Towing a 1988 240 5 speed manual

What country are you in?In the UK it's a surprisingly complex issue, as I found out myself recently when I needed to do something similar.

Graham W

Put it in neutral and tow it. I had a hard time finding a tow bar the last time I moved a car and we had to rent a car trailer.

If he's in North America, he faces no such legal problems. Anybody can hook just about anything to any vehicle and start towing. The police do frown on trailers with lights that don't work and missing safety chains, and around here they do look a little closer at the general safety of both vehicles than those without trailers.

When my 740 broke down (wire gave way in the Hall effect sensor in the dist.) the AA van used a tow rope to drag me home. Was fun with the power steering and brakes out !!! If it's good enough for them ?

Stuart.

If it is OK for UK garages to tow cars for considerable distances using an "ambulance" (what you called a dolly) and tow frames which operate the steering as well, or even rigid towbars, then it must be OK for the ordinary person to use the same methods. I know of no law that forbids their use in the UK.

Cheers, Peter.

: > The main problem he faces, if he's in the UK, is that towing a vehicle any : > distance with one of those dolly's is illegal. They are strictly for : > removing a stricken vehicle to a place of safety. ie, if it breaks down on : > the motorway, you can use it to take the car to the next exit out of harms : > way. Unfortunately even by stretching what you consider a safe place, he'd : > be hard pressed to justify 80 miles ;-) : >

: > In the UK, it is a similar story with rigid towbars, A-frames, etc etc. The : > only legal anser here is a proper car trailer. Even then there are : > regulations on towing weights, braked and unbraked trailers, when you got : > your licence and so on and so on! In the end I just hired a guy with a car : > transporter for half a day. Expensive, but very very convenient. : >

: > Graham W : : If he's in North America, he faces no such legal problems. Anybody can : hook just about anything to any vehicle and start towing. The police do : frown on trailers with lights that don't work and missing safety chains, : and around here they do look a little closer at the general safety of : both vehicles than those without trailers. : : -- : Mike F. : Thornhill (near Toronto), Ont. : : Change cant to ca and remove parentheses to email me directly.

Because you don't know of such a law, doesn't mean it doesn't exist. Check it out for yourself. it exists.

Graham W

For the benefit of anyone int he UK considering this, I believe it will answer most questions, and also the point raised further downt he thread about how come the AA/RAC etc are allowed to use them. This snippet from the TTAS (the Trailer & Towing Advisory Service int he UK)...

Quote: There was evidence of much confusion concerning the recovery, as opposed to transportation, of cars.

The law considers any towed vehicle to be a "trailer". Thus a vehicle being towed with the aid of either an "A" frame or a towing dolly, is considered to be a trailer unit.

If the weight of the trailer unit exceeds either 750 kg, or ½ the weight of the towing vehicle, or the towing vehicle manufacturers stated unbraked towing capacity, whichever is least; then it is required to be fitted with brakes that operate on all wheels.

TTAS is not aware of an "A" frame unit that is able to effectively apply the brakes of the towed vehicle.

A towing dolly may be equipped with brakes, but only on it's own wheels, the other axle of the vehicle mounted on it will not have operable brakes - so by definition it is not a braked trailer - and should never exceed either

Legislation does allow for the recovery of a vehicle, from a position where it constitutes a hazard, to a safe-haven. However, to proceed beyond the first safe-haven becomes transport, as opposed to recovery. In this instance a car transporter trailer is required, whereby the entire vehicle is carried upon the trailer (or towed vehicle) the trailers axle(s) being equipped with the requisite brakes.

There is an exception to the foregoing in relation to the legitimate use of recovery equipment by recognised Vehicle Recovery Operators, whose vehicles will usually be taxed accordingly. Unquote.

Graham W

Quite an eye opener that Graham. Must be a lot of illegal "trailers" in the UK eh?

Stuart

From a point at sea, to the circles of your mind, this is Graham W:

Well, dammit, it seems you may be right. At least the National Trailer and Towing Association agree with you.

Still, the situation with a tow rope is not clear. It seems more subtle, because the vehicle behind has it own steering, brakes and even driver.