Welcome to Motorhomefacts, we are a thriving motorhome community (Largest in Europe). Why Not JOIN NOW and get instant access to more of the website. It costs nothing to join and only takes a few minutes. We have 200,000 different people visiting our site monthly and this amount of motorhomers in one place guarantees a fast response to any questions you may have. We also have unique facilities not found elsewhere such as our Online Logbook, stopover tracker, Motorhome directory with Ebay type feedback and the largest repository of motorhome campsites reviews found anywhere
Just as an aside to the legality of toading what position do you think the companies fitting the A frames have in finding out the legality of the subject, surely the little piece of paper given out by some companies are all but useless.
These companies I feel have a moral right to find the definitive answer to this whole question of legality as they are producing a piece of equipment on a commercial basis that could be construed as Illegal and they are therefore perpetuating the problem.
Hi.
To be fair,one company has set up fitting garages in France,so i would think this trouble?,is various police units,working in an up to now grey area. What is needed,as you say,a lead from our own Transport authority,to say yes or no,however,a poster has read the small print and even to me it is at best questionable.
Ted.
Surely, if you are buying a product you make sure yourself about it first. why push the burden onto the seller.Such is the modern trend I presume.maybe I am biased, but a trailer seems much safer to me and an A frame only for a recovery of a vehicle broken down.
Surely, if you are buying a product you make sure yourself about it first. why push the burden onto the seller.Such is the modern trend I presume.
A little biased if I may say so, I am sure that many products manufactured have to be legal before they can be sold to the general public, surely its not down to every individual to make sure a product is legal
Just as an aside to the legality of toading what position do you think the companies fitting the A frames have in finding out the legality of the subject, surely the little piece of paper given out by some companies are all but useless.
These companies I feel have a moral right to find the definitive answer to this whole question of legality as they are producing a piece of equipment on a commercial basis that could be construed as Illegal and they are therefore perpetuating the problem.
Car A Tow has extensive correspondence with the DOT, all available of their web site and it is their belief that an A frame is legal.
The information is all on their web site for all to see along with copies of refunds from the Spanish Government to people who have been fined etc.
I for one will be off with my friends in about four weeks time towing my Terios. The handbook tells me that the car is OK to tow on an A frame behind a motorhome.
I have a letter, from Dihatsu (well email) confirming that the car is safe to tow behind a motorhome, in accordance with the instructions in the handbook.
My insurance company know that the Terios will be towed on an A frame behind my Winnebago.
Lyn and I will be travelling with Jeff and Susy the owners of MTC the Motorhome travel and insurance company.
They will be towing their Ford Fiesta behind their Bessacar, and will loose no sleep over it.
I do not see it as a grey area, so I see no moral issue, certainly from Car A Tow as they have done their research and have clearly asked anyone that disagrees with their information to contact them, they even state the name of the person to contact.
Eddie with respect, I have read your post with great interest and I too have no problem with toading throughout Euroland and indeed have been doing so for 12yrs with only two pulls, 1 in Spain and 1 in Portugal both times it was for curiosity reasons only and after examination of the both vehicles and productions of ALL documentation was waved on with a gleeful if somewhat envious smile. I do comply fully with the UK recommendation as regards too the rear markings and triangles, lighting and No. plate of the towing vehicle
My OP was what part do the manufactures of A frames have to play as regards to the definitive answer to the legality of using them in European countries NOT the UK.
Its a little parsay to say Car-a-Tow have been in lengthy consultations with DOT as they only cover UK law and I think the majority of us toaders have all the translation docs onboard, I certainly have thanks too C-a-T but this is usually totally useless when confronted with the European Police and I am not going to argue the virtues of UK law with an armed police officer.
It will obviously take a European law in statue to define the legality of A framing throughout Euroland and this will be very expensive for an individual to instigate but there are a number of these manufactures in the UK now and I would like to know what moves they as a group have made to clarify that their equipment has definitive legality not only in the UK but in all European member countries, passing the onus onto the purchaser of their equipment to get clarification too me IS a moral issue.
And as a bonus if it was made totally legal throughout Europe just think of the extra business that would become available because many thousands of m/h people would I think toad if it was legal (but some will not admit it now), or is that a sticking point with the present UK manufacturers?
It's a very good opening line, Bob. I really can't add anything consructive to the discussion, but I can confirm that whilst touring recently, I did note a few Dutch registered 'van towing cars on A Frames.
I used to tow on an A Frame, but after a slight "mis hap" with the brakes sticking on and then the general hassle of it all, I decided not to tow.
Russell
______________________________________________________________ Our long trip around Europe - blog now online at www.swift-kontiki.co.uk
You cannot post new topics in this forum You cannot reply to topics in this forum You cannot edit your posts in this forum You cannot delete your posts in this forum You cannot vote in polls in this forum You cannot attach files in this forum You cannot download files in this forum
All times are GMT + 1 Hour Page 1 of 7Goto page : 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7Next
France
