Tank Mike

Not an A frame, Just a solid bar with a second person steering the second car.

Anyone know what the law is on towing with one of these?

What roads you can and can't use ect?

Ive been towed all over the place on a bar but i just wondered if you were alound to use major A roads and Motorways?

Im guessing not but i thought id ask.

scrubby--rs

towing using a solid bar is legal mate not to sure about the M roads but i have towed down A road befor with out a problem the law is that you cant use a strap for towing you can only use a bar

liam-rst

iTrader: (1)

as far as i kno the person in the towed car has to have a license too an wots not allowed to tow on any m road unless its to tow a car from the m road

chaffe

what about the car being towed? does it need a test and insurance?

Tank Mike

Im insured on the car to be towed and its got valid mot and tax.

My mate in the car that will be doing the towing is insured MOTed And TAXed

scrubby--rs

needs test and tax but i sure that the car pulling it covers it under insurance only way to tow it with no t&t is use a dolly

have to lift 2 wheels off the floor in other words

Tank Mike

Im towing a car back from Southampton to heathrow.

May sound crasy distance but weve done it loads before.

We did milton keynes to heathrow the other day. It just thought i should check-up on the law

rstdave

iTrader: (3)

What sort of speeds do you tow at with the bar out of interest??
I've used a bar a fair few times in the past for my car and mates track cars but only ever done 10 mile journeys max, and can't say as i'd fancy doing a long journey with one lol, 50mph max when i've used one tbh as takes a while to come to a stop gradually at junctions etc.

Tank Mike

Yer about that. We always go really late at night so the roads are empty. May touch 60-70 if it's a 3lane A road with no one on it. Stopping not really an issue. He just shows me the brake light and I do all the brakeing.

It's alot easyer than people make out

the mk1 kid

I've used one a fair few times, and on a nice road 50+ mph is ok - it depends on the road conditions and towing vehicle how safe it 'feels'.

I think recovery (only) on motorway is ok.

Second vehicle i thought had to be fully taxed and tested too..?

Tom

R4N SS

iTrader: (6)

im pretty sure if the wheels are touching the ground it needs to be legal

the mk1 kid

Agreed - i dont even think dollys are ok unless the behind is fully legal.

Tom

R4N SS

iTrader: (6)

Tom - you're right as i had to ask all these questions a few months back and thats what i found out

BigChuck

I thought dolly's were illegal, due to the weight of the vehicle, above a certain weight, the trailer need brakes

so legally, you can only tow very small cars/shells with one.

the mk1 kid

Nope, i think its an 'all four wheels off the floor' job regardless of weights...

Tom

ajamesc

i thought bars and a frames were a no no for towing now and u can only use them for towing in recovery to move the car to the next safe place if broken down!

the mk1 kid

I did hear something on those lines, but when did it change: the RAC towed my Golf on a bar about a month ago, the that certainly wasn't a 'recovery' as it was broken down in a parking space outside my house...

Tom

ajamesc

but did they recover it to a garage? they do use them still but for recovery i dont think u can tow your own car with them! This question has been asked on here lots of times now there are few guys on here who seem to know the rules

the mk1 kid

Yes to a garage, however i dont see that legally makes any odds unless the car was broken down causing a danger to other road users, but...

Someone will know for sure.

Tom

ajamesc

I guess the recovery bit is the grey area!

the mk1 kid

Definately!

Tom

tabetha

If the car being towed has all four wheels on the ground, it is still a car in law and so must have tax, insurance, mot, as well as licensed driver.
If the method of towing takes two wheels off the ground it becomes in law a trailer, as it "trails" the towing car, and cannot steer itself, this needs no mot, tax, insurance, as "trailers" don't.
I've towed a MG using a pole whilst my traffic cop mate sat next to me.
I've even been naughty and PUSHED using a tow pole a car around 15 miles, using the rear tow eye as a push eye, but that's defo not legal, even though I did drive past a plod shop whilst doing it!!
Of the rigid bars I've used the ones with the spring in the centre are well worth paying the extra for.
tabetha

ajamesc

lol i deal with vosa a lot as i do tachos as part of my job and as they say most traffic cops dont even no the law lol even more so in trailer and tacho law!

chaffe

its true, i called the police a few weeks back to find out the legalitys of my sister towing her horse box, no one could give me an answr, they only quoted the jargon you can read on the dvlas website, which is written in a very cover thier arses way.

vaughant

iTrader: (1)

I'm sure you'll be fine,your certainly all legal.again,they may try and say you should recover it to the nearest garage but there's no way they can force you to take it to a garage of their choice.as the cars legal,you could just say you'll take it to the nearest residential area and park it there until you can arrange trailer transport,I can't see how they could argue that?

Also,I'm sorry I forgot to send you the tis cd!!!I'll try and do so asap,just been up to my neck in it lately!!!!

Tank Mike

It's ok mate, I don't need it now. Thanks anyway.

We were fine. We even had a traffic unit pass us on the a3 as we were overtaking a lorry at 60mph. They didn't give a toss! Lol

the mk1 kid

"Under regulation 83 of the Road Vehicles (construction & Use) Regulations 1986 (SI.1986/1078) Amending Regulations, a car dolly, with a car in place, will be considered as two trailers. This is legal for recovery but, under the Road Traffic Regulations Act 1984 (Schedule 6) the combination is limited to 40 mph on motorways and dual carriageways and 20 mph elsewhere. ( at speeds above the legal limit they are unstable and do turn the towing vehicle over).

Note that there is a very specific difference between recovery and transportation. Recovery is the removal of a broken down vehicle to a place of safety. A place of safety would be the next motorway services not the home address. It does not include removing a rotor arm (for instance) and travelling the length and breadth of the country. The police are well aware of the difference due to the regulations covering Tachographs and Operators Licences. Recovery vehicles are exempt.

VOSA are also aware of the legislation and actively enforce it handing out fines of several thousand pounds. "

!?

Tom

ajamesc

Recovery vehicles are only exempt from tacho and operators licences if they stay within 60 miles of there base