Taking Aframe to France.

[SteveRallye]

Hoping to get to France later this year and wondered about chancing it with the car on Aframe. Have heard on the grapevine the French are now making them. Looking at a very expensive option of a Brian James type trailer but the Aframe is so easy. Anyone on this site been stopped/ fined or do you just get a warning and have to drive car separately.

 

[Larrynwin]

Hoping to get to France later this year and wondered about chancing it with the car on Aframe. Have heard on the grapevine the French are now making them. Looking at a very expensive option of a Brian James type trailer but the Aframe is so easy. Anyone on this site been stopped/ fined or do you just get a warning and have to drive car separately.

I believe Towtal have some links with a French company but I wouldn’t risk taking one into Europe with issues of illegality and insurance involved.

 

[Manic]

On this trip we have seen two French using A frames, so they do use them.
I have used mine in France for a couple of trips when we were house sitting( tunnel to Cherbourg area, but don’t bother normally as we mainly use Aires.

 

[TinaLes]

This subject has been raised on here so many times its as common, nearly as much as toilet thread, and we all like a toilet thread it would seem.
From what I have read and been shown in the past, on here, I wouldn't want to take the risk of having my touring holiday spoilt by The Gendarmes pulling me, splitting the car from the van, and maybe fining me also.
Have a search under A Frames and all your questions, peoples opinions, both users & non users are shown.
It will no doubt leave you with making a risky choice or not, how lucky do you feel at not being pulled up, most dont chance it these days.
I would also be concerned about insurance over there, under Green Card, with what is covered on which policy the car or the van, and would want something in writing from both companies to support the legality of using them joined together in France & EU.

We would nowadays have to hire a car, or use local buses/trains as OH is now disabled, so you can appreciate that if it was legal, we would have considered the A Frame option, but most go for the car trailer, if they have the storage room at home.

LES

 

[bobnick]

If you are prepared to take the risk you might just get away with it, if caught the worse thing they can do is guillotine you.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[Reallyretired]

We took a toad to France only once on an a frame. The insurance problem was solved by having both insured by the same company and telling them what we were doing.
However we found the toad to be far more of an impediment rather than a benefit, and after a week we left it on a friendly campsite and went on without it. Picked it up on our return and theyd even washed it. We have never yet found anywhere we wanted to go that we couldnt park the motorhome nearby.

 

[LesW]

It's a chance you'll have to decide if it's worth taking, you may have no trouble at all..

However I have a very good friend who was stopped by French police and told to unhitch his A frame and leave the car, he was fortunate that his wife could drive so she followed him (to their French holiday home).

 

[62272]

We always take our A frame to France (and toured the length and breadth) and have never had a problem. In fact we will be going again very soon.

On our first trip across we were driving along one of the A roads when we saw two motorcycle traffic officers some distance behind with blue flashing lights on, we assumed indicating for us to stop. We pulled into a lay-by (with our A-framed Fiat 500 attached), there was a white van between us and the motorcycle officers. It turned out they were stopping the white van! So we just drove off without incident

We have had many French motorway police pass us, and local traffic police and they have not flinched at all. I think that they cannot be bother with dealing with the issue (unlike the Spanish and Germans, so we understand from these forums).

 

[bigtwin]

It’s a few years since we last took ours but they’re not that uncommon. Have regularly seen French registered vehicles with them.

Ian

 

[ChrisL]

When I was returning from France, from St Malo at the end of April, there was an English motorhome with an A frame toad coming off the arriving ferry, I would have thought that if it was an issue the police check on entry would pull you over for it.

^{_{Subscribers  do not see these advertisements}}

 

[DDJC]

We only ever used our A Frame in UK and Rep Ireland. In Yerp, we had a lightweight flatbed trailer.

There is no doubt about the legality. You may fit an A frame, but using an A Frame in France is against the law. The A Frame companies cite the Vienna convention which basically says that if something is legal in UK, then it is legal abroad. But then they are just trying to make a sale.

The problem is that a Frames are NOT legal in UK. It is just that they are not illegal. The govt has never clarified the law. This means that the Vienna convention does not apply and French laws apply to A frame use.

Saying all that, it does seem to be down to the Gendarme who sees you. Some seem to know the law, some aren't so sure. Some are eager to apply the law, some don't give a toss.

It was a risk that we weren't willing to take.

 

[SteveRallye]

Thanks for that especially Chazzer924, it looks as though it is a matter of do we risk it, if we do we will keep you posted.

 

[martin2603]

Some years ago I did use an A Frame when I had booked a site some distance from the coast. I had no problems but today we use more Aires and even when visiting some cities and towns I have never found the need to tow a car. I have always found suitable parking for Motorhomes .
I do have a Smart car with an A Frame but given the choice I leave it at home and take an E bike and tandem. OH can’t deal with traffic these days. Horses for courses.
We are at Cirencester today. Walk into the town , tomorrow on to Cambrian Cruisers on the Brecon Canal. Hire a day boat, or get the tandem off. I also have an Uber Account when the need arises.
With a tag axle MH you need a lot of room to park it with a toad .