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Omega Help Area => Omega General Help => Topic started by: age_of_generals on 12 July 2010, 20:31:27

Title: car trailer hire in cambridge
Post by: age_of_generals on 12 July 2010, 20:31:27
hi all, anyone know of a trailer i could hire in cambridge for 24hrs? going rate is 30-45 for one day but don't want to go too far to fetch it.
cheers
Title: Re: car trailer hire in cambridge
Post by: Welung666 on 12 July 2010, 21:11:33
Depends what you want to move? I have an A-Frame.
Title: Re: car trailer hire in cambridge
Post by: age_of_generals on 12 July 2010, 21:31:29
i have an a-frame but have been told that it would be illegal?

and only the aa, rac, recoverys can use a-frames becuase of the definition of a trailer in motoring law having to be braked over 750kg etc etc

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Depends what you want to move? I have an A-Frame.
Title: Re: car trailer hire in cambridge
Post by: Welung666 on 12 July 2010, 21:36:27
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i have an a-frame but have been told that it would be illegal?

and only the aa, rac, recoverys can use a-frames becuase of the definition of a trailer in motoring law having to be braked over 750kg etc etc

Depends on your license. ;)
Title: Re: car trailer hire in cambridge
Post by: age_of_generals on 12 July 2010, 21:38:41
what do you mean?

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i have an a-frame but have been told that it would be illegal?

and only the aa, rac, recoverys can use a-frames becuase of the definition of a trailer in motoring law having to be braked over 750kg etc etc

Depends on your license. ;)
Title: Re: car trailer hire in cambridge
Post by: Entwood on 12 July 2010, 21:39:43
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i have an a-frame but have been told that it would be illegal?

and only the aa, rac, recoverys can use a-frames becuase of the definition of a trailer in motoring law having to be braked over 750kg etc etc

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Depends what you want to move? I have an A-Frame.

Not quite sure what you mean .. as the AA, RAC and other recovery firms are subject to EXACTLY the same laws as you and I.

The only thing that might be differences are the level of driving licence that you hold, and the weights of the vehicles.

 If you are a recently qualified licence holder with only a category B then YOU may not be able to use the A-frame .. but someone with a B + E or C1 + E or C +E may well be able to.

The weight aspect gets quite complicated .. so I'll leave that for now ....  What do you wish to move, and what do you intend to move it with ??
Title: Re: car trailer hire in cambridge
Post by: age_of_generals on 12 July 2010, 21:41:38
moving a MK 3 toyota supra with me trusty 2.5td about 65 miles from cambs to london
Title: Re: car trailer hire in cambridge
Post by: Welung666 on 12 July 2010, 21:41:53
Towing weight restrictions came in with the removal of 7.5t on the car license. The official line on A-Frame towing for the Gen.Pub. is for short emergency recovery only. I've towed cars on A-Frames for hundreds of miles and never had any of the motorway or local police I've passed bat an eyelid.
Title: Re: car trailer hire in cambridge
Post by: Entwood on 12 July 2010, 21:52:08
According to t'internet .. Supra is around 1500 Kg empty.  2.5 TD is around 1800 Kg. A frame around 200 Kgs ??

so .. 1800 + 1500 + 200 =  exactly 3500 Kgs train weight, with a towed weight of 1700 Kgs .

I can't find towing details for the 2.5 TD .. you'd need to check the VIN plate... but provided the max train weight is more than 3500 you would be legal to tow with a B + E .. as the trailer is unbraked then because it is over 750 kgs it CANNOT be towed on a B only licence.

My understanding of the rules .. :)
Title: Re: car trailer hire in cambridge
Post by: Welung666 on 12 July 2010, 21:56:25
2.5TD saloon:-

Kerbside 1750kg
Towabale weight 2150kg
Max train 3900kg
Title: Re: car trailer hire in cambridge
Post by: age_of_generals on 12 July 2010, 22:03:18
I thought and am fairly certain that a trailer weighing above 750kg must be braked, and an a-frame attached to a car is not braked.

secondly, the car i'm towing is sorn, so could i really get away with it being an emergency ?
Title: Re: car trailer hire in cambridge
Post by: Welung666 on 12 July 2010, 22:05:12
A-Frame towing is partially braked due to the weight of the towed car pushing forward making the tracking tow out. I doubt you'd even get a second look TBH.

EDIT: to add... as the towed vehicle is on the road whilst under tow it should officially be taxed and MOT'ed.
Title: Re: car trailer hire in cambridge
Post by: Kevin Wood on 13 July 2010, 10:29:29
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A-Frame towing is partially braked due to the weight of the towed car pushing forward making the tracking tow out. I doubt you'd even get a second look TBH.

Not sure you could argue that gives any significant braking, TBH. The law is clear. A trailer over 750kg must have a braking system operated by a hydraulically damped coupling and a parking brake operating on at least 2 road wheels. In addition, a coupling is required to automatically apply the brakes in event of separation of the trailer from the vehicle.

So, regarding the car as a trailer, you're well outside the law regardless of the license you have.

That leaves you towing a "disabled vehicle" "to a place of safety". IMHO.

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EDIT: to add... as the towed vehicle is on the road whilst under tow it should officially be taxed and MOT'ed.

Yep. If its' wheels are on the ground it must be road legal.

For the sake of £30 a day a trailer is the more sensible option, IMHO. Bear in mind that the trailer will weigh 500-600 kg though. Personally, I'd much rather be towing a slightly overweight for the car but properly engineered braked trailer than 1700kg of unbraked, untaxed car on an A-frame.

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Towabale weight 2150kg

That sounds high to me. It's only 1850 for the V6 petrol models.

Kevin
Title: Re: car trailer hire in cambridge
Post by: Dishevelled Den on 13 July 2010, 10:37:19
Of course the insurance implications of the 'A' frame method (in these circumstances) would also have to be considered.
Title: Re: car trailer hire in cambridge
Post by: age_of_generals on 13 July 2010, 11:17:53
yeah, i would much rather go for the trailer option, and so to the original question, trailer hire in cambs?
Title: Re: car trailer hire in cambridge
Post by: andyc on 13 July 2010, 13:42:39
try yell.com. put in car trailers cambridge, lots listed

Andy