Unusual R620ti Query .. can an A-Frame be used ...

MGJohn · Post by **MGJohn** » Tue Apr 11, 2006 8:26 am

... to tow a Rover 620ti? Although I have a twin axle trailer I also have a professional quality A-Frame as used by the AA and other vehicle recovery agencies.

I'm seriously thinking of buying a non-runner 620ti for spares and plan to recover it using the A-Frame as it can be conveniently carried in the boot of my Rover. This 'spares' car does have an MoT.

Looking at the various structures on the front suspension of the 620ti, I see no reason why it should not be able to work according to the instructions that came with the A-Frame.

So, anyone had their 600 0r 620 recovered using an A-Frame or can confirm that it will work. Otherwise, it will have to be the trailer.

Your comments appreciated. Thanks in advance.
.

turboestate · Post by **turboestate** » Tue Apr 11, 2006 8:54 am

cant say ive used an A frame, but a straight bar is a pain in the yaris!

fluke · Post by **fluke** » Tue Apr 11, 2006 8:56 am

Straight bar is more than a pain, the angle of the eye on the front of a ti is crap, I bought a straight bar to get mine home after the second gearbox explosion

bleeding waste of money.

John is this an A frame with the 2 pads that sit on the bumper ?
A mate uses 1 and finds it damages most cars, cracking bumpers for instance.

R600RKT · Post by **R600RKT** » Tue Apr 11, 2006 9:50 am

An A frame may only be used to recover a car by a professional recovery body.
if used by Joe Public, then the towed car becomes an unbraked trailer and therefore is limited to a maximum authorised mass of 750key.
There are braked versions of A Frames which use mechanisms to activate the towed vehicles handbrake, I'm not sure if yours is this type, but if it is then the law is different.
HTH?
Richard

MGJohn · Post by **MGJohn** » Tue Apr 11, 2006 5:49 pm

Thanks to all for the informative feedback.

It's one of these .... http://i14.ebayimg.com/03/i/02/46/f3/31_1.JPG ... available on ebay for about 200 notes.

This is how it fits:

http://i8.ebayimg.com/03/i/02/46/e7/92_1.JPG

Regarding a straight bar for towing .... provided you have a clued up driver in the towed car who essentially is steering to keep the centre of each car in close alingment, there is no trouble. I have towed a 620ti with my teenage son steering it. I used my Turbo coupe as tow car.

He now has his own 620ti with tow bar (which at one time he considered removing as I suspect his mates told him they're uncool ..

) He used my tow bar recently to recover a mate's Rover which went through a flood in the middle of a rainy night which killed the electrics stone dead. Apparently it hit several inches of standing flood water at speed and slowed the car better than F1 brakes ... Been there done that once or twice.... real stopping power standing water ...

I bought the straight bar originally as a three piece kit. It had big eye hooks each end which did not work as well as I would like. I obtained a quick release ball hitch (15 quid) of the type fitted to professional trailers and modified that to fit in the centre section of the bar (discarding one of the end pieces) so that it could locate securely on the 50mm tow ball. This effectively shortens the distance between towed and towing cars and I've used it several times.

It works a treat but unlike the A-Frame, it needs a driver in the tow car. I can get a picture up of it if anyone's interested - it really is useful.

zozzie_9t9 · Post by **zozzie_9t9** » Wed Apr 12, 2006 3:08 pm

MGJohn wrote:He now has his own 620ti with tow bar which at one time he considered removing as I suspect his mates told him they're uncool ..

But a very useful form of defence against people who can't park very well!!!

Leo · Post by **Leo** » Wed Apr 12, 2006 3:19 pm

John - when I bought my 420t, it was a non runner. Dad and I hired an A frame type affair from HSS. It hooked onto the towbar of his Merc, and if I remember right, an affair of chain/ratchet straps attached onto the lower front suspension arms.

We found out quite quickly that the keys needed to be in the Rover so the steering wheel could turn (!!) but once that was done there were no problems.

No idea about the 750kg limit, it's the first I've heard of it. The Rover was unbraked (and unmanned) so perhaps we were illegal.

I have to admit I haven't looked at the pictures you posted, I'm at work and pushing my luck a bit as it is!

Good luck, I'm interested in how this turns out

Grant620 · Post by **Grant620** » Wed Apr 12, 2006 3:24 pm

How far did you pull it Leo?

Beaker · Post by **Beaker** » Wed Apr 12, 2006 3:25 pm

Don't think it has been mentioned, but I believed the vehicle needs to be taxed if the two front wheels are on the floor.

I maybe wrong but i thought that was the case.

MGJohn · Post by **MGJohn** » Wed Apr 12, 2006 4:44 pm

When I first saw an A-Frame being used to tow a broken down driverless car many moons ago, I could hardly believe my eyes. The towed car followed like a well trained puppy. A non-event apparently. Provided you keep the speed below say 50mph, ideally 40 mph, I see no reason to have problems braking provided you allow lots of additional distance for braking as you would when towing say a trailer.

... and yes, the keys must be in the ignition so that the steering is NOT locked.

As it happens, the original buyer of the non-runner 620ti who backed out of the deal later changed his mind so the car is no longer available to me.

Leo wrote:
I have to admit I haven't looked at the pictures you posted, I'm at work and pushing my luck a bit as it is!

Good luck, I'm interested in how this turns out

Just click on the links Leo - you'll see the sort of thing I have - identical except for colour as that shown in the pictures.

When I use the a-Frame, I'll report back. I expect it to be a non-event as they appear to work superbly.

Leo · Post by **Leo** » Wed Apr 12, 2006 7:19 pm

John - Am home now and just looked at the pics, it looks EXACTLY the same as the one we used on my 420. Totally agree about the 'well trained puppy' comment, it was quite surprising (after the steering lock was unlocked... *ahem*

)

Grant - towed it from Gloucester to home (NW London)

(not on the motorway obviously!)

Metromartin · Post by **Metromartin** » Wed Apr 12, 2006 8:59 pm

LOL so you are towing cars out of Glos and we are towing in

radddogg · Post by **radddogg** » Wed Apr 12, 2006 10:21 pm

MGJohn wrote:Apparently it hit several inches of standing flood water at speed and slowed the car better than F1 brakes ... Been there done that once or twice.... real stopping power standing water ...

Eeek! Not hydraulic lock?

Leo · Post by **Leo** » Wed Apr 12, 2006 10:31 pm

Metromartin wrote:LOL so you are towing cars out of Glos and we are towing in

Well, this was about 3 yrs ago!

MGJohn · Post by **MGJohn** » Thu Apr 13, 2006 12:40 am

radddogg wrote:
MGJohn wrote:Apparently it hit several inches of standing flood water at speed and slowed the car better than F1 brakes ... Been there done that once or twice.... real stopping power standing water ...
Eeek! Not hydraulic lock?

No ... fortunately ... Dryed out overnight and then immediate start next morning. Funny old game cars ..

.

That part of Glos alongside the River Severn frequently floods. I once drove through a foot of river floodwater near Maisemore right next to the Severn and a BMW followed me on the basis of anything you can do ..

As I emerged after about 100 metres, bystanders watching all the 'fun' applauded me and my faithful Montego - there were several cars nearby which obviously struck trouble ... as did the BMW which tried to follow me ... something to do with the location of the Air Intake ... What's hydraulic lock Dad? Dunno son.... 'appens a lot in that area apparently ... sometimes so bad road is closed with long diversions down narrow lanes....

calibrax · Post by **calibrax** » Thu Apr 13, 2006 9:13 am

Perhaps they made Rovers immune to hydraulic lock... after all, why would we need an alternative way to get water into the pistons, when we have HGF fitted as standard?

syzsounds · Post by **syzsounds** » Thu Apr 13, 2006 9:54 am

calibrax wrote:Perhaps they made Rovers immune to hydraulic lock... after all, why would we need an alternative way to get water into the pistons, when we have HGF fitted as standard?

escort diesel van ...flooded road ( about a foot and a half ...)

diesel right ? it wont stop .... and it didnt !

although i did find out the drain holes work both ways

cue smelly car and ripping the interior out to dry it all off ...dagnammit