Towing question

Discuss all things technical

Moderator: moderator

Post Reply
Highwaylass
Posts: 90
Joined: Sat Apr 05, 2014 6:30 pm
CSC Membership Number: 2024
Country: UK
Region: West Midlands
Contact:

Towing question

Post by Highwaylass » Thu Oct 30, 2014 12:47 pm

I need to move a 2CV and a Lomax about 90 miles.

Could the 2CV tow the Lomax?

Geoff Ryall-Harvey
Posts: 568
Joined: Sun Aug 19, 2012 5:47 pm
Country: UK
Region: Cheshire

Re: Towing question

Post by Geoff Ryall-Harvey » Thu Oct 30, 2014 1:37 pm

Physically - yes
Legally - No, unless it is a genuine emergency.

Highwaylass
Posts: 90
Joined: Sat Apr 05, 2014 6:30 pm
CSC Membership Number: 2024
Country: UK
Region: West Midlands
Contact:

Re: Towing question

Post by Highwaylass » Thu Oct 30, 2014 2:50 pm

Thanks, Geoff - that's interesting. Why is it illegal? I had thought it might be the equivalent of a motorhome towing a Smart car.

callum
Posts: 107
Joined: Tue Jul 17, 2012 11:41 am
Country: UK
Location: Inverness
Contact:

Re: Towing question

Post by callum » Thu Oct 30, 2014 3:25 pm

>Why is it illegal?

:shock: I would have thought, that depending on how the lomax was built, it would be a case ofthe tail wagging the dog!

I think you'll find that the lomax exceeds the maximum unbraked towing weight for a 2CV (270kg)...

Rgrds
Callum
ImageImage Image

Geoff Ryall-Harvey
Posts: 568
Joined: Sun Aug 19, 2012 5:47 pm
Country: UK
Region: Cheshire

Re: Towing question

Post by Geoff Ryall-Harvey » Thu Oct 30, 2014 6:30 pm

It's the relative weights of the towed and the towing vehicle. That's why motorhomes tow a SmartCar and not a Ford Focus.

An "emergency" tow following a breakdown is permitted though.

I'd be more worried about the braking ability of the 2CV tow car than the towing power.

My Avion is under 300kg and I tow it with my C3 Picasso using an A frame - tows very well indeed.

BTW - I wouldn't consider towing anything 90 miles without an A frame or a trailer...

I wonder if you had a braked trailer for the 2CV whether you could use that to tow the Lomax???

hutchii
Posts: 257
Joined: Wed Aug 15, 2012 3:56 pm
CSC Membership Number: 1865
Country: UK
Region: SE

Re: Towing question

Post by hutchii » Thu Oct 30, 2014 10:40 pm

Highwaylass, I didn't see anywhere in you post that you intended to tow without a driver in the towed vehicle! If you're using an A frame, then I can understand the comments you've had. However, I'd have thought that a £24 spring towbar from Machine Mart, and an awake driver at the wheel of the towed vehicle who's prepare to use the brake pedal when necessary, it's do-able. I can't comment about the 2CVs ability as the tow vehicle as I've never tried to tow with one.

I wouldn't recommend it, but in the late '70s I towed a friends 1600E from Looe in Cornwall to Chatham, Kent, using a rope from Halfords, behind my 1200 Anglia. (He'd ignored the low oil pressure and knocked the ends out!) True the Anglia boiled a few times, and it took us nearly 11 hours, but the fact that the cars were loaded with all the gear required for 2 weeks camping holiday didn't help! One of the brew-ups was cause by my friend forgetting to take off the handbrake!

Highwaylass
Posts: 90
Joined: Sat Apr 05, 2014 6:30 pm
CSC Membership Number: 2024
Country: UK
Region: West Midlands
Contact:

Re: Towing question

Post by Highwaylass » Fri Oct 31, 2014 12:06 am

Thanks, everyone! Hutchii, I think you are trying to save my blushes, but yes, there is only me to do the driving. If I had a second person I would just get them to drive the Lomax (if they could understand the gearbox :D

Geoff Ryall-Harvey
Posts: 568
Joined: Sun Aug 19, 2012 5:47 pm
Country: UK
Region: Cheshire

Re: Towing question

Post by Geoff Ryall-Harvey » Fri Oct 31, 2014 7:17 am

I think the best bet will be to take the Lomax and then a one way ticket back for the 2CV...

User avatar
Jimmy Cooper
Posts: 312
Joined: Sun Sep 28, 2014 11:09 pm
CSC Membership Number: 2033
Country: UK
Region: South
Location: Liss, East Hampshire

Re: Towing question

Post by Jimmy Cooper » Sat Nov 01, 2014 10:01 am

I agree about getting the return train ticket......................or a friend to drive one of 'em back.
Only drive as fast as your Guardian Angel can fly!!!!

Post Reply