A Frame

 ,Thanks Ray.I found it to be a VERY good system,enabling even more touring into areas where a motor home might not go..I still use a "Smart" to do just that ,but carry it in the garage of the " Concorde" ,even find it quicker to get out and use ,than unhooking the 'A'frame etc !! 

Did 4500 miles with ours last summer through to Croatia. My top tips:-

1. Elec connection, loop this over the top of the tow bar instead of hanging underneath. Mine caught twice getting on and off ferries.

2. Check your sites out on Google maps and consider unhooking a couple of miles up the road in a supermarket and viva versa when leaving - but you'll know more about access at that point.

3. The car boot is useful for dirty washing!!!!

4. Reversing, I simply locked the steering and disconnected the brake. Reversing around a 90 degree corner isn't to be tackled regularly as I am sure this is going to put a lot of stress on the car ball joints.

5. Be careful pulling away from toll gates especially when the customs officers think the car isn't attached!! Nearly killed at least 2!!!

6. I gave up trying to explain the car behind was ours and I needed to pay extra, I just smiled and drove away it was far easier and cheaper - I did try to be honest!!!!!

7. Quick stops I simply left the frame attached to the car and trundled to the pitch driving the car slowly - with cocky wheel of course.

8 And finally, 3 times getting off a ferry, people were determined not to let the mini (attached) in the queue... one particular woman was determined and drove her 4x4 into the side of the ferry as a result!

9. Don't forget to take the ignition key out when parking up, not that a thief would get very far!!

It sounds like a lot of drama but actually it wasn't. Really easy and we benefited greatly from having the flexibility. Used @ 10% extra fuel but a remap on the motorhome equalised this.

We have an over run braking A frame. We did initially take it to europe we had 4 successful trips, then we got stopped in German and Belgium. Now we don't take it, it not worth the hassle. The bit of paper they give you means nothing to the european police, they are not interested. Lutz (where is he) explained it all many a time, the fact is they are illegal in europe end of.

We have tried reversing with our A frame but as explained with over run it just does not work, the minute the towing head compresses the brakes come on. 

We now only use the A frame in the UK when abroad we either take the trike on a trailer or we just take the ebikes. Less stress more enjoyable holiday.

It's important to make a note here about some cars and being towed.  Some have restricted speeds when towed to avoid damage to gearboxes etc.  This is mainly for automatic and electric vehicles, but some manual cars also specify maximum towing speeds or durations.  This is all listed in the car manual.

It's also important to make sure that all of your insurance companies cover the car, the towing frame, the motor home and the combination of the three. 

We have a new braked A frame and will be using for the first time (in the UK) in a few weeks time.  We had a few practices at putting it in and off but are making a fist of lining up the car with the towbar.  Does anyone have some useful tips about how we go about it, we have given our neighbours hours of fun watching us struggling!

 A reversing camera helps enormously !!

Surely its not much of a problem with two of you, is it? Develop a series of hand signals and ensure the person at the back knows when he/she can be seen in your mirrors. I guess you've never had a caravan........

I've  only ever seen the towed car being driven to the back of the motorhome, usually she drives the car & he holds the A frame and gives direction ...... both can clearly see each other. I'd  have thought that reversing the motorhome to the car with one holding the A frame & shouting directions to someone 15/20 feet away above the noise of a diseasal engine .... I SAID ...  would be hard work.

I suppose though that he would have trust her not to run him over while driving to the back of the motorhome 

>Here is< my tip. It works well with the hitches that have a catch to keep them open until they drop on. For hitches that have no catch cut a piece of wood to size to jam open the hitch which you then remove when the hitch has dropped onto the ball.

peedee

Returning to the original post, there is no piece of legislation anywhere, whether in the UK or on the Continent, that even mentions A-frames. For lack of legislation one can say that they are tolerated in the UK, but on the Continent the unit, car plus A-frame, is treated as a trailer and it must therefore fulfil all requirements that apply to a trailer and this includes whole vehicle type approval. This is something no A-frame can comply with, hence the illegality on the Continent.