Towing vehicle behind Motor Home A frame v Dolly trailer
Willops said
09:07 AM Apr 25, 2015
Hi All,
We have a new Motorhome arriving late June an Avida Esperance 26ft with Iveco 50c-17 chassis.
we think we will need a vehicle to tow behind, the question is which is better A frame or Dolly trailer with brakes.
We are thinking of a Front wheel drive vehicle with Dolly trailer or small 4WD with A frame ?
Has anyone towed a dolly type trailer with a motorhome ? capacity of the trailer is 2000kg with 220kg the trailer = 1780kg for vehicle and contents.
Understand the limitations on towing regs just the decision on the towing aplication I guess we unsure of.
Peter_n_Margaret said
09:12 AM Apr 25, 2015
Before you spend that money, travel without a toad.
Cheers,
Peter
Lozza1956 said
09:14 AM Apr 25, 2015
Hi. We tow a car trailer with a Suzuki jimny on board. Your Esperance can tow 3500kgs, if you have the correct tow bar. All up the trailer and car only weigh 1700kgs.
there is however the trap of then having an overweight vehicle. If you are going to tow anything at all with your motorhome you will need to have it rerated. If you need to talk pm me and I'll answer your questions.
cheers,
Laurie.
Bruce and Bev said
10:27 AM Apr 25, 2015
Hi Willops. Be aware that each State has its own requirements for this and it will depend where you will have the RV registered. As well as getting valuable input from others who cart a car behing their MH, go talk to a Transport Inspector at a Transport Dept inspection depot and find out what legal requirements your State has
wendyv said
05:43 PM Apr 25, 2015
We A-frame a Terios behind our Coaster. At home, the Terios is my run-around.
Accept that it means extra wear on Terios tyres and moving bits in the wheels, etc. But for us the benefits outweigh those "costs".
It tows beautifully - don't know it is there, except for seeing it in rear view camera. Nothing whatsoever like towing the caravan we had in our former travelling phase.
I can hitch and unhitch by myself, when needed - less than 5 minutes to do either.
When on site, the hitch folds up behind bus, out of way, making it easier to fit both bus and Terios on site when in caravan parks.
baysidetas said
08:22 PM Apr 25, 2015
In some states putting a car up on a gypsy trailer is classed as having a double tow (ie motorhome towing the trailer and the gypsy towing the car) and this is illegal.
Do not know of anyone who has been charged but it may be a problem in any case of an accident etc.
Best check with your state transport department.
Barrie
shekon said
11:26 PM Apr 25, 2015
Hi, I travelled for 12 months without a tow vehicle, in a motorhome as a solo. Walked a lot and stayed put a lot. Have had a tow vehicle, A frame towing, for the past 6 months and love it. Have no problem hitching and unhitching, the car has paid for itself many times over I feel. I now have more freedom to explore and particularly in places where I cannot get my MH.
Have a look at saftowing.com, great company to deal with, and I have had no problems at all. Love it and would not have it any other way now.
MrC said
10:31 AM Apr 26, 2015
Hi
I have used both. Gypsy trailer was first and found it OK but then changed vehicle and upgraded to A Frame would not go back to gypsy trailer, A Frame is so easy to us and very easy to store when not in use.
woolman said
12:12 PM Apr 26, 2015
Now use an A frame and would not go back to any other form for taking along a car for simplicity and convenience. Certainly would not be without the Suzuki when travelling about.
Neil
Cliff and Sue said
01:40 PM Aug 31, 2015
Hi
Have just purchased a motor home and looking to A Frame a Suzuki Jimny behind. Although I can tow up to 4.5 tonne behind the Aveco Daily, WA rate A Frame towing at 1 to 3.5 of tare weight. That,s about 1.3t max so a Jimny is the best I can do - it weighs 1.050t. Problem is getting an A Frame towing kit to fit. The base plate seems to be the problem. Be nice if someone knows where to pick one up.
Cliff and Sue.
-- Edited by Cliff and Sue on Monday 31st of August 2015 01:42:35 PM
wendyv said
06:10 PM Aug 31, 2015
Firstly, is the Jimny able to be flat towed? I considered one of these but would have had to fit some after-market piece of engineering to the transmission. To flat tow the car must have a neutral gear, I think is the issue.
Have you considered getting a second hand Daihatsu Terios? That is what we got and I think it would fit in your weight parameters. They are popular for flat towing and there are often ones available through the CMCA Market pages, though we bought ours from a dealer.
We bought a Ready Brute A Frame and the agent for these, who fitted it, was able to get a base plate that is made for the Terios. But I don't know if they make Jimny base plates because of the issue above. Our agent was eastern suburb Melbourne.
Cliff and Sue said
05:56 PM Sep 2, 2015
Hi
Thanks for the Info. Your right on all counts. You either get a dog clutch installed to tow the Jimny or take out the tail shaft. You can leave it out put the car in 4WD and run around as a front wheel drive.
Thought about the Terios - They stopped selling in 2005, hard to get a decent one now.
Thanks
jade46 said
06:50 PM Sep 2, 2015
Cliff and Sue A company in Queensland will sell you the a frame set up for a Jimny but yes you need to mod the drive train. the mod is called a "wizard" and cost about $2200
-- Edited by jade46 on Wednesday 2nd of September 2015 06:53:49 PM
-- Edited by jade46 on Wednesday 2nd of September 2015 06:54:40 PM
wendyv said
08:00 PM Sep 2, 2015
We got our Terios second hand in 2012. It had only done about 45,000kms - little old lady's run about in a country town. I had to do a fair amount of hunting about on the internet but had several good seeming possibilities - low kms etc. They are out there.
Hi All,
We have a new Motorhome arriving late June an Avida Esperance 26ft with Iveco 50c-17 chassis.
we think we will need a vehicle to tow behind, the question is which is better A frame or Dolly trailer with brakes.
We are thinking of a Front wheel drive vehicle with Dolly trailer or small 4WD with A frame ?
Has anyone towed a dolly type trailer with a motorhome ? capacity of the trailer is 2000kg with 220kg the trailer = 1780kg for vehicle and contents.
Understand the limitations on towing regs just the decision on the towing aplication I guess we unsure of.
Cheers,
Peter
Hi. We tow a car trailer with a Suzuki jimny on board. Your Esperance can tow 3500kgs, if you have the correct tow bar. All up the trailer and car only weigh 1700kgs.
there is however the trap of then having an overweight vehicle. If you are going to tow anything at all with your motorhome you will need to have it rerated. If you need to talk pm me and I'll answer your questions.
cheers,
Laurie.
Accept that it means extra wear on Terios tyres and moving bits in the wheels, etc. But for us the benefits outweigh those "costs".
It tows beautifully - don't know it is there, except for seeing it in rear view camera. Nothing whatsoever like towing the caravan we had in our former travelling phase.
I can hitch and unhitch by myself, when needed - less than 5 minutes to do either.
When on site, the hitch folds up behind bus, out of way, making it easier to fit both bus and Terios on site when in caravan parks.
Do not know of anyone who has been charged but it may be a problem in any case of an accident etc.
Best check with your state transport department.
Barrie
Have a look at saftowing.com, great company to deal with, and I have had no problems at all. Love it and would not have it any other way now.
I have used both. Gypsy trailer was first and found it OK but then changed vehicle and upgraded to A Frame would not go back to gypsy trailer, A Frame is so easy to us and very easy to store when not in use.
Now use an A frame and would not go back to any other form for taking along a car for simplicity and convenience. Certainly would not be without the Suzuki when travelling about.
Neil
Hi
Have just purchased a motor home and looking to A Frame a Suzuki Jimny behind. Although I can tow up to 4.5 tonne behind the Aveco Daily, WA rate A Frame towing at 1 to 3.5 of tare weight. That,s about 1.3t max so a Jimny is the best I can do - it weighs 1.050t. Problem is getting an A Frame towing kit to fit. The base plate seems to be the problem. Be nice if someone knows where to pick one up.
Cliff and Sue.
-- Edited by Cliff and Sue on Monday 31st of August 2015 01:42:35 PM
Have you considered getting a second hand Daihatsu Terios? That is what we got and I think it would fit in your weight parameters. They are popular for flat towing and there are often ones available through the CMCA Market pages, though we bought ours from a dealer.
We bought a Ready Brute A Frame and the agent for these, who fitted it, was able to get a base plate that is made for the Terios. But I don't know if they make Jimny base plates because of the issue above. Our agent was eastern suburb Melbourne.
Hi
Thanks for the Info. Your right on all counts. You either get a dog clutch installed to tow the Jimny or take out the tail shaft. You can leave it out put the car in 4WD and run around as a front wheel drive.
Thought about the Terios - They stopped selling in 2005, hard to get a decent one now.
Thanks
Cliff and Sue
A company in Queensland will sell you the a frame set up for a Jimny but yes you need to mod the drive train. the mod is called a "wizard" and cost about $2200
Link to a bar company
hitchngo.com.au/suzuki.html
Link to previous post
http://thegreynomads.activeboard.com/t60246642/towing-a-suzuki-jimny/
-- Edited by jade46 on Wednesday 2nd of September 2015 06:53:49 PM
-- Edited by jade46 on Wednesday 2nd of September 2015 06:54:40 PM