Towing with an " A " Frame

Post by **DAZ** » Wed Nov 12, 2003 9:30 pm

dose anyone know if it is any way legal in NSW and / or VIC i am under the impression it is ok if someone is in the car while it is being towed but i want to tow it like a trailer to comps etc if it is at all possible. Or has anyone had anything to do with the car caddies they tow behind motor homes that just lift two wheels off the ground and how they work

Post by **bogged** » Wed Nov 12, 2003 9:34 pm

DAZ wrote:dose anyone know if it is any way legal in NSW and / or VIC i am under the impression it is ok if someone is in the car while it is being towed but i want to tow it like a trailer to comps etc if it is at all possible. Or has anyone had anything to do with the car caddies they tow behind motor homes that just lift two wheels off the ground and how they work

why not use a car trailer?

Post by **dumbdunce** » Wed Nov 12, 2003 10:14 pm

Daz, the rules are a little bit ambiguous, technically yes you can BUT you would have to be able to convincinly demonstrate the required degree of 'control', which could well be up to whoever is asking (police, RTA inspector etc) - applicable rules below. you can download all the road rules from the RTA website, it's only a 3MB PDF.

304 Australian Road Rules
Miscellaneous road rules Part 18
Miscellaneous rules for drivers Division 1

294 Keeping control of a vehicle being towed
(1) The driver of a motor vehicle must not tow another motor
vehicle unless:
(a) either:
(i) the driver can control the movement of the towed
vehicle; or
(ii) the brakes and steering of the towed vehicle are in
working order and a person who is licensed to drive
the towed vehicle is sitting in the driver’s seat of the
towed vehicle, and is in control of its brakes and
steering; and
(b) it is safe to tow the towed vehicle.
Offence provision.
Note Motor vehicle is defined in the dictionary.
(2) The driver of a motor vehicle must not tow a trailer unless:
(a) the driver can control the movement of the trailer; and
(b) it is safe to tow the trailer.
Offence provision.
Note Trailer is defined in the dictionary.

295 Motor vehicle towing another vehicle with a towline
(1) The driver of a motor vehicle towing another vehicle using a
chain, rope, fabric, strap or wire (the towline) must comply
with this rule.
Offence provision.
Note Motor vehicle is defined in the dictionary, and vehicle is defined in
rule 15.
(2) If neither of the vehicles is a motor bike, the driver must keep a
distance of not over 4 metres between the vehicles.
Note Motor bike is defined in the dictionary.
(3) If at least 1 of the vehicles is a motor bike, the driver must keep
a distance of not over 2.5 metres between the vehicles.

Rule 297
(4) If the towline is longer than 2 metres, the driver must attach a
white or brightly coloured flag, piece of cloth or other similar
material (the warning material) to the towline in accordance
with subrule (5).
(5) The warning material must:
(a) be substantially square or rectangular with 2 adjacent sides
at least 300 millimetres long; and
(b) be attached midway along the towline; and
(c) be visible for at least 100 metres from either side of the
warning material.
(6) Subrule (2), (3) or (4) does not apply to a driver if the driver is
exempt from the subrule under another law of this jurisdiction
and is complying with the conditions (if any) of the exemption.

hope this is helpful

cheers

Brian

Post by **DAZ** » Thu Nov 13, 2003 7:27 am

thanks for that the main reason i want to A frame is apart from obvious reasons i would tow it with a company comodore that fuel is paid for ,comftable a/c and the wait of 4x4 and trailer is over legal towing limit

Post by **Thor** » Thu Nov 13, 2003 8:37 am

hmm possibly a little grey, but from what brian posted if you have someone in the car you could snatch it around

Post by **manitou** » Thu Nov 13, 2003 8:43 am

You might have problems a framing as there are towing limits for braked and unbraked for the towing vehicle and it says that the driver needs to have control of the towed vehicle so to be able to tow that weight you would need to have the brakes hooked up some how?

One of those car caddies might be a better option as they usually have brakes and would be alot safer as you will probable be towing somthing heavier that the commodore and it would be classed as a trailer.

Post by **modman** » Thu Nov 13, 2003 3:59 pm

i met a tog (vic) guy that tows his modded 4wd around behind a patrol.
he explained that as long as the vehicle being towed meets trailer standards you are fine.
eg. rego, working lights, brakes if necessary, weight restrictions.
you don't need to sit in the vehicle, its just like a trailer.

modman

Post by **Dozoor** » Thu Nov 13, 2003 4:05 pm

Responce i got when asking rta tech section , But of course you must make your own enquires,
The vehicle attached to the a frame must be REGISTERED,
There was no talk of wieghts or brakes,
The driver of the tow vehicle should be of adequate experience and ability.

So i would say by the last sentance if you have a bingle your wide open. :lol:

Post by **DAZ** » Thu Nov 13, 2003 4:15 pm

Yes i intend to conect up lights and breaks i have that figured the veichael being towed is well under 2 ton carnt remember weight i know it is legal with some one in it but i dont wont any one in it

Post by **Nev62** » Sun Jun 25, 2006 9:49 am

Here is the link to the NSW RTA info sheet on A Frames http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/registration/ ... /vsi41.pdf

Post by **sudso** » Sun Jun 25, 2006 3:42 pm

Dont forget to anchor the steering wheel to the floor near the front seat with rope so it can only go about half a turn otherwise it'll go over centre and your rig will be all over the place.
Dont lock the steering solid, it needs to turn a little bit for the tighter corners.
Farmers tow their utes all the time like this with an A Frame.

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Towing with an " A " Frame

Towing with an " A " Frame

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