A Frame towing

Hi Peter,
I would imagine that there would not be a lot of difference between a 2.3 tonne cruiser or a 2.3 tonne caravan being towed.

I would have no hesitation towing a cruiser on a car trailer behind my 80 series.
All up weight would make me illegal, I would think, but the cruiser would cope no problems.

Just a thought
Bruce.

Bruce
I was thinking more of the legal angle and remember that most Landcruisers rarely weigh anywhere near the tare weight especially with a/c, bullbar and towbar fitted.
I also forgot to add that you shouldn't flat tow anything that doesn't have a neutral position in the transfer case, not sure about the constant 4wd 80 and later cruisers either.
Also the ignition has to be in accessory position to free the steering ;-)))
There is a good section on the CMCA forum re A frame towing, also some horror stories when the vehicle is left in gear and the engine is destroyed.

Hi Peter,

So long as the vehicle being towed is within the legal limit of the towing vehicle I cannot see a problem.

However you raise an extremely valid point with regard to flat towing a 4 wheel drives.

This is why most vehicles A frame flat towed are suzukis as there are very few 4 wheel drives that satisfy the criteria you mention, especially in the small 4X4 range, apparently.

Cheers, Bruce

Hi Phil,
I have seen a certified A frame when I was steying in a park at Mingo Crossing near Mt Perry back in June last year.

The brakes were applied via an over ride set up with a cable working the brake pedal. This would have worked the brake lights. The blinkers were setup via a Hella plug and I am sure that the main lights are worked in the same plug.

It was engineer certified and it was made from light wall RHS from what I could see, and I had a very very close look at it as my bother has a motor home and is going to tow his Zook Vitara behind it. We will most likely make one up ourselves and get it inspected by an engineer just as we are doing with his imported motor home which we have converted from right hand drive to left hand drive.

I was thinking of devising a method of working the brakes electronically but have not as yet put enough thought into it to come up with a solution.

I think what most A frame towed vehicles need is a breakaway safe unit set up in them. That is what we will aim for.

Cheers, Bruce.

Exactly. They need to get all this done properly and legally. I do not think you can just drop into woollies and buy one.

Phil

Hi Alistair
From what I am led to believe A frames were not approved in NSW until a short while ago. I was told that if someone out of state had one on then they were automatically pulled over and asked for their engineers certificate. So I was told.
May not be true.

If that was the case then probably in the face of so many vehicles coming across the border using the A frames for flat towing the authorities saw the writing on the wall and relented. Either way it is a win for NSW as they are now legal providing they are engineer certified.

Cheers, Bruce

Landcruisers have a transfer case which you put into neutral. Auto trans doesn't matter.

Or have I missed something????