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Post by Hoovie on May 24, 2018 11:00:44 GMT
For those that do this with an A-Frame, the document in the link below was updated on the 10th May 2018 and so may be worth having a read in case there is some change that impacts your useage? from GOV.UK - What is an A-frame? |
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Post by three5 on May 24, 2018 11:16:59 GMT
For those that do this with an A-Frame, the document in the link below was updated on the 10th May 2018 and so may be worth having a read in case there is some change that impacts your useage? from GOV.UK - What is an A-frame?Sounds horribly complicated Hoovie!
How is the braking system on the car being towed operated? It would probably be more sensible if the law was based on the ratio between the weights of the towing and towed vehicles, say, braking only required if the weight of the towed vehicle exceeds 30% of the weight of the towing vehicle. Have you any information on the background causes of the changes? |
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Post by Hoovie on May 24, 2018 12:13:13 GMT
the braking bit is unchanged from what I recall? over 750Kg = braked trailer. I know nothing about how the brakes are actually activated (I would guess some kind of activation based on the Brake light signal?)
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Post by Mb2t on May 24, 2018 12:32:50 GMT
It is the same as a caravan i think, an 'over run', so when pressure applied, it will break. How does it activate the break pedal? Not sure, i thought there is an actuator on the pedal. Probably Charlie will be able to expand as he installed this on his car, i think.
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Post by philip42h on May 24, 2018 14:29:43 GMT
It is the same as a caravan i think, an 'over run', so when pressure applied, it will break. How does it activate the break pedal? Not sure, i thought there is an actuator on the pedal. Probably Charlie will be able to expand as he installed this on his car, i think. Interesting ... Google brought up this example of an A-frame braking system: Roadmaster Invisibrake - as you say there is an actuator to cause the towed car to brake when the motorhome brakes and a servo system to ensure that servo assisted braking is available to the towed car. I'm sure that other systems are available but this one seems to tick the obvious boxes. The only other thing that I noted from a quick read is that although trailers less than 750kg are not required to be fitted with brakes, if they are so fitted then the braking system must work correctly. |
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Post by charliefarlie on May 24, 2018 16:08:18 GMT
the braking bit is unchanged from what I recall? over 750Kg = braked trailer. I know nothing about how the brakes are actually activated (I would guess some kind of activation based on the Brake light signal?) The brakes are brought on by an overrun via an installed cable. The lights are all connected from the towing vehicle to the towed vehicle through a cable using normal blue caravan plugs. i have an additional wire in the loom so the towed cars battery is charged while we travel. I also have a dead key in the cars ignition lock which is there only to keep the steering unlocked. This stays in the ignition lock and the car is locked. It it is possible to have an electronically operated braking system but they are horribly complex unreliable and very expensive. |
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Post by Mb2t on May 24, 2018 17:13:51 GMT
Charlie - is the cable connected to the hand break (hence mechanical, working on rear wheels) or does it operates the breaks on all four wheels, which requires some kind if break fluid system?
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Post by charliefarlie on May 24, 2018 18:47:44 GMT
Charlie - is the cable connected to the hand break (hence mechanical, working on rear wheels) or does it operates the breaks on all four wheels, which requires some kind if break fluid system? The cable is fixed to a bracket out of the way under the front bumper. It goes to another bracket on the bulkhead and pulls the brake pedal down .. We have to pump the brake pedal when we hook up to create the vacuum. It works brilliantly whith zero jerkiness or drama. Honestly you wouldn’t know the car is there. i have a switch on the rear view camera that keeps it on full time so I can see the car and whatever is coming up from behind. |
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Post by phaeton on May 25, 2018 10:07:13 GMT
No changes there it's always been that way, looks like they have just tried to clarify the muddy waters, but to be honest, as long as the rear lights on the car work, the registration that is displayed is the towing vehicle, that size of the vehicle in comparison with the towing vehicle is proportionate the chances of being pulled is negligible, however you can't sargue if you do.
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Post by charliefarlie on May 25, 2018 15:47:19 GMT
This subject about A frames comes up often on the MH forums. Spain will not allow as they have a law that prohibits one vehicle towing another except in an emergency .... They fail to recognise that the A frames are extremely safe and the whole rig is ultra stable. Towing a car on an A frame means we have likely the safest set up of all towed things. A wheel at each corner and the weight taken by the cars suspension means it really is as stable as can be.
We just won’t go to Spain end of. That said only one or two have actually been nicked.
It’s said Germany aren’t keen so sod them as well.
The new paper Hoovie posted isn’t any difference to the old one as far as I can see.
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Post by phaeton on May 26, 2018 12:55:09 GMT
The new paper Hoovie posted isn’t any difference to the old one as far as I can see.
Agreed I just think it says it in a clearer way, the issue is that the issue covers several different bits of legislation.
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Post by Hoovie on May 29, 2018 17:22:10 GMT
This subject about A frames comes up often on the MH forums. Spain will not allow as they have a law that prohibits one vehicle towing another except in an emergency .... They fail to recognise that the A frames are extremely safe and the whole rig is ultra stable. Towing a car on an A frame means we have likely the safest set up of all towed things. A wheel at each corner and the weight taken by the cars suspension means it really is as stable as can be. We just won’t go to Spain end of. That said only one or two have actually been nicked. It’s said Germany aren’t keen so sod them as well. The new paper Hoovie posted isn’t any difference to the old one as far as I can see. I guess there must be some change as it says updated, but it could be as minimal as a spelling correction or punctation mark change. |
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Post by Hoovie on Jun 8, 2018 20:26:58 GMT
the braking bit is unchanged from what I recall? over 750Kg = braked trailer. I know nothing about how the brakes are actually activated (I would guess some kind of activation based on the Brake light signal?) The brakes are brought on by an overrun via an installed cable. The lights are all connected from the towing vehicle to the towed vehicle through a cable using normal blue caravan plugs. i have an additional wire in the loom so the towed cars battery is charged while we travel. I also have a dead key in the cars ignition lock which is there only to keep the steering unlocked. This stays in the ignition lock and the car is locked. It it is possible to have an electronically operated braking system but they are horribly complex unreliable and very expensive. Been meaning to ask a question on this topic ... Was anything done to your Peugeot Boxer to allow you to tow the IQ beyond getting the towbar and the extra cable to charge the cars starter battery? I'm vaguely considering the possibility of towing my Vauxhall Corsa. Not checked into if it is suitable or not to be a 'toed' car (weight will not be an issue, but suitability of mounting points for an A-Frame may be?) |
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Post by charliefarlie on Jun 8, 2018 21:26:49 GMT
The brakes are brought on by an overrun via an installed cable. The lights are all connected from the towing vehicle to the towed vehicle through a cable using normal blue caravan plugs. i have an additional wire in the loom so the towed cars battery is charged while we travel. I also have a dead key in the cars ignition lock which is there only to keep the steering unlocked. This stays in the ignition lock and the car is locked. It it is possible to have an electronically operated braking system but they are horribly complex unreliable and very expensive. Been meaning to ask a question on this topic ... Was anything done to your Peugeot Boxer to allow you to tow the IQ beyond getting the towbar and the extra cable to charge the cars starter battery? I'm vaguely considering the possibility of towing my Vauxhall Corsa. Not checked into if it is suitable or not to be a 'toed' car (weight will not be an issue, but suitability of mounting points for an A-Frame may be?) All of the lighting functions were covered by the standard cable. But when the ignition switch ion the accessory position in the IQ to keep the steering unlocked the wee info screen on the IQs dash stays lit up. So a cable was installed to charge the IQ battery while the MH is on the move. i have an IQ key cut but with no imobiliser chip in it So this keeps the steering unlocked. I put it in then lock the doors with a standard key. This stops the need for messing about when stopping say at a service area. |
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