The 'A' frame towing system was used commonly in the UK. Frequently by
small time car dealers taking a car away from auction. They work providing
the trailer car is half decent at steering. Some used to loosely rope the
steering wheel to prevent any excess turning (low speeds - the wheels turn
if one wheel hits an immoveable object - normally a poor driver issue.)
Providing there is a castor angle to the front wheels they should work. The
major problem - and what makes many of them illegal to use over here - is
the absence of operating brakes on the 'trailer car'. I think (but not too
sure) an unbraked trailer (the towed vehicle) can only have a maximum weight
of 500kg but, in any event (I am sure) it should not exceed half the weight
of the tow car.
Some car recovery companies had a system that had an assembly which sat
between the front seat and pedals and was meant to operate the brake pedal.
Built to cover the legalities - this brake system never worked and the 'A'
frame fell into 'junk' category.
I used them a fair amount before they changed the law in relation to
unbraked trailers without any problem at all, towing a Land Rover with
another Land Rover or Range Rover when the trailer was in use elsewhere.
That device just clamped to the front Land Rover bumper with a safety chain
around each front spring. I'd use one again if the legalities of the
braking / weight issues were overcome.
Guy R Day
----- Original Message -----
From: "Michael Rowe" <mdrowe@optonline.net>
To: "Spridget Chat Group" <spridgets@autox.team.net>
Sent: Wednesday, February 27, 2008 2:03 AM
Subject: [Spridgets] Spridget tow bar
> The Spridget on eBay at
>
>http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1972-RWA-MG-Midget_W0QQitemZ280203876252QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item280203876252
> has a tow bar with a hard attachment to the front bumper mounts. Does
> anyone have any thoughts about the geometry of this and the willingness of
> the front wheels to follow docilely?
>
> Michael Rowe
> Long Island, NY
_______________________________________________
Support Team.Net http://www.team.net/donate.html
http://www.team.net/archive
http://autox.team.net/mailman/listinfo/spridgets
|