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Towing using A frame question!

Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2008 8:34 pm
by lordyharmerz
hey peeps, new to the 4x4 scene and after a few trips out with a couple of sj's i have jumped in and bought a 410Q
trouble is its 100miles away with no tax or mot so i gota tow it home. i have the materials to build a simple A-frame, but dont know where is safe to attach to sj, my first thought was the solid looking bumper? or take bumper off and attach straight to chassis

She is sitting on low profile vitara wideboys(not for long) and with the Huge front bumper i cannot safely attach to leaf mounts (which would have been nice)

So now my babbling is out the way my question is Is it safe to attach to front bumper and leave ignition on (steering lock off) and drive away Safely?????? i gota do long motorway trip.

Thankyou for ure time

Re: Towing using A frame question!

Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2008 9:09 pm
by dan_2k_uk
i wouldnt like to tow one down the motorway by the bumper. I havnt done this myself but i think others may pass it through the tube behind the bumper but that would require the ends of the tube to be cut. Look at my anus in the projects section to see one cut off.

Trotter has an a-frame so im sure when hes online he will tell you.

Re: Towing using A frame question!

Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2008 4:04 pm
by trotter
i have a A frame but have never used it, i've heard very mixed opinions of them most of the folks on difflock are very against the idea as you are relying on the front wheels of the towed anus to automatically follow where the lead car is going rather than actually turning to stear round corners...and you are relying on the lead cars brakes coping with the weight of 2 vehicles!!

plus i've also been told that it is now illegal to tow a vehicle on a A frame except for emergency recovery to a safe point

but dont quote me on that as its only what i've heard.

if you are going ahead with it the best way is to attach it through the front chassis tube... the front bunper will not be strong enough!

see pics

this is the front tube of the chassis mine has been cut down in length and i have my recovery points mounted there.
Image

Image

Image

hope this helps etc also read this...

http://forum.difflock.com/viewtopic.php ... ht=framing

http://forum.difflock.com/viewtopic.php ... ht=framing

http://forum.difflock.com/viewtopic.php ... ht=framing

http://forum.difflock.com/viewtopic.php ... ht=framing

Re: Towing using A frame question!

Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2008 5:48 pm
by lordyharmerz
Thankyou. informative and fun, not much help now though my towing car has broken, bloody vectra's