiday you may not want to be driving around in it to go sightseeing each day. That’s why some owners often tow a car along with them, as they can unhook it once they’re at the campsite and use the car to drive to local tourist spots.
To do this, you need an A-frame. This is a piece of equipment that allows you to tow a car on its own wheels but without the need for a person in the driver’s seat. It’s the type of towing you also see on recovery vehicles, helping to get broken-down cars off the motorway or to a repair shop.
The law on towing with an A-frame
Towing with an A-frame is covered by legislation that covers towing a trailer – after all it is a very similar process once the car is loaded onto the A-frame and hooked up.
The brakes always need to be in working order when towing in this way.
As long as the A-frame and car combined do not exceed 3,500kg, you can legally tow as long as the brakes work – there are multiple ways to achieve this – some A-frame systems can electrically operate the car’s braking system when you press the brakes in the tow vehicle.
As a safety precaution, the A-frame and car must also automatically brake to a stop if they become detached from the tow vehicle while in motion, the tow hitch (also known as the drawbar) must be prevented from touching the ground and the A-frame and car should retain some ‘residual steering’.
Just like when towing a trailer, the tow vehicle must also be able to supply the car connected by A-frame with electricity so its road lights function correctly, including its indicators and sidelights when it’s dark. While the car being towed will have its own number-plate fitted, this must be covered by the number plate of the tow vehicle when attached to the A-frame.
The weight of car you can tow using an A-frame is the same as your entitlement to tow a trailer, but includes the combined weight of the car and A-frame itself.
Please contact us for a no obligation quote.
