New braking system for "A" frame Forums

olley · Campsite DB Admin

H i guys, seen a new braking system being sold here at the Lincoln show, it cost £1000 for fitting and the "A" frame.

The guy fits an electric brake load sensing valve into the towing vehicle, and then uses a 13pin trailer socket to connect it to your car, just inside the bonnet is an electric brake servo connected into your existing brake system. He says that you can easily achieve 50% braking with this system, indeed he claims that if you do an emergency stop the car will too.

Had a good look at the system and it seems well engineered, my only complaint is the new pipework inside the bonnet isn't very tidy.

He will also sell you a s/h car converted, at the show he's got a nice 06 Citroen Clio (7000 miles) for £6000 converted

At this moment he doesn't have a system for air brakes but he reckons it's on the back burner.

Olley

winniebagotony

Hi Olley

a citroen clio ?

is this a better system than the Chris Cox one do you think?

Tony

artona · Moderator

Hi Olley

olley · Campsite DB Admin

Hi guys sorry should have put his details.

loddy

I'm going to be shot down in a minute but I thought overrun systems were legal cause thats what they fit to trailers and caravans, and I thought the electrical system as fitted to imported 5th wheelers was Illegal.
Loddy

olley · Campsite DB Admin

Hi loddy overruns are legal providing they can apply the brakes to certain set criteria, I understand that soon this will be 50% for all new trailers, there's no way an overrun on a "A" framed car will achieve this without the servo working.

Don't know about electric brakes being illegal, I believe yank electric brakes are all electric, were as this system is electric over hydraulic, so maybe that makes a difference.

Olley

thieawin

This is where we get to the nub of the A frame debate

under the relevant EU regulation as aplied in UK under construction and use regs there are several measures relating to braking reversing and lights.

The one that causes problems for A frams is the reversing requirement.

Most cars just cannot meet that.

Hence when combined with an A frame they are no longer a car but become a trailer and do not meet the trailer C&U requirement.

However that could be very hard to prove in practice. And this system may just push it.

I have refused to risk it for a long time, the regulation is very clear, but the authorities here and abroad appear not to be interested, and as long as your insurers. both for the towing and towed vehicle are happy the likely hood is you will gte away with it.

It is still illegal in all probability. I do not suggest you break the law. It is a matter for your concience. At best its grey.

The best exposition I have ever seen is on the Transleisure site, it is new, and it its from Department for transport who appear to have been persuaded to come down off the fence

The link is

Rapide561

Hi

I do not not whether the system described by Olley is better, worse or indifferent. All I do know is that car is going soon and being replaced with a scooter! No complications there, except what colour to buy!

Russell

des

for a change, new and interesting information on this much-discussed topic. still comes down to "you pays your money and you takes your chances" in the end. let's hope it stays that way - if the matter is ever settled in law, i believe it will be against the a-frame. euro conformance and all that good???? stuff.

des