GR8 4 A-FRAMIN'!

[500tops]

LOL! only took 10 hours!

[seth]

Gah! One too many dodgy curries in the Pog household has put my A-frame debut on hold

[nigel bickle]

Aye, Spotted -she's a game old bird -puts up with a lot really.She HATES towing -with a passion -reduces her to tears sometimes so I had to find 'alternatives'. I had one of those early jobbies- rubber buffers pressing against the bumpers- but it was lethal -I've one or two nasty stories concerning them.We tried metal pole -better for her, but we bent it in 2 towing my SDI Vitesse, so moved onto a trailer. Often no good as the tow car was inadequate for both, hence dolly (hateful- but necessary evil) & eventually the Strongman version.Funnily I was offered another this very morning (-whilst dog walking (reputation precedes me). Usual story -used once, frightened witless etc. Having confirmed near identical to mine (straps not chains only real difference) what intrigued me most was alleged purchase price of £450!!! Wanted a min of £250 ... I told him new were that -and we kinda fell out. They arent that much now -are they?

[Mr_Bo11ox]

the 'solomatic' one, which as far as I can tell is the AA/RAC-approved 'original + best' A frame is £265 + vat, here it is:http://www.cjautos.org.uk/phdi/p1.nsf/supppages/cjautos?opendocument&part=6I have found a dolly to be quite a good option, the 'A' is better like, but I have a towing dolly that I have used loads and never had any worries. Only issue is, I always feel like i'm overloading the little tiny wheelbarrow wheels which are fitted to it when theyre taking half a car weight, I expect them to get red hot and pop at 60 mph. You can get reinforced tyres for em but because the dolly can wear out a pair of tyres in 1000 miles if the car on board is not absolutley central in the 'stirrups', it gets canny expensive for tyres.

[nigel bickle]

Ta -thought he was snowing me.I dislike dollies- guess its the rear view that does me -always looks like its about to launch into the boot. Feels a lot less stable too -which it must be -at that height.

[Richard]

I used a dolly once, for a SAAB 900i. It scared the shit out of me.

[AnthonyG]

Somebody (in fact two people) informed me on Saturday that A framing/dollying cars (unless it is strictly in recovery of a broken-down vehicle) is technically illegal. Sounds bollocks to me - is it true, or is it just that the car to be towed has to have Mot, Tax etc?

[Ratdat]

Somebody (in fact two people) informed me on Saturday that A framing/dollying cars (unless it is strictly in recovery of a broken-down vehicle) is technically illegal. Sounds bollocks to me - is it true, or is it just that the car to be towed has to have Mot, Tax etc?

Grey area. Technically it'd be illegal simply because it's over the weight limit for an unbraked trailer. The towed car should really be T&T and insured too I'd imagine. Any vehicle on the road should be taxed even if it's parked so it'd be no different on an A frame. Not that trivialities such as these deter the hardcore A framers

[155V6]

When I had my trackday Sierra a few years ago,it had to be moved a few times using a solid bar,I did ask a copper about the legalities as it had no tax,MOT or insurance.He told me that I'd have to be very unlucky to get busted for it.This was 5 or 6 years ago though

[Ratdat]

Generally, I think unless you are hauling a complete pile of falling apart rusty shit you'll probably get left alone. I think the shit would hit the fan if you were involved in an accident though. I reckon the best way to get away with A framing anything, anywhere, would be to have a van or 4x4 in white with a flourescent stripe down the side and "recovery" written on it. Oh, and a flashing amber light up top

[nigel bickle]

Absolutely. I've tried numerous times for a ''definative answer '' -never got one. Police, VOSA, -even Customs & excise -in days of old when you declared at the border- no one has a clue.I've towed some real poop -never been stopped. Hauled the Fiat Coupe home on Sat -passed a Traffic car -parked and a local fed passed me -neither were bothered.However- I'm sure if i were involved in an accident -they'd find a rule someplace....

[Mr_Bo11ox]

My A-frame mega mission starts tonight at 5pm, booked on the 10 pm ferry. I have fully serviced the volvo including a new cambelt and clutch, and driven it 400 miles for a 'shakedown'. I've insured the Subaru in case the belgian/french coppers take an interest in the A-frame. I've got tools, jumpleads, spare battery, Hi-vis, torch, petrol, foot pump, iPod, gaffa tape, emergency triangle, credit card... now I am 'in the zone' because i have done absolutely every last thing i can think of prep-wise so have nothing left to fret about..... still got a full on churnfest in my stomach though.

[michiel]

Bonne chance, sounds like you're well prepared.

[M'coli]

Aye, good luck, it sounds like quite an adventure.

[retrogeezer]

don't forget the pasties!!Have good/safe trip Mr B.

[reallyloud]

still got a full on churnfest in my stomach though.

I'm sure it will work out fine, and in years to come you'll be telling your grandchildren about the joys of A-framing Japanese cars across Northern Europe. I think it would have to be a particularly zealous copper who stops you. Look forward to the full report with pictures.

[nigel bickle]

Have a good trip.I always get that too -but common sense -and any 'slackness' is immediately apparent (unlike a loose car on trailer/dolly)means you'll have a good trip. Assuming Calais -you'll land around midnight so I guess the ploy is to do the majority in the dark? Checked all your lights have you?Again -good trip. Bring us all back a pleasant suprise

[Guest]

now I am 'in the zone' because i have done absolutely every last thing i can think of prep-wise so have nothing left to fret about..... still got a full on churnfest in my stomach though.

You've forgotten to paint the cars up in a charity rally style! How could you?!Good luck with your mission though, bring back your 929 Coupe!

[M'coli]

now I am 'in the zone' because i have done absolutely every last thing i can think of prep-wise so have nothing left to fret about..... still got a full on churnfest in my stomach though.

You've forgotten to paint the cars up in a charity rally style! How could you?!Good luck with your mission though, bring back your 929 Coupe!

Oddly enough, I had thought that A-framing something across Europe on Mr B. Lox approximate route could be the next step in charity banger rallying...

[Guest]

Superb idea - a bit like a normal one, but with twice as many cars dumped in airport car parks at the end.

[Mr_Bo11ox]

Thats a good idea actually for taking the banger rally to the next level, get a decent towcar lik8 a 3 year old Audi A6 Quattro 3.0TDi and trailer your old banger across europe in air-conditioned 35mpg comfort, when you get there weigh in the banger and drive home again with an empty trailer (or even a load of Lithuanian girls to employ as slaves). Wacky fun all the way without the risk of having to regrind the crank at the roadside using a nail file!

[andrew e]

Well then ? Did you arrive Mr B

[Cavcraft]

its not so far- done it many many times. Furthest was Berlin -to collect my Trabbie Tramp.

 

You travel no slower on European m/ways -worst part of the journey is over here.

 

I just book car & trailer on the ferry -cheaper than 2.

 

But -WHATS HE BRINGING BACK????

I've booked two cars on the outbound leg as it was cheaper than a trailer slot!!

 

Now then, what am I bringing back? NOTHING sadly. I am taking the Subaru and stashing it in the bo11ox museum, plus doing some other non-car stuff related to the facilities at this site. I will actually bring back a towing dolly which I have got over there, but only so I can then flog it to help pay for the trip. Mental eh? coming back from france with a dolly and an A-frame and no crusty vehicles in tow!

Give me a shout when you get back please, might be interested in that.

[garethj]

As this is the A-Framing page, what are the costs with pros and cons of each type of towing?Rope is about a tenner, drawback is the car behind needs to have brakes working well (engine running if it's got servo brakes) and both drivers need to know what they're doing. Probably very illegal on motorways.Bar? A frame?Trailer is great but depressingly expensive to hire and you can soon be over the maximum towing weight of most cars IIRC

[Mr Lobster]

I hired a trailer last month - £40 for the weekend and borrowed a Toyota Hi Lux to pull it which made the wole operation very easy!

[Spottedlaurel]

I’m going to stick with my recommendation of hiring a self-drive recovery truck, if you have someone who offers this locally.Wuvvum and I have used the straight bar for local stuff, seemed OK.

[MrRegieRitmo]

 

[MrRegieRitmo]

Heres the route, 575 miles:

 

The red route was our journey last week to the land of Deutsch. The bright green line shows our destinations. Missing from the map is Gutersloh which we also paid a visit to in the line of duty. Unfortunately there was no towing or collecting of old cars involved, it was purely shop. Did see a few things, took a few snaps etc. Unfortunately the best things evaded me though, as is usually the way!

 

[500tops]

 

 

? just a pic, no text?

[pompei]

I've never used a bar, dolly or A frame, but I have towed and been towed using ropes, ranging from about 6 feet to 12 feet in length. All rope occasions almost transferred the contents of my last meal into my trousers, the scariest being some years ago when I was towed in an old Mini behind the garage owner's3 litre custom Corsair at about 50mph. On another expedition someone tried to cut up the towed car (Alfasud) on a roundabout. No battery = no horn I originally collected my Fiat 500 from the south coast on a hired transporter - the ramps were too wide for the track which made loading interesting...I tried again to hire such a vehicle recently, but couldn't find anyone who does them any more