I'm toying with ideas, mainly because I'm bored, but probably picking up an old BMW touring ( drift daily toy) to replace my ruined mondeo, and it's got a good tow bar on it, now I've been struggling with the concept of driving the noisy, thirsty, violent ( list goes on) slicktop to events, so I've hatched a plan, now my license prevents me towing anything with a train weight over 3.5t, the BMW is about 1.5t and can tow a further 1.7t, so pretty much rules out any trailers, but then I saw a camper towing something with an a frame,

 

So wiring the car so it's lights work with the BMW would be easy, rigging up a 12v vacuum pump and cable brake would be easy too, so brakes and lights would be no problem,

 

But could the front chassis legs ( where the front crash bar would have been) be strong enough to be used as an a frame mount? Has anyone heard of similar? Maybe I'm overlooking something but seems like it could work.

 

My zeds a slicktop so it's weight isn't an issue.

The front chassis rails have factory tow eyes, so...

Oh yeah, always forget they're hidden down there, solves that one then, best get fabricating.

This I gotta see:scared:

I'm hoping there will be nothing to see, bar sits where crash bar was, so shouldn't be very visible from the out side, to use will have 2 screw in type towing eyes for the a frame to mount to, ( can also double up as tow hooks for trackdays when installed) either top corners of main hole in front bumper or maybe fog holes depending on the A-frame ( need to get a braked one) and measure things up, brakes are easy cable operated from the A-frame, but I want the servo to work so it will actually have efficient brakes, so will use the tow bar wiring to power a small vacuum pump connected to the servo.

 

In my head this is a good idea, but will see,

Surely towing weight on the license is for a trailer only, not combined weight of car and trailer also the drawback of an A frame tow bar is the towed vehicle will also clock rolling mileage without use! (may not be considered important to some)

I checked unfortunately it's definitely the whole train weight, I could take a test to get a larger allowance but the drift bimmer I want couldn't tow it anyway and I've nowhere to store a trailer.

If you are the same as me (young-ish, no grandfather rights and no trailer rights) you can drive a total amount up to 3.5T with a trailer no more than 750KG.

 

I would hazard a guess that towing another car (not for the sake of a break down and getting it to a garage) would be treated as towing a trailer? there for must be under 750KG?

 

I dont understand the DVLA sometimes. I can drive 18T buses with 101 people on board, yet I cant drive anything over 3.5T if its a car, van or lorry. I also have manual right on the PSV license?! explain that one?!

 

I do know that if you break the weight ruling for your license, its proper serious. They treat it like driving around without a license at all, so make sure you look into it properly because if you get caught, you can loose your license and/or jail time.

If you are the same as me (young-ish, no grandfather rights and no trailer rights) you can drive a total amount up to 3.5T with a trailer no more than 750KG.

 

I would hazard a guess that towing another car (not for the sake of a break down and getting it to a garage) would be treated as towing a trailer? there for must be under 750KG?

 

I dont understand the DVLA sometimes. I can drive 18T buses with 101 people on board, yet I cant drive anything over 3.5T if its a car, van or lorry. I also have manual right on the PSV license?! explain that one?!

 

I do know that if you break the weight ruling for your license, its proper serious. They treat it like driving around without a license at all, so make sure you look into it properly because if you get caught, you can loose your license and/or jail time.

 

The crazy thing is some old biffa that possibly should even have a car liecense still can attach a Caravan or Boat and off they go. I've seen some really nasty accidents occur because of this.

I would hazard a guess that towing another car (not for the sake of a break down and getting it to a garage) would be treated as towing a trailer?

 

Almost certain. A permanent arangement as proposed will be classed as a car + trailer. No doubt if you write/email the DVLA they will clarify.

Im sure drivers you see taking a little car behind their motorhome all have Historic class C licences which allows them to do so. I have surrendered my rights to class C this year due to age but retained my class B rights so B + E allows me to drive a vehicle up to 3500kg + "a heavy trailer"

An a car with a proper a frame is legally a trailer, and you can tow over 750kg if the total weight of both is below 3500kg.

 

Checked it before,

 

But changed my mind anyway, I'm possibly buying our an transit flatbed so would solve the problem

An a car with a proper a frame is legally a trailer, and you can tow over 750kg if the total weight of both is below 3500kg.

 

Checked it before,

Yep thats correct. You need a license with category B+E like mine.

 

 

But changed my mind anyway, I'm possibly buying our an transit flatbed so would solve the problem

What a sensible idea :thumbup1::thumbup1:

You could buy a towing dolley as used by the RAC/AA where the front wheels are mounted and strapped on. They are also braked, weighs about 50 kgs and of course easy to store on their end. With a flatbed truck you have addition tax, insurance and of course the deadly MoT.