A-frames

bones · Post by **bones** » Fri May 04, 2012 8:51 am

Hi all, when it comes to towing with a-frames which are better for connecting. Ones with ratchet straps or chains ????

rich

JJMclure · Post by **JJMclure** » Fri May 04, 2012 11:28 am

I've only ever used ratchet straps and as long as the arms don't spread they work ok. I try to avoid using an a bar if possible!

Ian Anderson · Post by **Ian Anderson** » Fri May 04, 2012 11:35 am

Permanent fixing to the car being towed.

So a horse shoe or U bracket welded to the front of the car being towed and a bushed end on the A frame.
A bolt through each with a locknut.

Then if you are really flash

Cut into the loom of the car being towed, and splice the rear lights to a quick disconnect connector near the radiator. 4 foot of wire from your tow car to the radiator of the one being towed and the brake indicators etc on the tow car work a treat!

Ian

kev_the_mole · Post by **kev_the_mole** » Fri May 04, 2012 12:16 pm

I thought A-frames were only legal for recovery and not general towing???

Ian Anderson · Post by **Ian Anderson** » Fri May 04, 2012 12:50 pm

What about the campers that tow a smart car?
So long as the car is road registered I can see no reason why it would not be legal????
Ian

Post by **katanaman** » Fri May 04, 2012 4:00 pm

When I made one years ago I made it ratchet straps on chains just to be awkward. If I was to redo it I would just make it ratchet straps as sometimes the chains are a pain and don't sit quite right.

mgbv8 · Post by **mgbv8** » Sat May 05, 2012 9:35 pm

Mine has ratchet straps and chains.

unstable load · Post by **unstable load** » Sun May 06, 2012 6:27 am

A mate has one that is able to adjust for width by means of a geared head section and the connection to the car is on the forward control arms by a hook and fork that has chains internally i the "legs", coming to a ratchet strap for tightening it all up.
I was really impressed with it.

bones · Post by **bones** » Wed May 09, 2012 8:00 am

Thanks for the replies all. Ordered a chain item with extended arms so as it fits my car. Thanks again

rich

Eliot · Post by **Eliot** » Thu May 10, 2012 7:52 am

kev_the_mole wrote:I thought A-frames were only legal for recovery and not general towing???

Thats my understanding too.

mgbv8 · Post by **mgbv8** » Thu May 10, 2012 10:27 am

Eliot wrote:
kev_the_mole wrote:I thought A-frames were only legal for recovery and not general towing???
Thats my understanding too.

Thats correct. But in years of using mine nobody has ever stopped me. Who's to know you are not recovering it or taking it from breakdown to a place of repair?

Re the cars behind campers. If its done properly then the towed vehicle uses its lights to mimic the lights on the tow car and also has its brakes activated via a telescopic ball hitch. This makes it a braked trailer which is legal to go anywhere

scotb · Post by **scotb** » Mon May 14, 2012 5:41 pm

i think its the frame thats got a harvey frost jib thats illegal,not the a-frames as the rac and aa use them

mgbv8 · Post by **mgbv8** » Mon May 14, 2012 7:39 pm

scotb wrote:i think its the frame thats got a harvey frost jib thats illegal,not the a-frames as the rac and aa use them

Interesting Scot!
Can you show us what one of the jibs looks like??

scotb · Post by **scotb** » Mon May 14, 2012 8:36 pm

similar to this-
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Harvey-Frost- ... _500wt_969