Towing Dolly

[Black Shadow]

I don't have room to store a trailer at home and was hoping to do serveral track days this year, there's not many places local to me that hire trailers and the ones that do seem very expensive.

Just wondered if anyone had used one of these and if they were any good ?

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[Man On The Clapham Omnibus]

I rather think that you'll bump into probs with the Boys in Blue, Nigel. They are legal only for removing a broken down vehicle "to a place of safety" AFAIK.

Someone will be along to confirm, no doubt.

[Martin Keene]

I was going to suggest doing a search because the topic has been covered many, many times before, and the conclusion is they are illegal for anything but towing a broken down vehicle to a safe position, because a trailer of that weight has to have brakes.

Then I looked at the link and realised you've found a dolly/a-frame with brakes... Christ knows!

[The Great Fandango]

Well guys, I'm soon to find out if the police are going to frown upon these towing Dolly things...

Bought an American style one on eBay and due to pick it up tomorrow!...

Regardless, very excited! (how sad)

It's worth noting that some of the dollies looked awful and raised the car up significantly higher than needed.

[Mark Stanton]

Be careful - with the front raised so far in the air your rear end         might be dragging on the road especially with speed bumps and kerbs         If you have one of those rear valance bolt on things it wouldn't last long    

[steve_m]

If its braked it should be legal ?  Makes for a very cheap and useful trailer.

[Blatman]

It's not legal. The rear wheels need to have operating brakes too. Basically, when you are towing a car, the wheels in contact with the road must each have a brake operable when the the tow car is braking.

Any minute now, someone will come along and say that they've towed for years with an A frame without problems either mechanically or legally. BUT the bottom line is they are illegal for towing, which is distinct from recovering a broken down vehicle to the nearest place of safety or repair. And accidents happen. I'd be more concerned about my insurers wriggling out of a claim if the worst should happen than 3 points and 60 quid.

I'll be back in a moment with the thread I contributed to which has some excellent links to be followed...

[Peter M]

Totally agree with you Blatman,can only be used legally for recovery.

towing with a frame

[Blatman]

Here y'go...

[jeff oakley]

I think if you look at it from the letter of the law, if the vehicle does not exceed 750kg then it is classed as an unbraked trailer so long as it does not exceed the towing limit of the car and a Westfield should weigh in much less than that. Towing dollys can be braked and I think you would then be okay, however the website listed said they were of the opinion that due to the axle of the car on the road being  towed it constituted part of the trailer, they did not say it was law as I read it. I would guess that not many police would know the law fully and it could be challenged easily.especialy as trailers built before certain dates did not have to have all axles braked, I cannot recall the date. There are devices that are available which will apply the brakes on the car electronically and would cover all the bases then, you will see these at motorhome shows for towing cars behind the big motorhomes. A trailer is the best way no doubt about it, but not that I would condone such actions, but if stopped the car is being recovered for repair officer should surfice.

[Mark Stanton]

you will see these at motorhome shows for towing cars behind the big motorhomes

and they are illegal there to     check out a few motorhome forums and you will see this is also a discussion point          

[Blatman]

I think if you look at it from the letter of the law, if the vehicle does not exceed 750kg then it is classed as an unbraked trailer

Correct. But remember the plated weight of a Westfield, which is what Plod will look at, not the actual weight of the vehicle, is 900Kg's. A Westfield is therefore too heavy to be classed as an unbraked trailer.

[Peter M]

From National Trailer and Towing Association

Quote

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? 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.

[steve_m]

My VIN plate only has the VIN on it, no weights, does this mean my gross weight is the same as the kerb weight ?

[88xflo]

Kyle,

Might just be worth checking with your insurers. I have one of these dolly's and very occasionally use it for shuffling cars round the odd mile or two, but I understand that strictly speaking both axles in contact with the road (i.e. the dolly plus the Westy rear axle) need to be braked.

With only one axle braked, I think the other posts are correct in that additional special rules apply i.e. dollies should only be used for genuine recovery (as opposed to transport) and max speed is something like 40 mph even on the motorway!

Would hate you to have any probs with insurance if god forbid you were involved in any sort of accident whilst towing.

Cheers,

Rob (see you at Harewood?)