Towing in France (1 Viewer)

janandles

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Hi were going to tow a little car on an "A" Frame the back of the motorhome this year in France. As it's our first time we are worried there are things to consider i.e. The Law regarding towing and what signs we need to put on the back of the car. We've been told its just red triangle reflectors but the only ones we can find are screw on. My car is an Toyota Aygo and it's body work is plastic so could do with something stick on but can't find them. Any ideas please. Jan
 

haganap

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hi Janandles.

a search of the forum will give you all the information you need on aframes and towing them.
my rule is that in the UK I use it as I know I can get away with it, when on the continent I would stick to a trailer. People do use Aframes in France with out an issue, but others will tell you they have been stopped and fined for doing so.
In Spain, it is definitely the case that many more people are being stopped and fined if you read the forum.
Jim (site owner) was only commenting on how many were being pulled out by Santander the other day.

Good luck, what ever you decide.
 

slobadoberbob

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best advice? keep away from Spain

Best advice? use a trailer.. if you must use an A frame then keep clear of Spain.. there are some hefty fines being given out .... Plus suggest you get a sign to go in the front of the motorhome indicating you are towing.. we have one.. very useful when it is a case of needing to get someone to give way.. smaller vehicle gives way to larger in france.. but as you will not be able to reverse the toad (have to get out and disconnect it) you do not want to have to be put in the position of backing up to say a lorry or bus. Depending how long you are you need to consider the lorry length signs plus you need to have 90 klm sticker on the back as that is the max you can do on a motorway and less on other roads.

Suggest you make sure you have a back-up camera to see what the car is doing while under tow.

Bob

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janandles

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hi Janandles.

a search of the forum will give you all the information you need on aframes and towing them.
my rule is that in the UK I use it as I know I can get away with it, when on the continent I would stick to a trailer. People do use Aframes in France with out an issue, but others will tell you they have been stopped and fined for doing so.
In Spain, it is definitely the case that many more people are being stopped and fined if you read the forum.
Jim (site owner) was only commenting on how many were being pulled out by Santander the other day.

Good luck, what ever you decide.

Thank you for that. I'll ckeck the other forum, I'm very new to this and still trying to find my way around the site. Jan
 
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janandles

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Best advice? use a trailer.. if you must use an A frame then keep clear of Spain.. there are some hefty fines being given out .... Plus suggest you get a sign to go in the front of the motorhome indicating you are towing.. we have one.. very useful when it is a case of needing to get someone to give way.. smaller vehicle gives way to larger in france.. but as you will not be able to reverse the toad (have to get out and disconnect it) you do not want to have to be put in the position of backing up to say a lorry or bus. Depending how long you are you need to consider the lorry length signs plus you need to have 90 klm sticker on the back as that is the max you can do on a motorway and less on other roads.

Suggest you make sure you have a back-up camera to see what the car is doing while under tow.

Bob

Thank you for that, unfortunately we only have the aframe so we'll have to be carefull and get the stickers. We were given from Towtal a letter in french when they fitted our tow hook and it's to be given to the police if we get pulled over, supposed to say that its now legal etc etc I don't know how much weight that would carry.
 

scotjimland

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. We've been told its just red triangle reflectors but the only ones we can find are screw on. My car is an Toyota Aygo and it's body work is plastic so could do with something stick on but can't find them. Any ideas please. Jan

you could stick the screw type triangles on using strong sticky pads ..

or, as I did, made a board with two triangles and sit it on the rear parcel self ..

or use a trailer board (without the lights,) and tie to rear of car

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slobadoberbob

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I do not think a letter in French will help much

Thank you for that, unfortunately we only have the aframe so we'll have to be carefull and get the stickers. We were given from Towtal a letter in french when they fitted our tow hook and it's to be given to the police if we get pulled over, supposed to say that its now legal etc etc I don't know how much weight that would carry.

I do not think a letter in French will help a lot.. French police can be a bit tough on campers that do not meet the laws.. you could go a hundred times and get away with it, then you could go once and get caught.

The makers of the A frames are only interested in selling you the kit... some interesting stories on this forum, from A frames that have set light to cars as they were not correctly set up, to fines for using them. The only really safe way is to use a breaker trailer.

Good site, need to join by paying the £10 subs then you can join with the others at shows and get in to all the areas.. I have well and truly got my subs back this year alone.. Have belonged for best part of 3 years now and with an RV also belong to the sister site.. but MHF is a great place to share info.

Have fun

Bob
 
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I have removed the screws from the reflectors and replaced them with suckers that then go on the inside of the rear window. Not sure where I got the suckers but bound to be some on ebay.

Do not, as I have seen once put 'on tow' on the car. The whole point of an A frame is that the car becomes a trailer and is not a towed car as in breakdown.

Bob suggest putting a 'towing' sign in the van windscreen and this is a good idea as it warns that your vehicle is longer than oncoming turning traffic expect. Preferably in the local language of course :Smile:
 
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If you contact Chris cox towing frames on 0121 681 6513, when we had our A frame, some years ago, it came complete with magnetic triangles, and they are still working well. I'm sure he would supply them individually.

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janandles

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I have removed the screws from the reflectors and replaced them with suckers that then go on the inside of the rear window. Not sure where I got the suckers but bound to be some on ebay.

Do not, as I have seen once put 'on tow' on the car. The whole point of an A frame is that the car becomes a trailer and is not a towed car as in breakdown.

Bob suggest putting a 'towing' sign in the van windscreen and this is a good idea as it warns that your vehicle is longer than oncoming turning traffic expect. Preferably in the local language of course :Smile:

Thankyou for that, we'll certainly get the towing word transfered and use that and the suckers idea is great. Cheers ::bigsmile: Jan
 
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janandles

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If you contact Chris cox towing frames on 0121 681 6513, when we had our A frame, some years ago, it came complete with magnetic triangles, and they are still working well. I'm sure he would supply them individually.

I'll be putting that number in my phone book. Thanks::bigsmile:

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janandles

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you could stick the screw type triangles on using strong sticky pads ..

or, as I did, made a board with two triangles and sit it on the rear parcel self ..

or use a trailer board (without the lights,) and tie to rear of car

Love the board on the parcel shelf idea, thanks very much. Jan
 

slobadoberbob

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the word nearest is REMORQUAGE

Ooops....Maybe even translated :roflmto:

The word nearest is REMORQUAGE.. we had Halfords provide a yellow number plate and the letters to make up the word.... it is the nearest word to indicate you are towing something.. we attach it to little suckers on to the window screen.. It has worked for us.

Bob
 
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janandles

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The word nearest is REMORQUAGE.. we had Halfords provide a yellow number plate and the letters to make up the word.... it is the nearest word to indicate you are towing something.. we attach it to little suckers on to the window screen.. It has worked for us.

Bob

Great idea cheers:thumb:
 

spitfire

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It is not legal in France to tow on an A frame braked or not so do so at your peril :Eeek: I speak fluent french as I have lived there for 8 years but I would not like to argue with the gendarmes.

You might get away with it but is it worth running the gauntlet for your holidays. They might also as well as fining you they may insist on you unhooking the car or at worst confiscate it . And british plates do not mean they will ignore it.

e had a friend who said to the gendarme ' I am english ' to which the gendarme replied ' and I am French ' Please bear in mind they are a military force unlike the UK police.

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janandles

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It is not legal in France to tow on an A frame braked or not so do so at your peril :Eeek: I speak fluent french as I have lived there for 8 years but I would not like to argue with the gendarmes.

You might get away with it but is it worth running the gauntlet for your holidays. They might also as well as fining you they may insist on you unhooking the car or at worst confiscate it . And british plates do not mean they will ignore it.

e had a friend who said to the gendarme ' I am english ' to which the gendarme replied ' and I am French ' Please bear in mind they are a military force unlike the UK police.

Oh crumbs anyone got a tailer they want to hire out:Sad:
 

scotjimland

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It is not legal in France to tow on an A frame braked or not so do so at your peril :Eeek: I speak fluent french as I have lived there for 8 years but I would not like to argue with the gendarmes.

That's not what was reported by Frankie on this thread.. she specifically asked the French police

Second question : How do they deal with A frame :


Answer : No need to deal! A frame is allowed everywhere on french territory . A motorhome can tow a little car with an A frame .

Broken Link Removed
 

slobadoberbob

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so often we hear of companies selling toads

We hear it so often of companies selling toads and saying they are OK in europe... I would say given the construction and use regulations of the Road Traffic Act they are not legal in the UK.. long debates many times over this on the site (I am a retired criminal lawyer).. but people do what they wish.

Europe is another matter as you can see from the posts you do take a risk.. that is up to you, as I have said you may get away with it for a hundred trips or get pulled just outside Calais.. it is your risk to manage.

A lot of owners here and on the RVOC side (American RV owners) have both and use the toads in the UK as the enforcement issues are very grey in law.. and when in europe they use a full trailer to take the car with them... I certainly use a trailer here in the UK and in France.

It is worth asking questions and reading back posts and if you want p.m. me for a phone number and I am happy to spend the time answering your questions... we go over two to three times a year.. we have a 23'9" RV and a trailer making us 45' long so we have to get it right every time.

Bob

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scotjimland

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Europe is another matter as you can see from the posts you do take a risk.. that is up to you, as I have said you may get away with it for a hundred trips or[HI] get pulled just outside Calais..[/HI] it is your risk to manage.


Bob

Not wishing to enter the debate Bob.. it's been done to death a hundred times... and as much as I agree with much you say .. can you cite just ONE case of an 'A framer' being pulled in France .. ?

Yes, plenty in Spain but never heard of any in France .. or the UK for that matter ..
 

ruffingitsmoothly

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Hi we have towed over most of Europe and Ireland and have never been stopped at all.

Here is a pic of us just about to leave the Camac Valley Campsite just outside Dublin last March.

256wmpw.jpg


I attached the two reflective triangles to some webbing(old seatbelt) screwed on to a small plank which rests on the boot floor and then slam the boot shut:thumb::thumb::thumb:

Regards Pat
 

haganap

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Not wishing to enter the debate Bob.. it's been done to death a hundred times... and as much as I agree with much you say .. can you cite just ONE case of an 'A framer' being pulled in France .. ?

Yes, plenty in Spain but never heard of any in France .. or the UK for that matter ..

Yes Jim, again, like you and not wanting to get involved in an Aframe debate. I can now cite 5 cases of people being told to unhook and drive the car seperately, 1 in Millau 2 near Cherbourg (one also weighed) the others elsewhere. Although none yet fined or confiscated of car.
This is the very reason I have changed my view on towing over the water. As regard to what Frankie's policeman said? that's one policeman, giving his opinion, or maybe a few others. Would you advise an aframe on that? I can hear it now, " Frankie's friendly policeman friend said I could :Eeek:

Can't see that holding up in law.

One final thing I would say. I believe the French to be the very best engineers in the World. If Aframing was legal and without an issue over there, You would see many doing it, in fact loads would be. Some like our own Wildman would of made their own devices. In 23 years of travelling to France I can not remember ever seeing a French motorhomer towing on an Aframe. I have seen stacks towing on Trailers loads and loads of them, but never an Aframer?

Weird or a coincidence?

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scotjimland

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In 23 years of travelling to France I can not remember ever seeing a French motorhomer towing on an Aframe. I have seen stacks towing on Trailers loads and loads of them, but never an Aframer?

[HI]Weird or a coincidence?[/HI]

Weird or a coincidence that they are now marketed in France ?
I appreciate that does not make them legal .. but they wouldn't be agents if there was no market ...

Towtal A Frame agents in France


La France Est et Nord
Feldkirch Autos, (M. SAUTER Daniel) région de Mulhouse
64A Rue Principale
68540, Feldkirch
Tel : 0389 – 48 – 80 – 16
Email : dsauter@feldkirch-autos.fr

La France Ouest et Sud
M. NEVEU Pascal, (Garage Fiat) a 60 km de Bordeaux
La Croix de Jean Verat
17130, COUX
Tel : 0546 – 49 – 24 – 26
Email : neveu.fiat@gmail.com

La France Nord-Ouest
M. CLEMENT Alain (garage AutoPerformance en Bretagne)
258, Route de Benodet
29000, QUIMPER
Tel: 0298 54 64 76 ou 0608 58 54 71
email: c.a.clement@wanadoo.fr


And Netherlands*

Winterink Auto Service
Specialist in Suzuki and Vauxhall A-Frames
De Fok 17 – 1742 PC
Schagen (NH)
Tel: +31 224-216162
Fax: +31 224-217646
www.aframe.nl


Memo Handelsonderneming
Smart Car specialists
Lorentzstraat 15
NL-2665 JG Bleiswijk
The Netherlands
Telephone: +31 (0)10 5190201
Fax: +31 (0)10 5190205
www.memo-europe.nl


Another for Caratow in France

http://www.systemebleu.com/

and Netherlands

http://www.caratow.eu/
 

vwalan

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hi, i can say i have met the frenchman that markets the a frame in france a mr jattel if i remember right . he is an agent for one of the uk companies . i met him in larache in morocco. he assured me that he had homolagation for them in france . i also spoke to the english side of the company here at malvern one year. they again said he had all the papers for france . memory gone cant remember the english side could be caratow but might be wrong. must say i,m an aframe supporter but unless you are prepared to go into a court legal battle you may be in trouble . really cant see as its worth it really . i think there are several arguments for and against but is it really worth it. and i usually love a battle with authority. glad i now use my truck dont have the toad problem.
 
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Well I guess this will become my main search this year . I will come out with a legal text . I want to know if it is legal or not ! There is no reason why , in some places it is allowed and not in other ones ! So will find out ....what ever the answer !





I 'll be back:roflmto:



Amicalement

Frankie:Cool:

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In the mean time you could always do what I do. I tow my little Matiz on an A frame in the UK but I never bother to take it to France. My reason is that parking in UK towns is very bad, and the camp sites are usually inconveniently sited miles from anywhere.:Blush:

In France you can usually find an aire within walking distance of town/village and in any case parking, even a large vehicle, is much less of a problem, possibly just due to lower population density, or just the more laid back attitude of the French. So I save myself the hassle of towing.:thumb:

If A frames were banned in the UK I don't think I'd bother with a trailer, difficult to store on site and impossible, in my case, at home. I think I'd just get a couple of electric bikes.
 

slobadoberbob

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it is a horses for course thing

In the mean time you could always do what I do. I tow my little Matiz on an A frame in the UK but I never bother to take it to France. My reason is that parking in UK towns is very bad, and the camp sites are usually inconveniently sited miles from anywhere.:Blush:

In France you can usually find an aire within walking distance of town/village and in any case parking, even a large vehicle, is much less of a problem, possibly just due to lower population density, or just the more laid back attitude of the French. So I save myself the hassle of towing.:thumb:

If A frames were banned in the UK I don't think I'd bother with a trailer, difficult to store on site and impossible, in my case, at home. I think I'd just get a couple of electric bikes.

I would love to walk to town:Blush: and even better cycle:Blush: but as I have to consider taking either a power wheelchair or scooters the issue of hauling them has been one I have tacked for man a year.

I have a small purpose made Chris Elliot trailer with a swivel deck designed to carry on large scooter (we get one also on if taken down plus a wheelchair) but the trailer is very hard to reverse. To disconnect it and move it manually I have to unload a wheelchair.. chicken or egg situation. Plus we are then stuck on a site as most sites tend to be to far for the scooters round trip especially with a St Bernard in tow.

We got over it by loading our car on to a full size (20') Brian James 4 wheel brakes trailer.. we put the scooters in the car and anything else and then take that to shows or sites.. sites can be more of an issue, but shows OK.... we then have the means to get in to a town if we want to, or use the scooters at shows and local.

Case of not one size fitting all.

Oh by the way the Christ Elliot trailer is still for sale... stored in the garage all new tyres and massive upgrade of floor and ramps and lights... p.m. if interested.

Bob
 

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