A frame towing with B Class Auto

[Vennwood]

Hi All,

Can anyone help me with a question here.

Is it possible to tow a 2009 B180 CDI Autotronic with an A frame? The idea would be to tow it behind a Motorhome throughout Europe?

Thanks in advance

 

[timskemp]

Only if you tow it with a C class

 

[Dieselman]

I thought all untended A frame towing is now illegal.

 

[Vennwood]

I thought all untended A frame towing is now illegal.

No its not illegal, well not yet anyway

The original thought was to tow a Smart4two but realised the wife's B180 is well within the towing limits but its Auto and the folks at Armitages (trailer and A frame specialists) say he didn't think you can tow with CVT autos so before I go any further I thought I would ask around

 

[Druk]

Not in the UK but tis on mainland Europe. You'll need a trailer. Our EU friends have banned it on the grounds that the braking system can't be operated therefore it is an overweight unbraked trailer.

From the Caravan Club website technical section...

7. Towing
Q Can I tow a small car behind my motor caravan?
A In the UK, although the law is a somewhat grey area on this, it appears it is acceptable to tow a car not weighing more than 750kg gross vehicle weight, which includes the weight of an unbraked A-frame. As far as the Continent is concerned, however, the majority of countries said that members of the public caught towing with an A-frame would be taken off the road. Therefore in all circumstances the Club recommends that vehicles are towed on a braked trailer which takes all four wheels of the car off the ground.




.

 

[Vennwood]

Not in the UK but tis on mainland Europe. You'll need a trailer. Our EU friends have banned it on the grounds that the braking system can't be operated therefore it is an overweight unbraked trailer.

Not true for two reasons

First of all it is braked - all trailers/A frames over 750kgs must be braked by UK law - so most A frames have a modification that applies the foot brake similar to the overrun brakes on caravans. The reality there are very few cars under 750kgs - even the Smart cars are over that

Secondly - under European Motoring Law, if something is legal in one country then it is legal in other countries - I don't know the details but it is legal. Its like the C1 attribute on licences issued before 1997 - that allows UK drivers to drive vehicles up to a weight of 7500kgs whereas in the rest of Europe they only get class C and a limit of 3500kgs

 

[Druk]

Bon vacances.

 

[Vennwood]

Chance would be a fine thing but park the legalities for a moment
Can you tow a B180 Auto on an A frame without damage?

 

[npuk]

Read your user manual there is a section about towing the car and what to do / not to do for automatics. IIRC it says front axle must be off the ground to tow.