Tow Cars

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Sprostonic

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Apr 6, 2024
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Swift Bolero 680 FB
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Since 2004
I understand that you cannot tow, unsuspended, a petrol/diesel automatic car. Is the same true for an electric car please?
 
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JRT said:
Because they do not have a 'proper' neutral gear you should not flat tow an EV.
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I assume you could tow a automatic is you had 2 wheels off the ground (the driven ones in the case of a 2 wheel drive) using one of those 2 wheel trailers (dollies) that recovery companies sometimes use?

The same presumably for an EV if it was a 2 wheel drive EV?

Not seen anyone use these on motorhomes though - are they not legal? Would have thought they were as safe if not more so than a 'toad'.
 
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VXman said:
I assume you could tow a automatic is you had 2 wheels off the ground (the driven ones in the case of a 2 wheel drive) using one of those 2 wheel trailers (dollies) that recovery companies sometimes use?

The same presumably for an EV if it was a 2 wheel drive EV?

Not seen anyone use these on motorhomes though - are they not legal? Would have thought they were as safe if not more so than a 'toad'.
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I wondered the same and I guess if the driven wheels are off the ground it would be possible.

But then some EVs are RWD so you would have to tow it backwards which wouldn't work.
 
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chariot type towing dollies used to be commonly used behind motorhomes till the law was clamped down on them leaving them as recovery only

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Towing dolly with brakes fairly heavy and expensive(and serves only 1 purpose)a trailer
probably little or no more cost,bigger choice of used,multi function.Not sure but have heard it said tow dolly own legal for recovery
in some countries ?????
 
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JRT said:
I wondered the same and I guess if the driven wheels are off the ground it would be possible.

But then some EVs are RWD so you would have to tow it backwards which wouldn't work.
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Can suspend tow backwards...steering has to be "locked" straight ahead
 
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In UK law, the car being towed can be classed as a trailer - nothing more complicated than that. However as the trailer (towed car) will not be using it's brakes, it is classed as an 'unbraked trailer'. The legal limit for weight of an unbraked trailer is 750kg.

If the car been towed is greater than 750kg the "trailer" requires its own braking system. (hence why toad cars utilise the cars own braking system by electronic system)

If using a dolly system over 750kg with 2 wheels of the car are on still on road surface, therefore the 'car+dolly' doesn't meet the rules for a braked trailer (all wheels must be braked).

The acception to braked trailer rule is, for recovery purposes only.

You can tow any car to repairing garage, safe location with unbraked trailer but this must conform to towing ability of vehicle and train weight. (not towing range rover with a transit van as towing capicity of van is around 2000kg and range rover is 3000kg)
 
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A-Mech said:
In UK law, the car being towed can be classed as a trailer - nothing more complicated than that. However as the trailer (towed car) will not be using it's brakes, it is classed as an 'unbraked trailer'. The legal limit for weight of an unbraked trailer is 750kg.

If the car been towed is greater than 750kg the "trailer" requires its own braking system. (hence why toad cars utilise the cars own braking system by electronic system)

If using a dolly system over 750kg with 2 wheels of the car are on still on road surface, therefore the 'car+dolly' doesn't meet the rules for a braked trailer (all wheels must be braked).

The acception to braked trailer rule is, for recovery purposes only.

You can tow any car to repairing garage, safe location with unbraked trailer but this must conform to towing ability of vehicle and train weight. (not towing range rover with a transit van as towing capicity of van is around 2000kg and range rover is 3000kg)
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It’s simpler than that
Flat towing a car does make it a trailer
An unbraked trailer 750kg or less doesn’t need brakes but if fitted then they all must work.
Therefore using even a braked dolly for non recovery purposes is not legal as the trailed wheel brakes will not be operating. The same applies for a car weighing less than 750kg so must have a method to operate the brakes.
Red triangles are legally required for all trailers so these also need to be fitted for flat towing.

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Flat towing an EV equipped with regenerative braking means that when you arrive at your stopover, the batteries will be fully charged, win win ! :ROFLMAO:
 
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Sprostonic said:
I understand that you cannot tow, unsuspended, a petrol/diesel automatic car.
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That is true for a car with a torque converter automatic box. However, there are a few automatics classed as semi-automatic or robotised manual, or more accurately automated manuals. In the small car range they would be the Toyita Aygo, Peugeot 108, Citroen C1 (all from the same factory), the small Smart car and the Fiat 500. There are other vehicles that are automated manuals, but you have to be careful between 'wet' and 'dry' gearboxes.

We towed an automatic Toyota Aygo on an A Frame behind our previous A Class MoHo for many years very successfully. As an automatic it was fine, there is no clutch pedal, it was relaxing to drive and a good little runaround.
 
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Its a vehicle being A frame "toad" (towed) :)

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