A-framing A “TOAD” in France.

[TonyEmm]

There is much said about the legality or otherwise of a-framing a towed car.

BE AWARE! There is a post this morning on a FB a-framing group where the poster says “Just been pulled by French plod for my tow car!!”

It’s fair to say that enforcement is patchy at best but, caution is required!

 

[dunnah01]

Thanks for the info - although I suspect many on here will get uppity about Facebook evidence

 

[Northernraider]

It's the same as driving around the UK with bald tyres or no licence.

You might get away with it for days,weeks,months or even years.

But at somepoint you might get caught

 

[TonyEmm]

Thanks for the info - although I suspect many on here will get uppity about Facebook evidence

There are a hardcore of folk on here that get uppity when a-frames are mentioned full stop!

 

[Spriddler]

Yebbut, what was the result?
Fined?
Had to decouple and drive separately?
Just a chat?

(I don't do Faecesbook).

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[Chris]

I saw one happily driving on the motorway in France last week

 

[eddie]

I saw in the press a few years ago that there was a big red London bus sighted on the Moon!

Must be true!

 

[David and Sally]

I saw in the press a few years ago that there was a big red London bus sighted on the Moon!

Must be true!

It IS true. I have been there and saw it. I said so on Faceache.

 

[philann]

Just driven past Toulouse and the signs on the autoroute were showing crit air 4&5 not allowed in the city!

 

[TonyEmm]

Yebbut, what was the result?
Fined?
Had to decouple and drive separately?
Just a chat?

(I don't do Faecesbook).

He had to uncouple and drive separately. Fortunately, had a 2nd driver!
He tried claiming he didn’t know it was illegal, which might be true as someone clocked the same outfit in the U.K. on dashcam, with no retro-reflective triangles on the rear…. Ignorance or arrogance?

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[Larrynwin]

A Frames/ Flat towing toads far safer and more convenient than trailers but illegal on most of European mainland.

 

[TheMachMan]

Seen a couple of UK MH’s this week here in France with A frames. It’s one thing having a bit of cheese in your fridge but this seems a very risky chance to take.

 

[Spriddler]

Seen a couple of UK MH’s this week here in France with A frames. It’s one thing having a bit of cheese in your fridge but this seems a very risky chance to take.

Not all; there's no risk from having French cheese in your fridge and if a gendarme starts giving you grief about your A frame you can stick some in your ears.

 

[TonyEmm]

2 mo

Seen a couple of UK MH’s this week here in France with A frames. It’s one thing having a bit of cheese in your fridge but this seems a very risky chance to take.

2 more stopped in Germany this last week, one was 50yds from the Austrian border! Had to uncouple and fined….

 

[SteveRallye]

Recently in the Dordogne and met a Brit who has been towing his A frame with no problems for the last 18 years. Also saw one French M/H towing on A frame and met other Brits this trip out who have seen some French towing A frames which are called Blue Frames in France. So maybe things are looking up

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[TonyEmm]

Recently in the Dordogne and met a Brit who has been towing his A frame with no problems for the last 18 years. Also saw one French M/H towing on A frame and met other Brits this trip out who have seen some French towing A frames which are called Blue Frames in France. So maybe things are looking up

The ‘Blue Frame’ you refer to is the http://systeme-bleu.com/accueil/?fb...Fqyq2mxuu959LkyI2q8sphfYyyMP6zZOBNmaagL_-sgZE made in Castres, in the Tarn region, near to where my son lives. It’s a copy of the Caratow, made in Dorset. In common with the majority of U.K. suppliers, they claim it’s fully legal and even suggest type approved (though only the Alko coupling is tested and approved). As it‘s inertia braked, it contravenes regulation 13 para 5.2,2.2 of the UNECE regs, so is illegal across Europe.
Note that it isn’t illegal to supply it, only to use it! However, as enforcement is patchy at best, the likelihood is you’d get away with it…. Doesn’t change the law though!

 

[bigtwin]

There have also been a couple of FB posts this week reporting no interest from Gendarmes. One in particular was given the thumbs up from Gendarmes driving through an aire.

Ian

 

[TonyEmm]

There have also been a couple of FB posts this week reporting no interest from Gendarmes. One in particular was given the thumbs up from Gendarmes driving through an aire.

Ian

There are plenty of reports of ‘no interest’ by gendarmerie and so on but, it doesn’t change the law. It’s luck of the draw whether or not you get stopped!

 

[bigtwin]

There are plenty of reports of ‘no interest’ by gendarmerie and so on but, it doesn’t change the law. It’s luck of the draw whether or not you get stopped!

The law isn’t under dispute, I was, like you, merely pointing out what has recently been reported on FB.

Ian

 

[cyberyacht]

It could be a case of whether you generate interest by some other infringement and booking you for the TOAD is the "bonus for 10"

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[emjaiuk]

2 mo

2 more stopped in Germany this last week, one was 50yds from the Austrian border! Had to uncouple and fined….

Source?

 

[TonyEmm]

T

 

[TonyEmm]

Source?

The owners themselves!

 

[Speve]

A Frames/ Flat towing toads far safer and more convenient than trailers but illegal on most of European mainland.

Could you explain why it’s safer please ? As I’ve towed a trailer for the last seven years without any issues

 

[Larrynwin]

Could you explain why it’s safer please ? As I’ve towed a trailer for the last seven years without any issues

I have towed trailer and for some years flat towed toad . At the time my Peugeot 107 on a Brian James trailer was at least 18” further from the road being supported by two wheels the nett result being a much higher centre of gravity leading to poorer stability and greater risk in the event of trailer tyre blowout and braking through just two wheels as opposed to all four with toad on road.
I only flat tow in U.K. and have the advantage of not having to locate a trailer on pitch on sites.
The only disadvantage of a framing is a limitation on reversing but over many thousands of miles I have only needed to “shuffle” on a couple of occasions when in a tight filling station with no problem.

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[TDub49]

I saw in the press a few years ago that there was a big red London bus sighted on the Moon!

Must be true!

Yes, I remember that. I think it was parked next to the B17 bomber that crash-landed there during the war . . . . .

 

[Speve]

Perhaps your theory is correct for two wheeled trailer however a twin axle trailer is far more stable and tows really well
I realise it’s a matter of personal choice but you can’t pigeon hole all trailers the same

 

[Larrynwin]

Perhaps your theory is correct for two wheeled trailer however a twin axle trailer is far more stable and tows really well
I realise it’s a matter of personal choice but you can’t pigeon hole all trailers the same

I agree a personal choice .

 

[62272]

Could you explain why it’s safer please ? As I’ve towed a trailer for the last seven years without any issues

Centre of gravity is lower, although neither is unsafe unless you exceed the speed for the conditions, or steer too harshly.

 

[Nirvanauk]

I saw in the press a few years ago that there was a big red London bus sighted on the Moon!

Must be true!

Was Elvis driving?

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