Dolly... (1 Viewer)

[Dodgey]

Right, Movans thread on transporting her Trike got a recommendation of Pheonix trailers, so I had a mooch.

Towing Dolly, braked, interesting. Now as I understand (so don't bang on on this bit) if the 'trailor' has brakes they must all work, front wheels on said braked dolly no issue so either cable as per a frames to actuate all brakes, academic on front but that gets the back working or same idea but use a brake buddy.

Now I realise this would give an issue with a trike as chances are everytime you applied the brakes (dragging trike backwards) the front wheel may lock but I thinking car here.

Light blue touch paper and run time, hows the legal work here?

 

[vwalan]

hi dodgy ,extend the tow dolly ,put front wheel of trike almost on the tow hitch. rear wheels of triker sit above the axle of dolly .sorted trike off road trailer braked .take about 3-4 hours to make .list of bits ..for unbraked as under 750kg.

unbraked hitch
two lengths of 3-4inch channel
two 12 inch squares of plate /or fibre glass for rear wheel platform
two small ramps -folded steel or aluminium
pair of indispension units
pair mud guard
trailer light board
few off cuts of angle for brackets and triangulation .nuts and bolts
two rachet straps
number plate.
could be bolted together or welded or both.
cheers alan.

 

[Dodgey]

Vwalan, nice to have you back.

It's not how they are made, it's the legals of using a braked one, with a solution to the car wheels still on the ground (cable/brake buddy) that I'm curious about and specifically towing a (4 wheeled) car not trike?

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[Wildman]

provided all four wheels are braked no problem, will a brake buddy still work with the car at an angle as it would be on a dolly. That solution would easily satisfy the reversing problem experienced with an "A" frame. sounds like it needs more investigation.

 

[Fatalhud]

Tow Dollies are for emergency recovery only, not legal to use as an everyday towing option

Alan H

 

[Dodgey]

That solution would easily satisfy the reversing problem experienced with an "A" frame. sounds like it needs more investigation.

That's why I raised the question. If I remember correctly one of the recent issues with Spain is they don't like a car towed with all four wheels on the ground, another thought eh?

Brake buddy at an angle crossed my mind but were there's a will theres a way.

I've seen these dollies before but not with brakes...

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[vwalan]

hi, if you can find it there is a letter from dft on this subject on dft site on web.
basicaly a car becomes atrailer with an a frame fitted .as it as brakes fitted they must work.
bowden cable to brake pedal .ok
bowden cable to an actuator thatpushes pedal.ok
hydrolic system like above .ok
there are electric systems .ok
all thats needed is the brakes to work ,
if you use a dolly they are for recovery only in the uk ,speed restrictions apply. it is possible a system could be used to make the cars rear brakes work.it thenbecomes a 4 wheel trailer.
i have spent many hours talking to dft and dvla on this subject . i have in my yard just about every means of transporting vehicles cars .m,bikes . i shared a yard with one of cornwalls largest recovery set up. 100ton winch tank recovery vehicles included.
i built purpose use trike trailers to compliment kernow trikes one of my past businesses.
we specialised in vw trikes and still have moulds for the bodywork .could build quite a few with the parts i still have .maybe one day. also built one off vehicles for tv work ,custom cars and was very well known in the vw world for the vw stuff we did. thats why lots have known me as vwalan for years ,cut me in half i used to have volkswagen stamped through me like blackpool rock. ha ha .
cheers alan.

 

[rainbow chasers]

What is the length/width/weight of this trike? I have a plan, as i have a dolly sat here which would be ideal weight wise and probably size wise - just may need an adaption made for the front wheel!!​

 

[vwalan]

so far we havnt been told .but i can only imagine it will be under 500kg. using a beetle with roof off and from the doors forward missing they weigh less than 500kg. fibre glass ones about 350k-400kg.

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[Fatalhud]

Movan posted a link very early on with the specs

Link Removed

The engine is not a VW its a 460cc Piaggio with v drive, Think big scooter:thumb:

The feeling I got form Movans post was that she was not confident at towing and wanted the safest and best solution for legally transporting her Trike

In my opinion the only solution is a trailer
You cannot tow it because it is an Auto
you cannot Dolly it backwards because they are only legal for recovery
Its GVW is 600kg, so as long as you can make a trailer weighing less than 150kg then no brakes will be needed, if not its braked

Simples:thumb:
Alan H

 

[vwalan]

hi alan h , i didnt realise what trike it is. but looking on their site the 600kg is itsmax loaded wt. so its not a problem. like the prices .wernt that much when i made them .must be getting old. ha ha.
just goes to show even today in our busy world firms are growing.

 

[rainbow chasers]

That sounds quite small at just under 7 feet!

Easily go on the one outside - it would just need an extra ramp attached for the front wheel. At least it would then be a trailer, and he wouldn't have the agro!

Just checked the weights, and he will be legal too!

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[vwalan]

use a ramp from the other two .make them removable then it keeps weight down. let the front wheel sit only just behind the hitch can still have overhang at back makes a very short trailer needed .

 

[rainbow chasers]

use a ramp from the other two .make them removable then it keeps weight down. let the front wheel sit only just behind the hitch can still have overhang at back makes a very short trailer needed .

The one I have has built in ramps and tilt bed. All that would be needed, would be a little ramp for the centre, and a channel on the neck for the front wheel to sit in - job done! Total weight would be 712kg with the trike loaded, an allow 10kg for ramp & the extra channel.