Advice on buying a towing dolly/equipment

ratrace

Hi all just wanted to pick your brain


I am thinking of buying this towing

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3-5tons-SOLO-USE-CAR-RECOVERY-A-FRAME-TOWING-DOLLY-TRAILER-3-5-/160673225078?pt=UK_Recovery_Tools&hash=item2568ded976

(They have sold a fair few)

I just wanted to know if anybody has used this type of dolly before (experience Not opinions ) and are they safe to use on the motorway when brining a car back.


Also I do a bit of work for family and friends service and taking cars to and from the mot station and often have to wait for them to bring cars to me with this I can do it alone my self and save a lot of time and hassle what do you think

Thanks in advance

Herzlos

I'm not sure on the legalities of using it; it doesn't provide any braking which you're supposed to have if the trailer (which is what this becomes) is over 750kg. I believe there's some exemption for emergency use that might apply to recovery.
You'd also need to sure your license and tow car can cover the total weight.
I dare say you could get away with it, but you need to regard it as a steering solid bar and not a complete solution.

BeenThroughItAll

ratrace wrote: »

Hi all just wanted to pick your brain


I am thinking of buying this towing

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3-5tons-SOLO-USE-CAR-RECOVERY-A-FRAME-TOWING-DOLLY-TRAILER-3-5-/160673225078?pt=UK_Recovery_Tools&hash=item2568ded976

(They have sold a fair few)

I just wanted to know if anybody has used this type of dolly before (experience Not opinions ) and are they safe to use on the motorway when brining a car back.


Also I do a bit of work for family and friends service and taking cars to and from the mot station and often have to wait for them to bring cars to me with this I can do it alone my self and save a lot of time and hassle what do you think

Thanks in advance

I'm not sure whether that's legally an 'A' frame or a towing dolly; either way, there are specific bits of legislation applicable. If it's a dolly, it should only be used for transporting a broken down vehicle - a fully functional vehicle should not be towed on a dolly unless it is fitted with a functioning braking system, suspension, etc. There are also different speed limits in force for the use of a towing dolly.


If it's an 'A' frame, it should meet the specifications of a trailer (i.e. if you're towing over 750KG it needs brakes) and should be lit, etc.


So, depends what it is and what you want to use it for as to whether its appropriate for use on a motorway...

castle96

Used to tow my Landrover/Rangerover with another Rangerover, on an A bar. Always there are 'opinions' on this on Off road forums, but at the end of the day I thing you will find the thing is illegal if you are towing over a certain weight/must have brakes on it. It is certainly an experience ! Will your brakes stop the thing ? Will they 'cook' going down a hill ? Will the following vehicle push you all over the place and/or snake (frightening !).
I used to bungie strap the steering wheel and it followed quite well, but it is like driving a 30 foot vehicle. Look at the legalities first

Herzlos

BeenThroughItAll wrote: »

I'm not sure whether that's legally an 'A' frame or a towing dolly;

It's just a frame chained round the wishbones, which appears to pretty much be the definition of an 'A' frame (though some would argue it needs to attach to the frame somewhere). I'd assume it'd need wheels & brakes to be a dolly, so that it handles the steering and stopping.


Edit; you'll presumably also need a light bar to go on the back of the towed car.

ratrace

thanks all i might have to ring a round a few places just to make sure all is legal and above board dont want to get pulled by the rozzers

I dont really understand the whole brake stuff i have come across this video on youtube it seems quite good even under braking

check this out - what do you think

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lXRDrj-8ZZg

sorry it a bit long but seems quite secure and strong

topdaddy_2

Sounds like you want a trailer. Im told these a frames are legal only to recover to a place of safety. I wouldnt tow with one.

ratrace

http://www.parkers.co.uk/company-cars/news-and-advice/advice/2013/april/Towing/

A bit more information for everyone to digest

ratrace

topdaddy wrote: »

Sounds like you want a trailer. Im told these a frames are legal only to recover to a place of safety. I wouldnt tow with one.

Thanks mate ill ask about

skivenov

topdaddy wrote: »

Sounds like you want a trailer. Im told these a frames are legal only to recover to a place of safety. I wouldnt tow with one.

I use an a-frame now and then, but if the weight of the car being towed, plus the A-frame is more than 750kg (ie pretty much every car on the road), you should have a braked set up.

The car behind has to be road legal, ie taxed, tested, insured.

Herzlos

The thing about brakes is mostly about control; if you're pulling another car you've more or less doubled the weight but it's dead weight. That means your car has twice as much stopping to do and on heavy braking or steep descents the towed car will be pushing the towing car pretty badly. It's usually what causes fishtailing and jacknifing. With a braked system, the doll or towed car will do the braking for itself based on how hard you brake (using a spring in the hitch), so it's less likely to push the towing car about and will be better behaved on a hill. The legal limit for not having a braked system is 750kg, so as said that rules out pretty much every car built in the last 50 years.

topdaddy wrote: »

Sounds like you want a trailer. Im told these a frames are legal only to recover to a place of safety. I wouldnt tow with one.

A trailer is your best option, but it's expensive. You should be able to hire one fairly cheaply for the day though to collect a car, it also means you don't need to worry about what condition the car is in.