31 replies to this topic

[AVV IT]

Reading the link makes me think you could probably get away with an untaxed/insured but road worthy car being attached to an A frame provided you have a trailer board on the back as they call it a trailer.........or not?

Yeh think your pretty much right, I think for it to be classed as a trailer the vehicle cant be moved under its own steam. So if you needed to move a fully working car on an A frame just disconnecting the battery would do it as then it cant power itself.

I'm not so sure, this has been discussed here before and I seem to recall that all four wheels actually have to be off the road (i.e. on an actual trailer or recovery vehicle/transporter etc) if the vehicle on a SORN etc. From what I understand, it can't be classed as a trailer unless it has been scrapped and is no longer a registered vehicle, (as in the case of the rear end if a classic mini shell that has been converted into a trailer)

[minical]

Reading the link makes me think you could probably get away with an untaxed/insured but road worthy car being attached to an A frame provided you have a trailer board on the back as they call it a trailer.........or not?

Yeh think your pretty much right, I think for it to be classed as a trailer the vehicle cant be moved under its own steam. So if you needed to move a fully working car on an A frame just disconnecting the battery would do it as then it cant power itself.

I'm not so sure, this has been discussed here before and I seem to recall that all four wheels actually have to be off the road (i.e. on an actual trailer or recovery vehicle/transporter etc) if the vehicle on a SORN etc. From what I understand, it can't be classed as a trailer unless it has been scrapped and is no longer a registered vehicle, (as in the case of the rear end if a classic mini shell that has been converted into a trailer)

I'm only going off what I was told, the guy seemed to know his stuff and said that he had it confirmed by the DVLA, whether he had or not I don't know.

[Archived2]

With an a frame:

The total of the "trailer" (the mini and the a frame thats mechanically fixed to the vehicle) must not exceed 750kg unless braked.

You then have your normal license rules as per the mam not exceeding 3.5 tonnes etc etc unless you have a B+E etc.

The "trailer" can have all four wheels on the road and can be untaxed and have no mot but must be fit to be towed as a trailer as per normal laws. Any vehicle can be used as a trailer provided the A frame is mechanically fixed to become one with the car and create a "trailer".

If a braking "system" is fitted on the trailer as in your four wheels have brakes then they must work and be linked to the tow vehicle regardless of weight.
This means you must remove the capability of being a brake set up to each wheel to be an "un-braked trailer".

Using a mini and A frame as a trailer, the "trailer" must have a tow board or similar and display the tow vehicles registration. the tow vehicle must be legal and you must be within the specified towing weights and braking capabilities of said tow vehicle with trailer.
There are no distance laws using this method. Ever seen a motor home with a tiny <750kg car bolted to the back? thats how they do it.

You can get a braking system to use with using an A frame if you are over the 750 kg limit. Using a braking system will also allow an increase to 85% of tow vehicle weight as long as you are still within the 3.5 tonne mam on a B license and other towing laws.

50 and 60 mph applies as above on a roads and motorways etc

This has been clarified to me by Vosa and the DVLA.

A dolly is different and must be used for recovery purposes only and as above not for A-B transport.

The best thing to do is contact those in the know and get a reply printed for when you get a tug from the dibble. I have done this and have it laminated and kept with my A frame for if I ever need to use it.
I also have the relevant sections from the .gov sites printed off and laminated for the same reasons.
I have had a police officer telling me I was breaking the law until I proved I wasn't.

The grey area to watch out for is the braking set up system on the car/each wheel. If they work or are present then they must be used. Officer discretion could be used when inspecting your braking system so be aware!

Edited by minihobbymini, 08 February 2013 - 12:20 AM.

[Archived2]

I am unsure about the car being able to move under its own steam as far as when being moved as a trailer but I will fire off an email and when I get a reply I will post this up.

EDIT:
Or maybe I will just send reply to OP as I dont want to hijack the thread and then said OP can post if he wants?

Its a great looking Dolly by the way and I'm sure you wont get too much hassle from the dibble as long as you can show you are doing things safely etc

Edited by minihobbymini, 08 February 2013 - 12:26 AM.

[plantfitterRich]

[plantfitterRich]

[plantfitterRich]

it's been a while but I finally got some time on the dolly. Just mudguards to fit tomorrow, a coat of paint and that's it.

I had a citron c3 on it the other day, all seemed ok.

[domdee]

looks a good bit of kit!

what are the suspension axles rated at in kg?

and are the tyres heavy duty/comercial?

[plantfitterRich]

Tyres are 10ply commercial trailer tires., unsure on the suspension units but I had the Citroën on and the didn't move. My guess is 600kg per side.

[tiger99]

There is another possible legal complication. Does it count as a trailer? If so, it needs to pass IVA, which it can't, because the total weight will be sufficient to need brakes, and there is no reasonable way to make a DIY trailer with brakes pass IVA, because you need some kind of evidence of brake and towbar performance. VOSA don't test the brakes themselves, haven't got the equipment, so you need an approved test facility to do it.

 

I think that VOSA and the government have gone too far in making it impossible to build your own trailer, but that is how things seem to be at the moment. I was looking into this for other reasons, and can't see any reasonable way forward. Of course, the unscrupulous will just make their trailer look more than a couple of years old, pre-dating the need for IVA......

[plantfitterRich]

[plantfitterRich]

[domdee]

Oh what a beast lol

[plantfitterRich]

The finished article.

[domdee]

oh it looks the business