On site manoeuvring with A-Frame fitted

[heliart]

A question for the A-frame owners regarding detaching and moving the tow car once you arrive on site.
Seems like it would be a pain to have to detach the entire A-frame just to move the car.
I know some systems allow you to fold the A-frame upright (lock it there with provided wedges etc).
I was talking to LNB is Bristol and they tell me they don't recommend driving the tow car at all with their A-frame attached, as it would stress the pins and scratch the bonnet (they have no locking mechanisim in the upright I assume).

Cheers,

Steve

 

[Steve and Denise]

A question for the A-frame owners regarding detaching and moving the tow car once you arrive on site.
Seems like it would be a pain to have to detach the entire A-frame just to move the car.
I know some systems allow you to fold the A-frame upright (lock it there with provided wedges etc).
I was talking to LNB is Bristol and they tell me they don't recommend driving the tow car at all with their A-frame attached, as it would stress the pins and scratch the bonnet (they have no locking mechanisim in the upright I assume).

Cheers,

Steve

That is correct as the pins would rotate on that type of fitting I know as I have one of theirs

 

[TOAD on Tour]

we attach the A Frame to the car and manoeuvre when we are leaving. My wife drives the car slowly and I walk in front holding the A Frame guiding the way to the tow bar on the MH. To be honest this is usually only a few feet. I’m not entirely sure why you would leave the car/A Frame attached to the MH when positioning the MH on site. If you have no plans to use the car for the odd night before moving on, we would do the same as when attaching it, just have 1 person walking with the A Frame attached while the other drives the car.
just to add, we also have the LNB A Frame from the guys in Bristol

 

[Boycie]

Hi, I don't know if this helps but my A-frame is not a lightweight electronic one. Mine is from Armitage Trailers and was supplied with a jockey wheel. On arrival on sites I just disconnect from the Van lower the jockey wheel which allows me to park the car. I've not had any trouble with it over the years.
Phil

 

[Minxy]

Perhaps a 'person' with a rope round the frame coupling to support it would sold the issue of the pins supporting the whole weight would help, so long as he/she/they(!) knew what you were doing and which way to walk so they didn't get run over or skewered!

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[the1andonly]

I hve no problems since a locking tool is provided. Its not a lnb.
Regularly have to do it . For me it would be a good reason not to buy one.

 

[Steve and Denise]

The fact the LNB one can not be propped up on the bonnet is not a problem just pull the pins easy, it is also very easy to attach to the ball as it is telescopic this facility far out weighs the folding up whilst attached to the car, I have owned 4 different makes over the years

 

[icantremember]

On our a-frame (Towbars2Towcars) it is designed to fold up to just beyond vertical and has stops welded on to prevent it touching the bonnet. I have a cord which loops around the hitch and hooks to the rear of the bonnet stopping the frame falling forward if knocked or if moving the car. I have been using this method for around 14 years without problem and on a variety of toads, currently a Pug 108.

 

[pappajohn]

I used a length of nylon strap with a rubber coated hook at each end.
One hook on the frame and the other at the back of to bonnet.
Doing that you can raise the a frame to almost any height you want.

 

[Reallyretired]

I just had a jockey wheel on mine. We no longer use a toad as it only had limited use as we only used it in the UK. Our current mh is only 6.8m so a bit easier to find somewhere to park.

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[TCG]

we attach the A Frame to the car and manoeuvre when we are leaving. My wife drives the car slowly and I walk in front holding the A Frame guiding the way to the tow bar on the MH. To be honest this is usually only a few feet. I’m not entirely sure why you would leave the car/A Frame attached to the MH when positioning the MH on site. If you have no plans to use the car for the odd night before moving on, we would do the same as when attaching it, just have 1 person walking with the A Frame attached while the other drives the car.
just to add, we also have the LNB A Frame from the guys in Bristol

+1 with LNB

 

[hornsofallign]

On our a-frame (Towbars2Towcars) it is designed to fold up to just beyond vertical and has stops welded on to prevent it touching the bonnet. I have a cord which loops around the hitch and hooks to the rear of the bonnet stopping the frame falling forward if knocked or if moving the car. I have been using this method for around 14 years without problem and on a variety of toads, currently a Pug 108.

We have the same, and it works fine. I never drive more than a dozen yards like that (and very slowly).

But It takes only a couple of mins to detach the complete unit, when/if I need to go further

 

[heliart]

Wow, such a lot of fast responses. Thank you. LNB are only 35 miles down the road, so that counts for a lot.

Cheers.

 

[Manic]

I’ve just got a buckle strap with a hook made of flat aluminium that I hook on back edge of bonnet anthem hook on a frame handle

 

[David and Sally]

TAF supply a strap that fits near the bonnet catch and onto the A frame with a clamp so that the height of the A Frame can be set. If leaving the A frame on the car I just lower the hitch to the ground to take off the load.

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[Shrimp]

I’ve just got a buckle strap with a hook made of flat aluminium that I hook on back edge of bonnet anthem hook on a frame handle

Think he means and then !!
When we hook up I drive the car slowly to the hitch & Nick couples the car & van!

 

[Conal]

As David and Sally say TAF A Frames pivot upwards when not being used and it takes seconds to slip the strap attached to the car body above the radiator over the A Frame “handle”. Brilliant setup and why my inability to reverse such a short “trailer” is irrelevant. So far I have had to reverse twice whilst on-route and in both cases was able to unhitch, move and re hitch in minute.
I also routinely unhitch at campsite entrances and park the car rather than tow it round the site. Once on a pitch I walk back for the car and drive it the short distance to the pitch, or take the A Frame off if going out immediately.

 

[heliart]

Finally did it. LNB Towbars - Towmaster2.

 

[pappajohn]

I was talking to LNB is Bristol and they tell me they don't recommend driving the tow car at all with their A-frame attached, as it would stress the pins and scratch the bonnet

If a bit of bouncing around is going to stress the pins they certainly won't be up to the stresses involved towing a car!

I used a nylon strap with rubberised hooks.
One end on the hitch and the other hook on the rear of the bonnet (Hence rubberised hooks) and never had a problem.
It held the a frame around 45° from horizontal so the frame was never near the bonnet.

 

[heliart]

If a bit of bouncing around is going to stress the pins they certainly won't be up to the stresses involved towing a car!

I used a nylon strap with rubberised hooks.
One end on the hitch and the other hook on the rear of the bonnet (Hence rubberised hooks) and never had a problem.
It held the a frame around 45° from horizontal so the frame was never near the bonnet.

What make of A-frame was that with? It's exactly what I was thinking, but need to look at the stress with the a-frame raised.
It's a heavy old thing, but it's really only ever going to be in an emergency disconnect/reverse situation.

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[icantremember]

What make of A-frame was that with? It's exactly what I was thinking, but need to look at the stress with the a-frame raised.
It's a heavy old thing, but it's really only ever going to be in an emergency disconnect/reverse situation.

The pictures show the cord a bit slack but I would tighten it if moving the car.

 

[Pausim]

My TAF comes with an adjustable strap. Unhitch, hook the strap on and drive.