Towing with an A frame - Who does this?

Wissel

Wissel

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With our plans to go full-time at some point next year in full swing, I'm wondering about towing with an a-frame?

Our plan is to buy a brand new van, but keep it for probably 10 years as we will be spending a lot on electrical systems etc. We will have a couple of electric bikes in the garage to allow getting to places the MH can't.

But I keep thinking about what-ifs, and I'm starting to think a little car on an a-frame could be the ideal solution at some point (maybe from the start).

I've read up a little on these so know what's involved with braking etc, plus the van we are looking at (Pilote P740GJ) will have an uprated chassis to 4.4T so towing shouldn't be an issue.

For now, it's really more about whether to have a tow-bar factory fitted? Maybe the 180BHP option? (already planning on having the 150BHP upgrade). I want to make sure we are future proofed as much as possible.

Be great to hear from others with a-frame experience or opinions?

Thanks, David.
 
I've seen folk towing a car behind a motorhome, and I have to admit I'm completely baffled as to why they do this..

Why not just get a nice comfortable car and tow a caravan?
 
Les from Suffolk said:
I've seen folk towing a car behind a motorhome, and I have to admit I'm completely baffled as to why they do this..

Why not just get a nice comfortable car and tow a caravan?
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Oh dear, need a bigger bag of popcorn now.

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We have been aframing for around 10 years and happy to recommend doing so as a convenience.
Our current moho is a Hymer T668 SL 3.0 litre auto (Comfortmatic) with a factory fitted towbar, plated at 4200Kg.
Our toad is a Peugeot 108 fitted with a Towbars-to-towcars aframe and electronic braking system.
 
Mikeco said:
Oh dear, need a bigger bag of popcorn now.
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Here you go, we can share this for a few days
images (1).jpg
 
Do you use across the channel or just in the uk ?

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Ivory55 said:
Do you use across the channel or just in the uk ?
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Planning on staying in UK for at least the 6 years (dog an issue in France - not taking the chance).

We would have two drivers in MH, so can un-couple if getting anywhere that say, reversing could be a problem.
 
Echo the above. Uprating the chassis (GVW) reduces what you can tow. Counterintuitive but happens because the train weight stays the same when you uprate and what you can tow=train weight-gross vehicle weight.

Often a problem with tag axles, some can (legally) tow next to nothing.
 
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We do sometimes tow a car, and a car and caravan is no comparison;

You can't take the caravan without a car
You can't stay on aires
Towing a little vehicle with a big one is a lot easier than the other way round.

Bikes, electric or otherwise, are no use to us as the dogs can't ride them. Our little toad (Suzuki Alto) though a four door is permanently in two seater mode leaving a big space for the dogs and any other bits we need to transport.
 
I tow a five seat Kia Rio behind my Hymer B544, not all the time for those that say have a caravan , no contest. We travel across the water without car but bikes on back, we can use Aires , can caravans ? don't think so.
When in UK car on back , pitch up and tour in car.
For us it's multi choice depending on where and when.
Ours is 150hp and pulls car no problem, the towbar gives more options.
 
Wissel said:
Planning on staying in UK for at least the 6 years (dog an issue in France - not taking the chance).

We would have two drivers in MH, so can un-couple if getting anywhere that say, reversing could be a problem.
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What's the issue with the dog in France?

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EX51SSS said:
What's the issue with the dog in France?
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He's a very large Staff, so looks like a fighting dog.

Think the laws there changed recently, but not willing the take the chance of an over-zealous Gendarme.

Besides, I like the UK and hope to be living this life for a very long time. So no hurry to get to the Continent :)
 
Wissel said:
He's a very large Staff, so looks like a fighting dog.

Think the laws there changed recently, but not willing the take the chance of an over-zealous Gendarme.

Besides, I like the UK and hope to be living this life for a very long time. So no hurry to get to the Continent :)
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No problem, I'm sure the staffy would find a frog rozzer tasty enough :D
 
We've seen staffies in France and there doesn't appear to be any issues with them there, we've got a cross staffie/greyhound who looks like a long legged staffie with a longer nose but the only attention she gets is from people inquisitive about her 'looks'!
 
Wissel said:
He's a very large Staff, so looks like a fighting dog.

Think the laws there changed recently, but not willing the take the chance of an over-zealous Gendarme.

Besides, I like the UK and hope to be living this life for a very long time. So no hurry to get to the Continent :)
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I'd put money on you wanting to escape after your first full-time winter in the UK! Have you looked at getting a small car and a trailer to put it on? No issues at all with having to leave it at 'home' if you do venture abroad to Spain etc. I'd say forget the electric bike option at the moment until you are sure of what you want as they aren't a cheap accessory!

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I think they love A frames in Spain.

The cops always want to stop you and have a good gawp at it.(y)
 
I have been towing with an A frame in the uk for a few years now and find it works very well. Was using a Car-a-Tow frame but it is bulky and heavy. Decided I needed a lighter one and my new one made by TAF Chesterfield arrived yesterday.
Very much lighter, more compact when folded, stainless steel and looks nicely made. Although I haven't towed with it yet I fitted it to the car without pulling any muscles and see no reason why it should behave very differently, though it is a bit shorter. I particularly liked that the pins that fasten it to the car come with 2 spring clips each, not relying on a single one that I have known to fail. The other significant difference is that instead of a breakaway cable that snaps the trailer brakes on if it parts company a secondary attachment is used instead. I was a bit doubtful about this new to me arrangement but having checked the DfT site am reassured that it is a recognised alternative for trailers up to 1500kg. If the hitch should break having the car hanging loosely behind might even be better than having it self braking and steering on its own.
 
Larrynwin said:
we can use Aires , can caravans ? don't think so.
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At Honfleur aire last year we parked opposite a huge Hymer caravan and some German motorhomes. No car in sight. When they left the next day they hitched the caravan to an equally huge Hymer MH and off they went.
 
NickNic said:
At Honfleur aire last year we parked opposite a huge Hymer caravan and some German motorhomes. No car in sight. When they left the next day they hitched the caravan to an equally huge Hymer MH and off they went.
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There will always be the odd one as its a system that is unlikely to be policed, don't even know if there are any rules that apply .

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