Ariel.Club Forum

I know its not ideal, but do you think there could be any real issues with using one of these to tow my beloved Atom around?
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Phoenix-Car- ... Sw3C5fjr~j

Wearing out your rear tyres even faster than they do already?

Really can't win!

Could get a set of wheels and road tyres just for the towing.

Apart from that, does anyone else see any other issues?

Using a dolly has already been discussed in the forum do a search using the term.

From memory of the various posts in the forum I seem to remember that it was established that in the UK using dolly is only legal for vehicle recovery purposes (e.g. RAC and the AA) but I have a 'folk'memory that is not legal to tow a functional vehicle from place to place using a dolly?

Check online

I use a tow dolly for track events. It's 120 miles rounds trip. I've done it 10 times this summer. Super simple. Happy to help if you have questions.

Henry's comments on a Towing Dolly and how it is illegal :-

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=16631&p=283005&hilit=dolly#p282997


Another link :-

viewtopic.php?f=1&t=16582&p=282367&hilit=dolly#p282344

Or... another option...

.......Just when I thought I was doing OK in life!

Seems that the factory are Ok with the use of dolly's as long as the car is in neutral, there is no issue.

The main problem with using a Dolly is that, unless you tap into the braking system of the towed car (a la motorhome towed cars) the max legal speed you can tow at in the UK is only 40mph!

autobackup wrote: ↑Thu Oct 29, 2020 8:31 pm The main problem with using a Dolly is that, unless you tap into the braking system of the towed car (a la motorhome towed cars) the max legal speed you can tow at in the UK is only 40mph!

Is that true, even if the dolly trailer is braked?

Extract from regulations :

"..........However, if “dollies” are used for the transportation of perfectly functioning vehicles they will need to be fitted with an operational braking system. Additionally the brakes on the wheels of the towed car which are in contact with the road must work and meet the specified 50% braking efficiency required for a trailer. .........."

To get the full picture you will need to take a 'deep dive' into this UK government webpage - including all the sub regulations and appendices!

https://www.gov.uk/government/publicati ... nd-dollies

Basically - to my understanding - the general purpose of the Towing Dolly regulations - i.e. what is intended by these regulations - is that this method of towing is mainly for the recovery of broken down vehicles.

- motor homes with an attached 'A' Frame Dolly for towing a small 'satellite car usually have quick release hydraulic brake & electrical connections plumbed into the towed car so when the motor home is braked it also brakes the rear wheels of the towed car and also operates the brake lights (and side lights at night).

A few years ago, shortly after I retired, my wife and I rented an enormous Winnebago for 3 months for an extensive tour of the USA which included a small towed car with both hydraulic brake and electrical connections between the two but I am unsure whether this option is offered (or even available?) in UK motor homes - but a dealer should be able to inform you whether such quick release connections could be fitted to an Atom/Nomad

Sometime ago I investigated using a Dolly which was extensively discussed in this forum - after quite a bit of research I concluded that buying a bespoke trailer from PRG was by far the better option!

Would you rack up mileage with the rear wheels on the road?

Or maybe not with the LCD dashes and the electronics switched off. Probably just an an 'analogue' issue.

Ok, as you were...

autobackup wrote: ↑Fri Oct 30, 2020 9:31 am Extract from regulations :

"..........However, if “dollies” are used for the transportation of perfectly functioning vehicles they will need to be fitted with an operational braking system. Additionally the brakes on the wheels of the towed car which are in contact with the road must work and meet the specified 50% braking efficiency required for a trailer. .........."

I'm not too concerned about the legalities, I think it would be a really poor bobby who stopped me for towing using this method.
What I am more interested in is damage to the car, and the implications of towing for long distances using the Dolly.
There seems to be little evidence of anything negative with regards to these points.
There is the little wear factor on the rear tyres too, but this will be minimal.
It seems a lot of people use them for exactly the same reason I intend to, for Atoms and other cars.
I am also looking into other options.....
My main problem is, I only have a garage that is 15ft long, and so any trailer will have to be b£spok£, whereas the dolly easily fit, and in comparison is much cheaper.