Omega Owners Forum

Chat Area => General Car Chat => Topic started by: Gaffers on 07 October 2009, 21:11:47

Title: towing omega
Post by: Gaffers on 07 October 2009, 21:11:47
Firstly,

A) is it legal to tow an omega with another omega using an A frame, and,

B) if yes, does anyone have one I can borrow ::)
Title: Re: towing omega
Post by: waspy on 07 October 2009, 21:25:42
A. yes
B. no
Title: Re: towing omega
Post by: Entwood on 07 October 2009, 21:25:42
I don't think so ...... but could be wrong ...

My reasoning is this .. the VIN plate on mine (V6 Elite 2001 Saloon) gives the maximum vehicle weight as 2200 Kg and the maximum train weight as 4075 KG  ...

so my miggy (2200 Kgs) + another miggy (2200 kgs)+ an A frame (100 kg ?? )  = 4500 Kgs which exceeds the max train weight .... 

All towing laws on weights are based on plated weights and rarely on actual measured weights


There is further argument that an A - Frame is an unbraked trailer ... but I won't go into that !!
:(
Title: Re: towing omega
Post by: Gaffers on 07 October 2009, 21:27:36
Ok thats one-all.....

anyone else?  :y ;D
Title: Re: towing omega
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 07 October 2009, 21:28:09
Except, your miggy will not be at its maximum vehicle weight....its likely to be closer to 1750Kg

Your main problem is that you need a braked trailer so it needs somebody in it working the brakes.....and the towed vehicle needs tax, insurance and an MOT
Title: Re: towing omega
Post by: Gaffers on 07 October 2009, 21:29:43
The braking and tax, ins, mot, etc isnt a problem.....


....so anyone have an A frame?  pwerty pwease!  ::)
Title: Re: towing omega
Post by: Andy B on 07 October 2009, 21:32:10
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The braking and tax, ins, mot, etc isnt a problem.....


....so anyone have an A frame?  pwerty pwease!  ::)

How far are you planning on going?  How about a rigid tow pole? (not the crappy sprung bars from Machine Mart)
Title: Re: towing omega
Post by: Gaffers on 07 October 2009, 21:33:23
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The braking and tax, ins, mot, etc isnt a problem.....


....so anyone have an A frame?  pwerty pwease!  ::)

How far are you planning on going?  How about a rigid tow pole? (not the crappy sprung bars from Machine Mart)

Bristol to Camberley
Title: Re: towing omega
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 07 October 2009, 21:36:53
Auto or manual?
Title: Re: towing omega
Post by: Gaffers on 07 October 2009, 21:44:18
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Auto or manual?

auto, so will have to disconnect the driveshaft union... would it be legal to drive so far on a ridged towing bar?
Title: Re: towing omega
Post by: Andy B on 07 October 2009, 21:44:33
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The braking and tax, ins, mot, etc isnt a problem.....


....so anyone have an A frame?  pwerty pwease!  ::)

How far are you planning on going?  How about a rigid tow pole? (not the crappy sprung bars from Machine Mart)

Bristol to Camberley

As Mark is suggesting .....
if it's auto, your prop needs disconnecting or the whole lot on a trailer. You can't tow autos that far or you'll bugger it up.
if manual ...... you don't!  ;)
Title: Re: towing omega
Post by: Andy B on 07 October 2009, 21:45:18
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Auto or manual?

auto, so will have to disconnect the driveshaft union... would it be legal to drive so far on a ridged towing bar?

Legal or not, I'd not fancy it, in either car.  :y
Title: Re: towing omega
Post by: Lizzie_Zoom on 07 October 2009, 21:49:42
If you have not yet been put off Guffer, watch this:

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-xnw568hNo[/media]

 ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;) ;)
Title: Re: towing omega
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 07 October 2009, 21:56:16
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Auto or manual?

auto, so will have to disconnect the driveshaft union... would it be legal to drive so far on a ridged towing bar?

Yep, towed 100+ miles before on a rigid bar (and a machine mart one at that) which is no problem as long as the person in the rear car is good at towing (and uses the brake!).

You need somebody strong in the car as the steering is heavy
Title: Re: towing omega
Post by: KillerWatt on 07 October 2009, 21:58:29
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Bristol to Camberley
That's a fair old distance, and you won't be doing it (legally) on the motorway if you have to use a stiff bar.
Title: Re: towing omega
Post by: Lizzie_Zoom on 07 October 2009, 21:59:12
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Auto or manual?

auto, so will have to disconnect the driveshaft union... would it be legal to drive so far on a ridged towing bar?

Yep, towed 100+ miles before on a rigid bar (and a machine mart one at that) which is no problem as long as the person in the rear car is good at towing (and uses the brake!).

You need somebody strong in the car as the steering is heavy

That must be the understatement of the year!! ::) ::) ;D ;D ;D ;) ;)

Anyone know of a friendly gorilla?? :-/ :-/ :D :D :D ;)
Title: Re: towing omega
Post by: Gaffers on 07 October 2009, 21:59:13
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Auto or manual?

auto, so will have to disconnect the driveshaft union... would it be legal to drive so far on a ridged towing bar?

Yep, towed 100+ miles before on a rigid bar (and a machine mart one at that) which is no problem as long as the person in the rear car is good at towing (and uses the brake!).

You need somebody strong in the car as the steering is heavy

I was thinking one of my experienced colleagues in the front and me in the towed car :y

This could be a nice little fixer uper for me :y
Title: Re: towing omega
Post by: Gaffers on 07 October 2009, 21:59:46
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Quote
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Auto or manual?

auto, so will have to disconnect the driveshaft union... would it be legal to drive so far on a ridged towing bar?

Yep, towed 100+ miles before on a rigid bar (and a machine mart one at that) which is no problem as long as the person in the rear car is good at towing (and uses the brake!).

You need somebody strong in the car as the steering is heavy

That must be the understatement of the year!! ::) ::) ;D ;D ;D ;) ;)

You've never seen my guns though have you LZ?   ;)
Title: Re: towing omega
Post by: Lizzie_Zoom on 07 October 2009, 22:01:31
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Quote
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Quote
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Auto or manual?

auto, so will have to disconnect the driveshaft union... would it be legal to drive so far on a ridged towing bar?

Yep, towed 100+ miles before on a rigid bar (and a machine mart one at that) which is no problem as long as the person in the rear car is good at towing (and uses the brake!).

You need somebody strong in the car as the steering is heavy

That must be the understatement of the year!! ::) ::) ;D ;D ;D ;) ;)

You've never seen my guns though have you LZ?   ;)


Nope! :o :o :o  But I'm hoping to now Guffer!! :-* :-* 8-) 8-) ;D ;D ;)
Title: Re: towing omega
Post by: Andy B on 07 October 2009, 22:02:50
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.....
Yep, towed 100+ miles before on a rigid bar (and a machine mart one at that) which is no problem as long as the person in the rear car is good at towing (and uses the brake!).

You need somebody strong in the car as the steering is heavy

My 'sprung' rigid bar just folded up at a junction. The T junction dipped slightly as we approached the main road and as the towed Astra was braking, but obvioulsy using the bar to to stop too, the bar just bent UPwards rather than compress. The home made version with continued with the following day was fantastic - inch & 1/2 box section from the towbar to the front towing point.  :y  :y  :y
Title: Re: towing omega
Post by: Gaffers on 07 October 2009, 22:04:21
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Quote
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Auto or manual?

auto, so will have to disconnect the driveshaft union... would it be legal to drive so far on a ridged towing bar?

Yep, towed 100+ miles before on a rigid bar (and a machine mart one at that) which is no problem as long as the person in the rear car is good at towing (and uses the brake!).

You need somebody strong in the car as the steering is heavy

That must be the understatement of the year!! ::) ::) ;D ;D ;D ;) ;)

You've never seen my guns though have you LZ?   ;)


Nope! :o :o :o  But I'm hoping to now Guffer!! :-* :-* 8-) 8-) ;D ;D ;)

Lets hope Mrs Guffer doesn't change her lifelong promise of never coming on here!  :y  ;D ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: towing omega
Post by: HNO3GOH on 07 October 2009, 22:07:35
I did North yorkshire to Somerset on a fixed bar and all was fine. If you have a towbar with socket then get yourself a light board and put it on the rear of the towed car and plug that in just incase it has a dead battery :y
Title: Re: towing omega
Post by: Andy B on 07 October 2009, 22:21:38
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.......
If you have a towbar with socket then get yourself a light board and put it on the rear of the towed car and plug that in  ......

That's how my Astra was brought back
Title: Re: towing omega
Post by: Selseybill on 08 October 2009, 14:36:05
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Firstly,

A) is it legal to tow an omega with another omega using an A frame, and,

B) if yes, does anyone have one I can borrow ::)


Hire a dolly.the one the front wheel of the towed car wheels are off the ground.Hire is about £20 per day but don't forget a light board
Title: Re: towing omega
Post by: Marks DTM Calib on 08 October 2009, 15:14:56
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Quote
.....
Yep, towed 100+ miles before on a rigid bar (and a machine mart one at that) which is no problem as long as the person in the rear car is good at towing (and uses the brake!).

You need somebody strong in the car as the steering is heavy

My 'sprung' rigid bar just folded up at a junction. The T junction dipped slightly as we approached the main road and as the towed Astra was braking, but obvioulsy using the bar to to stop too, the bar just bent UPwards rather than compress. The home made version with continued with the following day was fantastic - inch & 1/2 box section from the towbar to the front towing point.  :y  :y  :y

At no point under towing should the bar be used to stop the car behind....if the tow person is any good, then the car in front should not have to use its brakes!
Title: Re: towing omega
Post by: deviator on 08 October 2009, 15:33:17
Quote
If you have not yet been put off Guffer, watch this:

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-xnw568hNo[/media]

 ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;) ;)


He was towing far too fast and wasn't paying any attention to what was happening behind him. Also did the steering lock come on? Trying to work out why they were struggling.
Title: Re: towing omega
Post by: Andy B on 08 October 2009, 17:58:52
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.....
At no point under towing should the bar be used to stop the car behind....if the tow person is any good, then the car in front should not have to use its brakes!

Fine in theory, but a none assisted Astra's brakes are hard enough to stop itself let alone the Omega up front, anyway there was a spring/damper in the bar that should have compressed first before the bar bent.  ;)
Title: Re: towing omega
Post by: I_want_an_Omega on 08 October 2009, 18:04:58
I don't know about the legalities, but I did this a couple of months ago. I towed a CDX V6 Auto Saloon with my CD V6 Auto estate to the scrapyard. The all up weight of both vehicles was about 3800KG IIRC, which included 2 passengers, the weight of the A frame etc. They then weigh you on the way out and deduct the weights to find out the weight of the scrapped vehicle.

Contact Mutant Cav as it was his frame, although it was damaged and I don't know if he has got it fixed as yet.

HTH .......... Rob
Title: Re: towing omega
Post by: omegadan67 on 08 October 2009, 19:50:09
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Bristol to Camberley
That's a fair old distance, and you won't be doing it (legally) on the motorway if you have to use a stiff bar.
AS far as i know... using a rigid tow bar(sprung or not) there is no limit to the distance you can tow motorway or other however it is not recommended due to needeing some one else in the towed car
Title: Re: towing omega
Post by: Gaffers on 08 October 2009, 20:31:54
Ok, it is legal to tow with a dolly?  Does it have to be braked?
Title: Re: towing omega
Post by: Lazydocker on 08 October 2009, 20:39:31
Save yourself the hassle... Find a tame bloke with a truck and get it recovered properly! Probably won't cost an awful lot more either ::) ::)
Title: Re: towing omega
Post by: Andy B on 08 October 2009, 20:42:47
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Save yourself the hassle... Find a tame bloke with a truck and get it recovered properly! Probably won't cost an awful lot more either ::) ::)

That is what I'd do too! :y