Just visited Bobbie and Mike Northeast at Towaframe yesterday to have our Automatic Toyota Aygo kitted out. Thanks to you, Chas and Ads for persuading us to swap the car trailer out for the Towaframe. Dropped it off at 8.30 and by 2.30 we were having a full explanation of how to fit and disconnect the system, how it operates, safety and hints and tips. Cheers chaps.
Hi Kim...... so was your Toyota a standard build I.e. had no prior adaptations for towing? And did the fitting include the towbar, a frame and breaking system? Many thanks in advance for your help
@Mark Hamer yep completely standard auto 69 plate. We already had a towbar on the MH and they fitted a new crash bar, electrical braking system and A-frame. Beautiful job, in fact I must get some photos to the boys. Wouldn't know it was on the back and can fit it in no time.
@Kim Deabill thanks for the quick reply. If its not too personal a question, can you give me an idea of the total cost? And did you have to wait long for the slot with the installer? Many thanks
Excellent informative video on towing car behind your motorhome we are now on our 3rd motorhome and 2nd towcar combination and agree with all your comments on this subject . When people say well you might as well tow caravan . I always point out you can't drive a caravan with out a car but we can jump in the motorhome and without a car and enjoy abreak with just the motorhome and when abroad if we are based on a site for a time we have hired a car.
Hi Bob, As someone who had grandma rights on my licence I let the the C1 licence go when I reached 70. I was never likely to want a MH over 3.5 tons. However, I automatically retained B + E which allows me to to drive a MH + Car or a Car + Caravan up to 7 tons GTW.
Travelling to the Lake District September 2022. Towing our VW UP on a Towmaster 2 A frame. Heading through a town centre at 15mph around a slight left hand bend the original towing eye sheared off with the car smashing into the rear of the MH also catching an oncoming bus. Car was un-drivable, £3k damage all round and a ruined holiday. Nobody hurt could have been so much worse. Conclusion: the original towing eye is for an emergency short distance tow not for hundreds of miles travelling.
Fortunately for us the whole front crash bar is modified by Tow A Frame, they don't use the original fitment. I did a video on it when we had our crash bar changed for the new fittings for the tow Glide system.
@@BobEarnshawMoHo thinking on my original conclusion I did have the modified crash bar because there were bayonet fittings on both sides for the A frame connection. I would definitely have the welding checked yearly maybe at the time of the MOT. I had traveled to Scotland the year before with no problems but strangely had never felt confident with it. I did consider a trailer but decided against due to storage space, in hindsight wished I had gone with it.
The first question I’d want to ask is while towing a vehicle over 750kg with an A frame is about the breaking assistance on what we are towing? It seems to be pointed out while using an A frame
Yes, any trailer over 750kg has to be braked by law. The Tow A Frame system uses a 2 stage (proportional interia and brake light) vacuum assisted braking system. For this and other reasons I can recommend it.
Hi for those that need to get a medical. I am well over 65 and I get my medical through a doctor that does occupational health testing at around £40 and not your GP that charge around £120 what for I don't know 🤔🤔
Interesting Bob in NZ the towed vehicle must have a ladder chassis, we all tend to tow Suzuki Jimnys .Also although there are a lot of European motorhomes here, there is the ability to have larger. Mine is built on a Iveco 7ton chassis, able to tow 3500 kgs . Cheers mate enjoy your videos.
You'll have to watch our videos when we go away during December and January. We stay warm by switching the Alde Heating on. It works on electric hook up or on gas when not on hook up.
Interesting video - I actually fitted our A frame to the car myself. Armitages sell a DIY kit and it’s not difficult for a competent home mechanic. I also fitted the tow bar myself so we did the whole job for under £1,000. We’ve been looking at changing our little car and I can’t find an electric car that we can tow as they are all direct drive and can’t be towed !
No, I think all electric cars can't be towed, not ideal for a trailers either, because of the weight. The electric version of the VW Up weighs 1200kg, add that to a 300kg trailer, and it becomes a fairly heavy load, close to our Gross Train Weight.
Hi Bob. We ordered our A frame from Tow A Frame beginning of May. They were very busy and were waiting for parts to arrive. Consequently we did not get the frame fitted until the end of October. A six month wait. We paid £3199. It's also fitted on a VW Up. I think Tow A Frame get a lot of enquiries after your videos so anyone interested in one it's worth checking the current waiting time. We are very happy with ours, it was just a long wait.
Does your towed car get any damage through stone chips coming up from the motorhome. I've just got a Volkswagen Up and it seems a great little car. I just don't want to damage the front of it unnecessarily.
Hi Bob, is the weight of the vehicle being towed determined by it's kerb weight, seeing as there would never be passengers in it? I'm at a loss as to getting a definitive answer and not just opinions. Thanks.
No, subject to your licence allowing it, the maximum weight that can be towed is Gross Train Weight of the towing vehicle less it's Max Authorised Mass or MTPLM. The weight of the towed trailer does not affect that, unless the trailer is over either the maximum weight your licence allows to be towed or the maximum weight your vehicle is capable of towing. For example my motorhome gross train weight is 5500kg, my MTPLM or MAM is 3850kg, so I can tow a trailer up to 1650kg. The motorhome's maximum towing weight is 2000kg, so it does not exceed that, and I have a C1+E licence that allows that.
@Bob Earnshaw Hi Bob, really appreciate you getting back to me. My motorhome spec is 5000kg 3650kg so that leaves me 1250kg to tow. So what I'm failing to grasp is the towed vehicles weight value. I've been on quite a few forums and all that's discussed is the kerb weight of the towed vehicle, but in the back of my mind I've got gross weight. I've got a trailer 750kg kerb weight and a carrying capacity of 2000kg, so the gross is 2750kg. Obviously you could never carry passengers when towing, so is gross weight irrelevant. Sorry for waffling.
If the police were to stop you they would look at the plated weights of the motorhome, the Gross Train Weight and the Maximum Allowed Mass. If the trailer weighed 2750kg, you no doubt would be fined, as you would be towing over the capacity you are legally allowed to tow, plus you would be over the motorhome towing allowance anyway, The Gross Train Weight is not irrelevant, it's the maximum weights that count, not how many passengers you are carrying and so on.
Excellent video on A Frames - I didn’t know about the third party reference while towing. When you were testing the Adamo, did you feel less need for a towcar because it was smaller than the Kontiki?
Glad to help Bob. It looks like the video went down well 👍🏻🚍
Yes, thanks a, lot for the idea, appreciated.
Excellent video Excellent advice and information very useful and informative.
Beauty 👍
Chas.
Thanks Chas!
@@BobEarnshawMoHo really enjoyed that one bob I'm really pleased with my towaframe.
Probably the best bit of kit on the market 👌
Just visited Bobbie and Mike Northeast at Towaframe yesterday to have our Automatic Toyota Aygo kitted out. Thanks to you, Chas and Ads for persuading us to swap the car trailer out for the Towaframe. Dropped it off at 8.30 and by 2.30 we were having a full explanation of how to fit and disconnect the system, how it operates, safety and hints and tips. Cheers chaps.
That's great to hear, have fun with your Aygo!
Hi Kim...... so was your Toyota a standard build I.e. had no prior adaptations for towing? And did the fitting include the towbar, a frame and breaking system?
Many thanks in advance for your help
@Mark Hamer yep completely standard auto 69 plate. We already had a towbar on the MH and they fitted a new crash bar, electrical braking system and A-frame. Beautiful job, in fact I must get some photos to the boys. Wouldn't know it was on the back and can fit it in no time.
@Kim Deabill thanks for the quick reply. If its not too personal a question, can you give me an idea of the total cost? And did you have to wait long for the slot with the installer? Many thanks
Top advice as always Bob, many thanks.
Excellent informative video on towing car behind your motorhome we are now on our 3rd motorhome and 2nd towcar combination and agree with all your comments on this subject . When people say well you might as well tow caravan . I always point out you can't drive a caravan with out a car but we can jump in the motorhome and without a car and enjoy abreak with just the motorhome and when abroad if we are based on a site for a time we have hired a car.
It is the extra flexibility you get.
Hi Bob, As someone who had grandma rights on my licence I let the the C1 licence go when I reached 70. I was never likely to want a MH over 3.5 tons. However, I automatically retained B + E which allows me to to drive a MH + Car or a Car + Caravan up to 7 tons GTW.
Yes, I forgot to mention BE licence holders.
Great answers, thanks.
Thank you Bob for posting these videos, as a newbie to motor homing I consider them to be perfect, they are very well produced and presented.
Thank you very much.
Very informative Bob 😀
Travelling to the Lake District September 2022.
Towing our VW UP on a Towmaster 2 A frame.
Heading through a town centre at 15mph around a slight left hand bend the original towing eye sheared off with the car smashing into the rear of the MH also catching an oncoming bus.
Car was un-drivable, £3k damage all round and a ruined holiday. Nobody hurt could have been so much worse.
Conclusion: the original towing eye is for an emergency short distance tow not for hundreds of miles travelling.
Fortunately for us the whole front crash bar is modified by Tow A Frame, they don't use the original fitment. I did a video on it when we had our crash bar changed for the new fittings for the tow Glide system.
@@BobEarnshawMoHo thinking on my original conclusion I did have the modified crash bar because there were bayonet fittings on both sides for the A frame connection.
I would definitely have the welding checked yearly maybe at the time of the MOT.
I had traveled to Scotland the year before with no problems but strangely had never felt confident with it. I did consider a trailer but decided against due to storage space, in hindsight wished I had gone with it.
A good video thanks
Thanks
Brilliantly explained Bob , huge thanks 😊
Very informative, great help.
The first question I’d want to ask is while towing a vehicle over 750kg with an A frame is about the breaking assistance on what we are towing? It seems to be pointed out while using an A frame
Yes, any trailer over 750kg has to be braked by law. The Tow A Frame system uses a 2 stage (proportional interia and brake light) vacuum assisted braking system. For this and other reasons I can recommend it.
Hi for those that need to get a medical. I am well over 65 and I get my medical through a doctor that does occupational health testing at around £40 and not your GP that charge around £120 what for I don't know 🤔🤔
Thanks for that information.
Interesting Bob in NZ the towed vehicle must have a ladder chassis, we all tend to tow Suzuki Jimnys .Also although there are a lot of European motorhomes here, there is the ability to have larger. Mine is built on a Iveco 7ton chassis, able to tow 3500 kgs .
Cheers mate enjoy your videos.
Yes, that's a whole bigger scale.
Aframes are not type approved in continental Europe so shouldn’t be used. Some Brits have received large fines in Spain
are we going to get one on how you keep warm in winter and what is the best way when not at a camp site thank you all 3
You'll have to watch our videos when we go away during December and January. We stay warm by switching the Alde Heating on. It works on electric hook up or on gas when not on hook up.
Interesting video - I actually fitted our A frame to the car myself. Armitages sell a DIY kit and it’s not difficult for a competent home mechanic. I also fitted the tow bar myself so we did the whole job for under £1,000. We’ve been looking at changing our little car and I can’t find an electric car that we can tow as they are all direct drive and can’t be towed !
No, I think all electric cars can't be towed, not ideal for a trailers either, because of the weight. The electric version of the VW Up weighs 1200kg, add that to a 300kg trailer, and it becomes a fairly heavy load, close to our Gross Train Weight.
Hi Bob. We ordered our A frame from Tow A Frame beginning of May. They were very busy and were waiting for parts to arrive. Consequently we did not get the frame fitted until the end of October. A six month wait. We paid £3199. It's also fitted on a VW Up. I think Tow A Frame get a lot of enquiries after your videos so anyone interested in one it's worth checking the current waiting time. We are very happy with ours, it was just a long wait.
When reversing an a frame car, could a second insured driver steer the tow car for the purposes of reversing?
No, there's no power steering. Easier to unhitch and drive the car under power.
Whole point of towing car is to hit Europe ! Never heard or had issues towing more issues in. Uk!
We've never felt it necessary to take our car with us abroad and I've heard from people who have been stopped in France and Spain.
Does your towed car get any damage through stone chips coming up from the motorhome. I've just got a Volkswagen Up and it seems a great little car. I just don't want to damage the front of it unnecessarily.
No, not noticed any unusual stone chip damage. Think it's too close to catch any. It does get mucky when it rains.
Hi Bob, is the weight of the vehicle being towed determined by it's kerb weight, seeing as there would never be passengers in it? I'm at a loss as to getting a definitive answer and not just opinions. Thanks.
No, subject to your licence allowing it, the maximum weight that can be towed is Gross Train Weight of the towing vehicle less it's Max Authorised Mass or MTPLM. The weight of the towed trailer does not affect that, unless the trailer is over either the maximum weight your licence allows to be towed or the maximum weight your vehicle is capable of towing. For example my motorhome gross train weight is 5500kg, my MTPLM or MAM is 3850kg, so I can tow a trailer up to 1650kg. The motorhome's maximum towing weight is 2000kg, so it does not exceed that, and I have a C1+E licence that allows that.
@Bob Earnshaw Hi Bob, really appreciate you getting back to me.
My motorhome spec is 5000kg 3650kg so that leaves me 1250kg to tow. So what I'm failing to grasp is the towed vehicles weight value. I've been on quite a few forums and all that's discussed is the kerb weight of the towed vehicle, but in the back of my mind I've got gross weight. I've got a trailer 750kg kerb weight and a carrying capacity of 2000kg, so the gross is 2750kg. Obviously you could never carry passengers when towing, so is gross weight irrelevant. Sorry for waffling.
If the police were to stop you they would look at the plated weights of the motorhome, the Gross Train Weight and the Maximum Allowed Mass. If the trailer weighed 2750kg, you no doubt would be fined, as you would be towing over the capacity you are legally allowed to tow, plus you would be over the motorhome towing allowance anyway, The Gross Train Weight is not irrelevant, it's the maximum weights that count, not how many passengers you are carrying and so on.
Excellent video on A Frames - I didn’t know about the third party reference while towing. When you were testing the Adamo, did you feel less need for a towcar because it was smaller than the Kontiki?
I think the smaller the motorhome the less need for a car.