A framing advice needed - Caution pictures of RUST!!!!

[Heidel_Kakao]

Hi I know Mr Bickle & also Mr Bollox are big a framers. I am looking for some advice on what A frame to buy & how much to spend. I need to move a Suzuki SC100 which has no tax, MOT or insurance two miles to a welder. The tow car will be a Volvo 940 2.3 turbo estate which should be up to the job, the curb weight of a SC100 is less than 700KG if that matters.

 

Also how much would you quote for welding based on the pictures below out of interest? Or would you just weigh it in lol.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[hairnet]

phil or m blx to the batphone please

 

volvo will cope - if estate - fit in boot no??

 

dont think 5-0 mind cos its not like it 100 miles or anything

[purplebargeken]

Older stylee A frames that allow al 4 wheels on her Maj's highway are illegal unless the car being towed is MOT'd, taxed and insured. The police will catch you 100 yeards down the road, smother you with CS gas and roger you senseless with their big truncheons, they might also hit you with their extending batons, ooeerr.

 

The newer and obviously much more horribly expensive type which takes the front wheels off the road are okay. The big Ovlov should take it all in it's stride.

[Station]

Just a-frame it, it'll be OK.

 

That SC100 is a classic example of 'Rust areas on SC100's'. Has it gone around the rear screen as well? How did you acquire this, you should put more photos of this wee beasty.

[catsinthewelder]

Why spend £100 on an a-frame that might well get you into as much trouble as using a £15 tow pole?

 

I bet you could rent a car trailer for that.

 

Best of luck with it and more pics please

[Cavcraft]

Option 1: Drive it.

Option 2: Tow it with a half arsed bit of rope.

Option 3: Ask tooSavvy what he'd do.

[nigel bickle]

Dont A frame -unless you've practised plenty previously. Its much too easy to get it 'slightly' wrong -and, at best, it will feel horrid, potentially dangerous.

 

Boll & I have had plenty of practice, recgonise the symptoms of misconnecting or slight stretch, and will readjust in seconds. Most circs mean its impossible to get it perfect (which it needs to be) first time, so tightening/adjusting 100 yards down the road is commonplace. Its not complicated, or difficult -but it does need explaining/demonstrating, first time. Honestly.

 

Most people just dont click, which is why there's a plethora of 'used once' frames available.

 

Rather than buy one, ask a friend to solid pole you. Much cheaper, and potentially less illegal -if stopped. For £100(ish) you can rent a trailer for the day, and have change. Much better.

 

If you insist on A framing - a 2500kg one will suffice; no need to 'upgrade' further. Thats the majority. There are some cheap nasties out there so I'd look for Solomatic or Intertrade early (nearly new) (curved hook on the chain) with a combination of chain & strap. All strap chafes, all chain is clunky to get tight.

 

As too the welding -its got to be your decision. Its rarely cost effective to pay for substantive welding (if thats your criteria)-and the issue of 'MOT' welding or proper fabrication will rear its head. That figure has to rest with you. How long is a piece of string?

[cort16]

Just get someone to move it. Have a look on gumtree for car transportation in your area and I bet it's not more than £50 for someone to move it a few miles down the road.

[Heidel_Kakao]

Some more details and pictures here over on the "blue" forum on my readers ride thread where I am JammzR. It's been of the road nearly two years now, a coolant hose burst and as they run inside the car from front radiator to rear engine I stripped out the the interior to replace them, which was when I found the rust & lost all enthusiasm. Normally at this point I would just sell it but this time I am actually going to make a car better that when I got it instead of worse.

 

Lots of useful A framing info etc. As too the welding -its got to be your decision. Its rarely cost effective to pay for substantive welding (if thats your criteria)-and the issue of 'MOT' welding or proper fabrication will rear its head. That figure has to rest with you. How long is a piece of string?

Yeah I am starting to realise a tow rope/pole will better for what I need to do and safer too as I guess A framing is not as easy as it looks. As to the welding I have been quoted £200 per side by a mates dad who I trust & has been a professional welder for years so I know he will do good work, like you say it's a personal decison & on cars of this value it's rarely economically viable to get it done properly but I want to see this car make it back on the road & plan on keeping it for a long time to come so it's going to get done

volvo will cope - if estate - fit in boot no??

Ha it's not quite that small though it would maybe fit on a roof rack ok? lol

The newer and obviously much more horribly expensive type which takes the front wheels off the road are okay. The big Ovlov should take it all in it's stride.

Yeah I had seen that there were two types and like you say the decent ones cost a lot more money, almost as much as a car trailer

That SC100 is a classic example of 'Rust areas on SC100's'. Has it gone around the rear screen as well? How did you acquire this, you should put more photos of this wee beasty.

Station I think you will have already seen this as you are David over on RR I believe & also had that blue SC100 for a while. The rest of the car seems solid from what I can tell & all the panels are ok so it could be worse & as you say all SC100's will probably have rusted in the same place & it's not like I can easily find another one lol.

Why spend £100 on an a-frame that might well get you into as much trouble as using a £15 tow pole?I bet you could rent a car trailer for that.Best of luck with it and more pics please

I thought that an A frame might be easier & more "legal" than just using a tow pole but I wasn't sure so thought I would check on here first

Option 1: Drive it.

Option 2: Tow it with a half arsed bit of rope.

Option 3: Ask tooSavvy what he'd do.

May just go with option two lol!

[John F]

Option 3: Ask tooSavvy what he'd do.

 

Not sure that would help. He'd probably staple a picture of the Suzuki SC100 to his midriff then rotate slowly on the spot licking a piece of basalt.

[Heidel_Kakao]

http://www.machinemart.co.uk/shop/produ ... ing-damper

This towing pole looks ok as far as I can tell. There may be a problem though as I dont think the SC100 has a towing eye, just those tie down eyes instead which I think are meant to for securing it on a trailer.

 

Ps I don't get the ask tooSavvy references lol, have I missed something funny?

[tooSavvy]

Option 3: Ask tooSavvy what he'd do.

 

Not sure that would help. He'd probably staple a picture of the Suzuki SC100 to his midriff then rotate slowly on the spot licking a piece of basalt.

 

..... sound of Horse approaching @ 1500ft.....

 

..luvvinn it

 

tooSavvy

[Cavcraft]

Ps I don't get the ask tooSavvy references lol, have I missed something?

 

Some say he's Rayman_Boy_Chelsea_Dolls_House_Antiques_Grand_Piano_Fruitcake. We just think he's like one of the distant uncles you used to visit when you were a kid. You know the one, used to walk round in yellowy coloured Y-fronts all day talking to dahlias about the time he and his pet ant went on a bike ride to Port Merion. Cracking bloke but mad as a hatter.

[Tonka]

http://www.direct.gov.uk/prod_consum_dg/groups/dg_digitalassets/@dg/@en/@motor/documents/digitalasset/dg_200824.pdf

 

Looking at that a car below 750kg like yours fitted with legal tyres and a working light bar can be legally towed without a braking system as it becomes an unbraked trailer in the eyes of the law, however if it was me buying an A-frame I'd go for an ex-AA one with the braking system so you can tow something over 750kg at a later date.

 

Like many on here I have A-framed on journeys over 250 miles without any issues from VOSA or the Police, the bottom line if it looks like you are towing too much they will stop you!

 

So A-framing is the legal option for vehicle movements, Dollies are a no-no except for roadside recovery.

[dollywobbler]

If I need to shift cars, I just hire a trailer. I'm lucky and can borrow one for £20 a day, but you should be able to hire one for £60 or less I would have thought. Only slight complication is needing ratchet straps to secure it to the trailer by the wheels. I've got my own straps. Trailers don't always come with them.

[ayrshirelad]

A framing aint that hard really. Common sense. One mines you wrap chains round wishbones tighten up wratches hook up to car and away you go. However i always check after a mile or so or less depending on the road. 50/55 is usually my limit. Legally the car being towed needs mot tax insurance etc. However i A framed my first spares Ital from the middle of wales a place called Newmilns to be precise to here in Killie. My Jeep reggie was on the front and rear of tow consist, so for the boys in blue the reggie visable the car was insured taxed etc. Numerous traffic and pandas passed me and none gave me a second glance. I towed the Ital with the chopped roof home from Montrose a month or so ago with the Omega same thing none bothered me. If you are being sensable and all your lights work etc usually they don"t bother you. The first time i A framed btw was from WALES TO Killie So i had to get it right first time. Buy a half decent A Frame and you should be aok. Mines was 170 plus delivery three years ago. Weighs a ton incedentally to or it feels like it too lift!