WHY A-FRAME

Many motorhome owners like the convenience of having a small car for running errands, exploring places where a motorhome would not go; you can even 4WD down the beach for that special fishing spot.

If you're away for a length of time, A-framing gives an added advantage so you're never stuck.

You've got your motor home, your itinerary (or perhaps not!) and a little car to tow behind for day trips. Several towing equipment options exist for bringing your vehicle along with you, including trailers, tow dollies and A-Frames. The easiest and cheapest solution for your towing problem is to use an A-Frame.

 

Ready to Tow

Unlike trailers or tow dollies, an A-Frame pulls the car behind the motor home on all four of the car's own wheels. It can be stored easily and involves the least amount of towing equipment. An A-Frame also takes up fewer parking spaces than a trailer or dolly. Hitch n Go A-frames are solid, welded units with arms that fold together for easy storage.

Folded for storage

Because of their relative simplicity, A-frames are the lightest and cheapest towing equipment an RV enthusiast can buy.

FIRST THINGS FIRST.

Safety is most important at Hitch n Go. Therefore there are some important things to consider regarding which vehicle is suitable to tow behind your motorhome and what’s required to do it successfully. Firstly you’ll need a 50mm tow ball on an approved and compliant tow bar professionally installed to your motorhome.  Some larger motor homes utilise 24 volts. This will need to be reduced to 12 volts in order to be compatible with the towed vehicle.

There are also some terms to become familiar with.                        

 GVM  -  GROSS VEHICLE MASS. The maximum laden mass for that particular vehicle determined by the manufacturer.       

 TARE (or KERB) WEIGHT.  The un-laden weight of a vehicle.

3.5:1 TOWING RATIO.
The GVM of the motorhome must be at least 31/2 times the TARE of the vehicle being towed. Unlike towing a trailer, which does not have steering, this requirement is intended to provide stability. All state traffic authorities require adherence to a towing ratio of 3.5:1. To find out how much weight your motor home can haul safely, you must consider the motor home's tow rating and the rating of the tow bar on the back. Depending on the motor home's capabilities, you could easily tow a small car or four wheel drive.

Though A-frames are the lightest and cheapest towing equipment options on the market, they still must be properly installed. Hitch 'N' Go A-Frames must be fitted by trained installers. This is a requirement of all state regulatory bodies, Hitch 'N' Go’s insurer and constitutes part of the warranty and engineering certification.

The mounting brackets, or mount kit, is specific to the car being towed and bolts to the car frame. Though it's customized to fit certain cars, some adjustments may be necessary, such as cutting the bumper or drilling holes in the frame. The mount kit comes with all the hardware necessary to bolt it to a secure place on the towed vehicle. Safety chains act as a backup mechanism in case the car becomes separated from the motor home. One end attaches to the car and the other to the motor home.

The wiring kit allows tail lights, brake lights, turning signals and reversing lights of the car being towed to operate in conjunction with the motor home lights. Temporary light boards are not acceptable.  Your local installer will hard wire the harness into your towed vehicle.  

For more information ask one of our dealers, or email us with your individual query.