I have a two part question and looking for some advice please ?
We are due to get our new motorhome delivered this summer and ordered it with a factory fit towbar and electrics.
We intend on some of our U.K. touring to tow a small car
(we would not be taking the car on out European trips) , I am aware of the requirements for a trailer in most of Europe.
We are looking at the Towmaster system and the Tow a Frame systems . Both offering very similar features and being fully braked .
Can anyone using any of these give any thoughts to which system they prefer and why ?
I will be going to see them at the NEC and will need to
make a choice?
Second related question was the car , we intend to get a small Fiat Abarth 595 to pull behind the motor home, whilst touring in our current caravan, we have seen these being pulled by some motor homers.
I don’t mind a manual version, however the wife would prefer an auto as we also intend it as our ‘town car’ for use at home.
Does anyone who has one for towing know if the auto versions can be flat towed?
I know some automatic cars can’t be towed , but was told by one of the A frame companies that they have fitted the fully braked systems to an auto Fiat 595 ?
Thanks for any advice .
Hi Dave,
There are several choice for A frame suppliers - TAF Chesterfield, Towtal, Armitages. Ours was from towtal and is a heavy beast but looks more substantial than some I have seen. If you go for a trailer, then that is something else to factor in for storage on pitch.
What motorhome are you getting? What will its towing capacity be?
With regard to the car, you may well struggle with an auto car, best bet have a word with each of the firms either directly or at the show and ask. Also, as another thought if the car you want has LED lights at the rear, saw one on site once with LEDs and it needed a seperate light board on the back, may not be a problem, but I wouldn't fancy it rubbing my paintwork.
Hi George-Mildred
Some good advice , I can have a look at the makes you also mention.
Also interesting point about if the car has LED lights , I know the Matrix has LED rear Lights , so would it still need an external trailer board?
The Motorhome is an Adria Mattix Supreme MB (Mercedes ) cab, on an Alko chassis I believe ?
We have gone for the free uplate option to 4500 Kgs as the MH was above 3880 Kgs anyway .
We ordered it with the 170HP engine and 9 speed Auto .
Page 219 of Fiat handbook states automatic cannot be flat towed you need to trailer it. Think you will find same for other makes. Chap on next pitch to me last year had a Smart auto and he was having to trailer it.Apparently it is also applying to Electric cars according to article by the AA. Been considering Automatic Moho myself, all our motors are Autos, and would also need to trailer car,but after two years of doing homework have decided to stay with car/ caravan after looking at all pros and cons.
Hi Birdman
Yes we have done the same , it’s been more than two years we have been deliberating and wondering when to make the change to a MH.
We have been caravaners for over 30 years pulling twin axle caravans all over U.K. and Europe, but now both reached our late 60s children all flown the nest and we want to do more longer trips but actually tour.rather than long stays in one place, now we are semi retired.
What put the final lid on the decision was that this year we thought we would try touring South of France in some of the more rural areas , pre booking a few sites , with some as we go .
Most of the smaller sites in some lovely areas , we contacted wouldn’t take twin axle caravans., yet would take Motorhomes . This coupled with so many MH only aires made the final decision.
It will also be much easier for keeping the Motorhome next to the house at home.
We had considered going maybe back to a single axle caravan a few years ago , but would not go back to one now after the lovely tow of a twin.
We will also want ti do some off grid stop overs too.
I may consider at some point, for certain trips to Europe if I stay on a site for a long period, in buying a trailer to take the small car, however this would only be if there was any rare occasions stay on one or two sites for a long trip .
We will of course always have E bikes , will use Uber where required, and on occasion just hire a small car if I really felt the need. This would be cheaper than towing the car in Europe with the ferries, tolls and extra fuel.
As with so many people our age , with the touring we want to do now, and the flexibility the MH offers it’s the right time to change for us.
One of our needs as now been retired 25 years,is we both have mobility scooters so a garage was a must. All the ones we looked at,had garage wide enough to get them in but only one side seemed to have a door wide enough,the other side narrower. Therefore would have had to crawl inside with the first one to push it across. They both go in back of motor with no effort.
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: Which A frame ?
via mobile 18/2/2023 at 10:26am
