Best way to get a donor car home???

[BAUR335I]

Was also looking at an A-Frame but was told by a garage that if my car was declared sorn that I might incure fines.Not sure if this is correct or not but it was enough to pusuade me to pay a poundper mile to an insured recovery driver.Please let me know if this is wrong as I would still be intrested in buyin one.

[C33]

yeah those born after a certain year cannot tow a trailer legally - those old farts who have greys and wrinkles can !!!!!

one advantage to being old

Im 35,

do you know what the certain year is?

Anyone passing their test after Jan 1997 doesn't automatically have B+E on their licence, you need to do a separate test to gain it. Without it, you can't drive anything with a maximum *possible*train weight over 3500kg, ie if youre in a Discovery weighing 2000kg, you are breaking the law by towing a trailer weighing 500kg and capable of towing anything over 1000kg (all nice round figures to help the example). Even if the trailer has nothing on they can still do you for intent...bastids.
Thankfully my trailer isn't plated ;)

Regards
Iain

[m666w]

i had a vehicle moved from gosport to wolves was 176 miles door to dooor i paid 200 notes wish i was really happy about , not alot really when you think thats 352 miles in total , i can get you his number if you want it worth a call just for a quote , the bloke was from cradley heath ,

[redsmasher]

I took a mate with me to buy a donor car from a scrapyard (cat c), only I'd seen pictures, his face dropped when he saw the OSR had been caved in giving serious 'toe in'. When I told him he was driving it home he nearly punched me.
He drove the 25miles home 'crabbing' down the A64 at 40mph. I wouldn't recommend it though, we were young and dumb (no tax, test or insurance on the donor).
Still, got us home, paid him in pints.

[redsmasher]

I've also had cars trailered by a local bodyshop, towed by rope and put on a hiab by a scrap merchant (other names apply here!).

[magpie]

Been looking at these.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/CAR-RECOVERY-A-FR ... dZViewItem

buy it,
use it,
then e-bay it!

anyone used one?

Anyone?

these are the nuts,no one needed to drive other vehicle at all.
it steers itself.i've had my 1st fragger brought home by one.
very impressed with it.not mine though

[jbh]

we've towed a few door cars home on a rope or straight bar. also towed a few fraggers home this way as well used a tow dolly for the blue 325i I'm breaking and we've never had any problems when doing this.

[E30Gheko]

Been looking at these.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/CAR-RECOVERY-A-FR ... dZViewItem

buy it,
use it,
then e-bay it!

anyone used one?

Anyone?

these are the nuts,no one needed to drive other vehicle at all.
it steers itself.i've had my 1st fragger brought home by one.
very impressed with it.not mine though

My mate's got one and I've used it to tow cars in from all over the country. I've never been pulled by the cops and they have overtaken me several times on the motorway whilst using it.

They are very cool indeed, especially if the car you are using to tow is not that big. They don't upset your rear suspension as much as a car on a trailer would, and most car trailers I have used weigh half a tonne or more, which obviously adds to the overall weight of whatever you are towing.

Using my old E30 325i auto, I towed another 325 donor car from Doncaster to Merseyside, and a rover from Kent to Merseyside. Also picked up an E21 from Birmingham. It's the way forward. I just stick a light board on the car I'm towing and nobody seems to bother you.

You need to watch things like your braking distances and also u can get into trouble if you try to negotiate a round about too quickly, as both me and the owner of the A-Frame that I use have found out! If u drive using a softly softly catchy monkey tecnique (yes that's the correct technical term) You should be fine.

I'm seriously considerin buyin my own.

[magpie]

I'm seriously considerin buyin my own.

me too at that price.
win win win

[E30Gheko]

Oh yeah, and the whole A-Frame folds up. I could get it all in the boot of my E30 along with the light board no problem at all. It's kinda wierd havin a ghost car tail gate u all the way home tho!

Also I have used two different types. I think the one in the ebay ad is the best one to get. The other one had some big rubber pads which went on the front of the towed car, and the rubbing damages paintwork over long distances. Fine if its just a fragger but a bit gutting if its not.

[rossmc88]

I got a guy that towed my e30 from Larbert to Glenrothes for £35 and that wasn't mates rates, that was an 80 mile round trip

[E30Gheko]

I'm seriously considerin buyin my own.

me too at that price.
win win win

I only glanced at the advert. That is actually a VERY good price for one of these. My mate paid around £240 for his. I'm sorely tempted myself, but I have no tow bar just now.

[leeparkes]

Thanks for all the input guys,and Daimlerman thanks for your offer!

Ive been looking into these A frames and they are an excellent idea (if there strong enough)

Thanks

[E30Gheko]

Ive been looking into these A frames and they are an excellent idea (if there strong enough)

The mate of mine who owns one buys, sells & repairs volvos. He regularly tows in old volvo estates with his no problem at all. They hook on around the steering arms of the car with chains. If you put it on right the whole rig is very solid.

Let us know if you buy one!

[Dezzy]

Can anyone shed any light on this. I have the use of an a frame. I have used it many times. Its a proper one that the aa used to use. My mate whos it is tried to toe his e34 5 with it and it wouldnt work. When he looked into it its because of the shape of the bottem arms. It stopped the 5s wheels turning, am i right in thinking you cant a frame e30's. Trailer is defos best alround. If you A frame a car it is classed as a trailer though because as someone already said it doent need steering

[E30Gheko]

am i right in thinking you cant a frame e30's.

Nope. I've had them on A frames no probs at all.