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I have the idea of towing a microcar behind d'Ollie but know nothing about them at all.  We've just returned from France where new ones seem to be horrendously expensive to buy but very cheap to run.  Maybe, if I bought a used model, we could use it with the back seats down to carry clobber when towing.  Do they have a reverse gear?  Would I need to invest in a trailer to tow it on?  Are they reliable?  Is servicing a fairly basic task?

All information and helpful suggestions would be much appreciated!!!! 

d'Ollie is based on the new Renault Master with 2.4dci, whatever that means!

but this one comes under the 750 klgs for unbraked towing

http://www.micro-cars.co.uk/specs.html

Quote: Originally posted by EJB986 on 25/10/2008

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Even the DOT will not say that 'A' frames ARE legal. They will only give an unqualified opinion! Fact!

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Thanks Pete for the website about a-frames. I have copied it for future use.

As to other persons who may be interested in their legality, when I was towing a Morris Minor from South Wales to Scotland with a Ford Fiesta, I contacted the majority of the Police Departments that we were travelling through and I got the same answer from them all, as long as the car on the frame held a current MOT, then it was safe and legal to tow it.

As to fitting brakes to an A-frame, this is easy. You drill a hole through the bulkhead and through the brake pedal and fit a brake cable from the pedal to the over-run on the coupling. Make sure you have a provision to adjust the cable to stop brake snatch as you go over bumps. Also fitting a bungee cord from the brake pedal to the bottom of the steering wheel also helps with the braking but does not interfere with the steering.

There will always be pessimists who will argue against the use of A-frames but the same gays and gals will argue against the Loch Ness Monster and UFOs and we all know that these things are real!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Quote: Originally posted by LobeyDosser on 25/10/2008

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Quote: Originally posted by EJB986 on 25/10/2008

---

Even the DOT will not say that 'A' frames ARE legal. They will only give an unqualified opinion! Fact!

---

Thanks Pete for the website about a-frames. I have copied it for future use.

As to other persons who may be interested in their legality, when I was towing a Morris Minor from South Wales to Scotland with a Ford Fiesta, I contacted the majority of the Police Departments that we were travelling through and I got the same answer from them all, as long as the car on the frame held a current MOT, then it was safe and legal to tow it.

As to fitting brakes to an A-frame, this is easy. You drill a hole through the bulkhead and through the brake pedal and fit a brake cable from the pedal to the over-run on the coupling. Make sure you have a provision to adjust the cable to stop brake snatch as you go over bumps. Also fitting a bungee cord from the brake pedal to the bottom of the steering wheel also helps with the braking but does not interfere with the steering.

There will always be pessimists who will argue against the use of A-frames but the same gays and gals will argue against the Loch Ness Monster and UFOs and we all know that these things are real!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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I have been looking to tow an Aixam, Piaggio or Ligiers microcar behind my Fiat camper. They weigh about 550kg that is below the 750Kg braked limit requirement.

From past experience when we towed a Suzuki Alto (unbraked) behind a 2litre Petrol Talbot I would not hesitate in towing an Aixam unbraked if it came that way. Our insurers at that time agreed to this in writing.

Although a braked A frame would be used if I bought new.Obviously safer!The whole rig would be well within the gross train weight permitted. Another alternative is to tow a Secma QPod., these can be supplied fitted with a detachable tow bar and just lift up onto your towball and run on the rear wheels with the front wheels held off the ground. These weigh a measly 250kg or so.You can get full roof and door weather protection kit. Great fun.