Minxy
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- Aug 22, 2007
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- Since 1996, had Elddis/Swift/Rapido/Rimor/Chausson MHs. Autocruise/Globecar PVCs/Compactline i-138
I don't have any problem with those who wish to tow using an A-frame, I personally have no intention, or need, to do this either in the UK or abroad, however there are a LOT of others who do so I'm just trying to get to the bottom of it all so that they can be as 'educated' about what the real situation is as much as is possible, hence this thread.
There are various threads about towing a car with an A-frame and it seems that in the UK it is 'allowed' as it has not yet been challenged in court as to it's legality one way or another, there are various views on whether the A-frame and lighting/braking system turn it into a 'trailer' in it's own right or whether it still remains a car which is being towed.
However, there is a lot of debate about whether or not this is permitted abroad. There are those who claim that it IS due to various EU wide regs/laws etc that say it should be 'accepted' as legal if it is legal in its 'home' country (see para two), then there are those who claim it isn't due to each individual country's laws banning the towing of one vehicle with another (which is not made for that specific purpose) regardless of what the 'home' country 'rules' are.
I don't particularly want to start yet another debate about the above, however it would be useful to find out the real situation by hearing details from those who have been stopped within the last 5 years when towing with an A-frame. It would be useful to know:
Please lets try to keep this thread factual so that it can be used to 'inform' those who use A-frames about the 'possible' scenarios they may find themselves in.
There are various threads about towing a car with an A-frame and it seems that in the UK it is 'allowed' as it has not yet been challenged in court as to it's legality one way or another, there are various views on whether the A-frame and lighting/braking system turn it into a 'trailer' in it's own right or whether it still remains a car which is being towed.
However, there is a lot of debate about whether or not this is permitted abroad. There are those who claim that it IS due to various EU wide regs/laws etc that say it should be 'accepted' as legal if it is legal in its 'home' country (see para two), then there are those who claim it isn't due to each individual country's laws banning the towing of one vehicle with another (which is not made for that specific purpose) regardless of what the 'home' country 'rules' are.
I don't particularly want to start yet another debate about the above, however it would be useful to find out the real situation by hearing details from those who have been stopped within the last 5 years when towing with an A-frame. It would be useful to know:
- in which country it took place, where (town/motorway/smaller road etc) and when
- what reason did the driver give for using the A-frame, eg car broken down, turns it into a 'trailer', legal in the UK etc
- were they made to unhitch and drive the second vehicle and were fined as well
- were they made to unhitch and drive the second vehicle but without a fine being imposed
- were they permitted to carry on their way towing without being fined
- if a fine was imposed has anyone subsequently challenged it and what was the outcome - was the fine rescinded and refunded, or was the fine was upheld?
Please lets try to keep this thread factual so that it can be used to 'inform' those who use A-frames about the 'possible' scenarios they may find themselves in.