We Get An Upgrade For Our Smart-Tow A-Frame
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- Опубликовано: 12 июн 2024
- We had our Smart-Tow A-frame upgraded by the good people at smart-tow.com. Plus, a quick look at how we've used the A-frame recently.
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Very very nice video, thank you Mr & Mrs Earnshaw. Your videos are entering and informative. Big hugs to Poppy
Nice bit of kit.
Good video again Bob... I totally get why you tow your small car with you. Gives you so much more freedom when away ;))
Very useful Demo. Not long now and I will be practising this routine. Thanks for the advice Bob 😄👍🏻 Trev
Good, concise, quality video Bob, thanks. Little interest to us as we won't be towing, 😁but well crafted and easy to follow. Sound quality improved by using commentary style and semi-scripted dialogue. Well done. 👍😊
Really interesting to see how this A-frame is installed and how it operates Bob. I'm an HGV driver and see them all the time on the roads.
Thanks for the feedback.
Cool system and nicely done! First you edited the instructional video, then narrated on it while watching it and then merged them together. :) (y)
just bought a Toyota aygo for towing. going to have it modified. We also have electric bikes to use but you are limited to weather and distance. Have used your videos for advice on how to do things. thank you.
Very good video Bob, I would only add two things, I always put an ON TOW on the back of the car, and after each towing trip I spray and clean the telescopic parts of the A frame with a silicon WD40 lubricant.
Thanks for your comments. What I was told when I bought the system, was that "On Tow" is used when recovering vehicles on a dolly, tow rope or similar. With an A-Frame the car becomes a trailer and uses the number plate of the towing vehicle, so no "On Tow" message should be legally necessary. However, I think it is a good idea to warn other road users that it is being towed. I am now using a silicon based lubricant now, as I was using grease before.
I've read that an on tow sign makes the car illegal, but can't remember where I saw it?
you are a brave man sir ,I wouldnt like to tackle towing a car behind a large motorhome :)
Soarinfan Videos Thanks, but it's easier than you think. Just need to take a wider line round corners.
NO, the car is NOT A TRAILER, its still a F*CKING CAR TWAT !!!!
Alan Pìerce look in the mirror Mr Troll
I like how this uses the towing eyes. I though that the original towing eye was a left hand thread. Did they have to replace the original one from the factory. I've read the comments on why you choose to tow a small car on the longer trips. It is what is suits you best. It is for the same reason that I tow a caravan with a 7 seater diesel MPV. The MPV is what suits my lifestyle best (carrying passengers, tip runs, 20 mile commute to work with a stretch of motorway and of course towing the caravan). I've had to do a voiceover on a video because some of my footage had no audio.
Parknest Thanks for your question. The towing eyes are both clockwise thread. Smart-Tow added another towing eye by modifying the crash bar. Absolutely agree with you our about choices. We all choose something that suits us. We have a small car, as it's just us and a Westie.
It looked like the fender was pulling away from the car there at the end.
Can you show us how you reverse with the a frame on ? Come on bob show us how good you are 😃
Kontiki 635 you can reverse with the car on and I've done it a couple of times, but because of the front wheel caster action on the car, you can't control where the car's front wheels point. Besides, the car has it's own engine... :-)
Nice one Bob. Can you keep this or do you use the old one? This is a better hitching up video than the last one. Enjoy your holidays. Oliver
Oliver Cox keeping this one. They took back the old one.
Hello bob watched your film with great interest, how things move on at a fast pace looks a great idea for towing and looks light and easy to set up , however if you would allow me to comment my concern is how much stress the towing eyes are under? Towing , braking, cornering etc , in my experience it does not take a lot for the towing eyes to break , but the fact you have 2 could relief the pressure abit
My experience is 16years with a yellow breakdown company I’m sure you can guess which one
At one point as I recall there were so many incidents on towing eyes a secondary strap was used as a breakaway and it’s fair to say recovery methods are alittle different and the stress points would be different too but still the same place of contact
Hope this helps please keep a eye on the towing eyes for bending etc and let us know how you get on
Sorry for being slightly negative Gavin
Love your films !
Gavin Streetie it's ok. I've been using the system for nearly 3 years now and the company has been going a lot longer. The system is fully proportionally braked, which I guess helps. I have every confidence in the system.
Bob Earnshaw after 3 years I’m sure you have good confidence don’t take any notice of mr paranoid 😶😶
Have a good holiday
Very interesting Bob, we are considering towing a car, can you explain the car electric hook up lead, is there a permanent fixing under the car Bonet ? Also what licence category do you need to do this, ta 👍
Martin Davies Thanks for the questions. The towing electrics are wired in permanently to the car. If you passed your test after 1st Jan 1997 you'll probably be limited to max vehicle weight of 3500kg + 750kg trailer. Before 1st January 1997 and under 70, like me you'll probably have C1 category on your licence and you'll be fine as long as you don't exceed the gross train weight of the vehicle. I did a whole video on licences. ruclips.net/video/vB53G-3t-Uk/видео.html
If you don't have the right categories - either B+E or C1 you can take additional trailer tests.
Great video Bob. Curious to know if god forbid something happened to the car when towing (someone drove into it for example) would you claim on your Motorhome or car insurance?
On the car insurance, but it is third party only, when being towed.
Interesting video, I wondered how it worked! A couple of questions if you don't mind Bob. If the key is in the ignition is the ignition set to on or off? I presume either way mileage increases on the car. Also, do the car lights run off the motorhome battery?
Simon Ingram Thanks for your questions. The car ignition must be off. You leave the key in the ignition after you unlock the steering column. The mileage doesn't increase on the car as the speedo only runs when the ignition is on and car is running. The lights run off the motorhome alternator since you plug the car into the motorhome, just like a trailer or caravan.
Nice job Bob, very instructive. Have you created a video listing the costs? It's such a great system, is it very expensive?
Thanks. It was £2500 for the A Frame system and fitting, 5 years ago. It was £500 for the tow bar fitted.
@@BobEarnshawMoHo much obliged!
Dear Bob, I really enjoyed the video. We bought our first motorhome in August last year, I'm now looking into a A frame for a car. What weight of car would you recommend for towing, we have a Mini Cooper S Convertible and wondered if this would be OK?
Thanks for your informative and enjoyable channel
Rob
It depends on the towing vehicle, if it's within it's towing capacity, and doesn't exceed the gross train weight, but fitted with a properly braked system should be OK. Sometimes it's about what cars can be converted by the supplier as well. Might be worth checking with
Mike Northeast
Mobile +447742667681
mike@smart-tow.com
@@BobEarnshawMoHo Thanks Bob, I appreciate your help and the contact. We have a Swift Lifestyle 664, I'll give Mike a shout!
I like the idea of the telescopic version to ease hitching up, not keen on the price though.
I have a question - I've not noticed you fit trailer triangles to the car when it is being towed, isn't that a legal requirement?
Yes you are correct, the car becomes a trailer and as such should have rear facing red reflective triangles. The car already has red reflectors but they are not triangular. Sometimes the law hasn't caught up with practice.
This is just what I need … how much is this system to buy please
I've no idea how much now, this was filmed a few years ago. Contact details are in the video description.
Bob could you tell me is your motorhome a 3.5 ton or larger? and what’s the train weight you can tow? Cheers
Richard West Thanks for the question. Our Swift Bolero has a max weight of 4250kg. The train weight is 6000kg. The max towing weight is 2000kg.
Bob Earnshaw brilliant thanks for that helped me out 👍🏻
What about the front wheels of the towed car, do they turn when you are cornering?
Thanks for the question. Yes they turn as you corner. They have a castor action. A bit like a supermarket trolley's front wheels.
I don't understand how the wheels can turn. Are they still connected to the steering wheel and the rest of it with rack and pinion. I don't get it, how are the wheels able to turn?
Thanks for your question. Someone else explains it quite well: How the steering allows the car to follow is really quite simple, it is the caster angle. In simple terms, the vertical spindle of the front wheels is set behind the horizontal spindle. Picture the front swiveling wheels of a child's buggy. As the frame of the buggy is steered by the handles the front wheels swivel on their vertical spindles and follow the frame.
The principle is the same on a car being towed, the body of the car follows the tow ball and the front wheels swivel on their vertical spindles and follow the body. it is necessary for the steering lock on the towed car to be set in the accessory position, this will allow the steering to turn. Don't worry it does work!
Thank you for your reply, but I don't understand it. Sorry about that!
That's OK, it just works.
Don't you need a drop-down on your tow hitch so that the frame is level.??
No, it does need to be level, it has hinges on the connectors.
WTF Did i just see a Sherman Tank joining the roundabout at 09:57!
Yes, built in Leyland!
Fortunately it's been decommissioned a while.
Hi, great video as usual. Could you please tell me where you got your car initially converted for towing and how much it cost. Was planning one for this year but it looks like it will be next year now☹️
Please watch the following videos:
ruclips.net/p/PLUi3rqw12j2q2q4KYGAnvYgnTiWI0cdiL
For the latest information, please contact
Mike Northeast
Mobile +447742667681
mike@smart-tow.com
Thanks for your informative video. We currently tow a four wheel car trailer, as we understand that A frame towing in Europe is illegal. Having said that we are considering an A frame system and my question is, is there any damage from stones etc thrown back by the motorhome? I see you don't seem to use any red triangles on the back of your car? Thanks Steve
Steven Ingarfill Thanks for your questions. Have a look at smart-tow.com/legal.htm for the legal aspects and towing in Europe. Yes you are right, because the car becomes are trailer, technically I should put warning triangles on the back of my car, but as it is already equipped with warning reflectors and lights and we we're told we don't need the reflectors. As for stones thrown up I've noticed any particular issue. The car does get a bit mucky sometimes. We did look into getting a towing cover but that was around £350.
you lock the car with the key in the ignition?
Yes, I lock it manually with the other key.
@@BobEarnshawMoHo how much does the conversion cost?...im thinking about getting the RS elysian, do you know much about it?
Best to check for the latest information, contact
Mike Northeast
Mobile +447742667681
mike@smart-tow.com
Don't know anytjing about the RS Elysium other than RS make very nice Motorhomes.
you should carrying SUZUKI NEW JIMNY in that tow for light offroad :D
Yes, that Jimny looks like a great little off reader, and that did cross my mind.
How do you fit a car A tow
Thanks for the question, it was on this video where we had it fitted. ruclips.net/video/2l_QQph_K24/видео.html
I’ve noticed quite a few Motorhomes towing cars and wondered why, if they need a car, they chose a Motorhome instead of a car and caravan. Could you explain please?
Thanks for your question. I was waiting for this comment! It's all about flexibility.
We don't take the car if we are on a tour staying one or two nights, and moving from place to place. We also don't take it to continental europe because it's more Motorhome friendly there. We bought a Motorhome because we like having everything with us and in the vehicle we are travelling in. Our opinion is that Motorhomes are easier to drive and quicker to set up on site than car and caravan. Towing a small car means that we can act more like a caravan when we stay longer at a site, nipping down to the shops or into the city and a small car is easier than a bigger car or Motorhome to take into those cities and drive on narrow country roads. Also, we still take the Motorhome out for a day trip even if we've taken the car with us. When we are at home we have an economical car to use and both fit on our driveway.
Like I said it's about flexibility. We can use a small car, or a motorhome when we choose.
Can you show us how you reverse the with a frame on ? Come on bob show us how good you are 😃
Just reading comments about reversing with a frame seems to me it’s a pretty poor system if can’t reverse what if you meet a larger vehicle in a narrow bit of road... was thinking of looking at one of these not now you would be made to look pretty foolish un hitching in front of a laughing truck driver 😂
Swift Roaming free Thanks for your comment. In the 3 years of using it if I've had to reverse twice. You can reverse but not with precision for a long distance. Don't make a decision based on a bit of banter!
Bob Earnshaw
Bob, how quickly can you decouple the car from the van if you need to do so because reversing is not practicable? I have seen videos of people who have just temporarily unhooked from the tow ball, and then simply raised the Aframe upwards so that it temporarily rests on the bonnet with the cables while they quickly reverse a short distance. I’m thinking for example of perhaps needing to quickly uncouple to minimise inconvenience to others.