LEGAL QUESTION

[Anonymous]

Is it legal to tow my suzuki sj jeep behind my landy to off road events conected to an( A ) frame and  a light bar on the back showing the landy reg number.
The suzuki is S.O.R.N SO NOT TAXED OR MOT'D ETC.

[George]

According to Novembers LRM..

The law considers any towed vehicle to be a trailer.

Thus a vehicle being towed with the aid of either an "A frame" or towing dolly, is considered to be a trailer unit. In addition, if the weight of the trailer unit exceeds either 750kgs, or the towing vehicle manufacturers stated unbraked capacity, then it is required to be fitted with brakes that operate on all wheels.
these reasons alone would make it illegal to use a tow dolly, except for recovery blah blah blah....

So strictly speaking, no its not legal, but heh WHATEVER...... =;

[Bush Tucker Man]

If you've got the space there's usually plenty of car transporter trailers on E-Bay at reasonable prices, or in your local equivilant of 'Free-Ads'/'Loot'.

Or if you only use one occasionally hire one; my local trailer sales, parts & hire place charge about £20 a day for a 16" flat/tilt-bed with ramps. Just like this one in fact (no, you have to provide your own Suzuki :lol: )

http://community.webshots.com/photo/140202703/140202703cycCci

[Bush Tucker Man]

And this was the finished Suzuki after a few months;
http://community.webshots.com/photo/96564302/173604793QvtEzr

[Stormin]

Just been reading the November issue of LRM. Bit in there, 'Welcoming OLO', containing a piece on a-frames. Includes a braking device for the towed vehicle.  Web address given as well. www.aframes.co.uk

[Sooty]

I may be wrong but if the Suzuki is less than 750kg in weight then it is legal to tow it on an A frame as the maufacturers stated unbraked capacity is 750kg (the max allowed) on a Dicovery.
If the Suzuki is more than 750kg then you must put a braking system on it, or take out the pasenger seat and any other unwanted bits.
And sod the light board, just put the Disco number on the back and wire the rear lights up to a plug.on the a frame.

[muddyweb]

I was under the impression that regardless of the weight that if you tow a vehicle (even on an a-frame) it needs to be taxed and insured.

[Sooty]

If it is on an A frame then it is classed as a trailer unit and therefore is not required to be taxed MOTed or even insured.
It is covered 3rd party by the towing vehicle insurance.

[orlando]

tow my suzuki .. conected to an( A ) frame and  a light bar

I wouldn't even go that far. There is a big clampdown on the use of A-Frame's going on all over the country at the moment.

So much so that people like HSS hireshops have stop hiring them out.

Summit do to with too many towee vehicles coming adrift from their tow-ers.

:-(

[ferret]

There seems to be many different opinions on towing, im more confused than i was before.Dont s'pose anyone knows the kerb weight of a suzuki sj410 softtop?

[strapping young lad]

how does the recovery people like AA and RAC pull vehicles now then?

im pretty sure ive seen one or two behind a transit..

im sure ive seen it

or im seeing things!

[George]

Don't they use a solid draw bar, usually with driver sitting in towed

vehicle applying brakes in all the right places(hopefully). :shock:

[muddyweb]

Recovery companies used to have special exemptions for some things too.

[Range Rover Blues]

how does the recovery people like AA and RAC pull vehicles now then?

im pretty sure ive seen one or two behind a transit..

im sure ive seen it

or im seeing things!

The law alows an exemption if you are recovering a stricken vehicle "to a place of safety".
So if you start out on your journey then this exemption does not apply.
I recall something about mini owners connecting the overun system tothe car's handbrake, but this is not legal either because of the '86 construction and use regulations, which extend to trailers.
I also think Muddyweb is right that a car now needs to be insured unless it is loaded onto a trailer, the law has changed.

[clouseau]

Is it legal to tow my suzuki sj jeep behind my landy to off road events conected to an( A ) frame and  a light bar on the back showing the landy reg number.
The suzuki is S.O.R.N SO NOT TAXED OR MOT'D ETC.

 [-X
The Vehicle Excise and Registrations Act 1994, s.29 states : "If a person uses or keeps on a public road, a Vehicle, which is unlicensed he is guilty of an offence."

The definition of a Vehicle for the purposes of the above quote means a mechanically propelled vehicle or anything that has been, but has ceased to be a mechanically propelled vehicle.

A mechanically propelled vehicle is any vehicle which is driven by any kind of engine. The law also states that a motor vehicle continues to be such if it is towed by another vehicle (Cobb v. Whorton [1971]) and a car which is built for off road (racing) continues to be 'intended' for use on a road even though those that rebuilt it never intended to use it so again (Nichol v. Leach [1972]).

Basically to cut a long story short, if it has an engine and will put its wheels on a public road, even if it is towed to an event, it must have road tax, hence it must have MOT and Insurance.
The only defences to this are if it is being taken to be scrapped, or to/from an MOT station.  ](*,)

There are other considerations such as towing weights etc. You will have to check with the towing vehicle manufacturer for the 'maximum gross weight' which is defined as 'the sum of the unladen weight of the vehicle and the maximum weight of the load that the vehicle may lawfully carry or pull'. I believe there are requirements to have a braked trailer if the gross weight exceeds 750kg's, that would also mean a braked A - frame if you were to use one.  :-({|=

[Sooty]

Thank you Bill, I know when not to argue, so the answer to your original question is "no it is not legal to tow your suzuki on an A frame behind you landrover unless it is 1) under 750kg, 2)Taxed, 3)insured, 4)MOTed".
I think that is right.
But if that is the case then you may as well drive it there.
Also if it is SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification) than it is not allowed on the road in any event.
Put the dam think on a trailer for goodness sake ](*,) .