Fitting an A-frame to our car

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Join us as we compare A-Frames , which is best?
And Keeley has a chill out day. Can’t be bad lol.

[@malcolmbest73]

Been using Armitages for years,had A Frames,Tow-bars, also had air suspension fitted. In my opinion you can’t beat them for service,second to none. Prices are brilliant,very professional.

[@mcgowansontour]

I agree 👍

[@juliegough350]

New a frame looks good, cant wait to see you use it next time, nothing to say just wanted you to feel the love lol. See you on your next trip xx

[@mcgowansontour]

Thank you Julie xx

[@chrislowe3745]

Very good yet again..

[@tonymorgans9673]

Had a towaframe fitted to my Argo total game changer the mounts just twist in on the bumper the a frame is telescopic so you can just pull up to the back of the van and pull the frame out to the tow bar so when on your own you don’t run the chance of punching it through the back panel and if you are not straight it moves side to side once on the tow bar pull forward and it locks in place plus when you take it off you slide it back in and put it in the bag it comes with chuck it in the boot it takes up hardly any room and that’s saying something as the Argo got a tiny boot braking system is fully electronic feels the van braking and it applies the brakes softly if you brake softly hard if you brake hard it has a air ram on the brake pedal and runs through the servo and it comes with a little wedge that holds up the frame whilst you drive round the camp site it cost a bit more but worth every penny total game changer

[@user-px5hl2nb6v]

New one looks a lot more substantial and cheaper 👍

[@ronnyrhodes68]

❤ we’re waiting come on make us all smile on a Sunday 😊

[@markwatson2302]

You haven't shown how the internal frame behind the front end is fitted, and how it is attached to your Chassis. Hope you've checked the legallity of your comparison of both Companies. Though you mentioned no names you have previous vlogs of the other Company...

[@mcgowansontour]

Well spotted lol. It is totally legal and bolted to the chassis. 👍 Solid.

[@nickwright3746]

As far as I’m aware only trailers can be used in Europe

[@mcgowansontour]

To be honest Nick. I wouldn’t risk it.

[@callumbeech779]

Do armitages retain all the original crash structure of the vehicle, or do they remove the crash beam and replace it with their own that isn't designed to crumple in an accident? Whereas your previous aygo will have been fitted with an internal frame that does retain the original crash structure as it will fit around the crash beam instead of replacing it.

[@mcgowansontour]

They do replace the crash beam and give you the old one to keep if you ever take it off. 👍

[@callumbeech779]

That's not great from a crash safety perspective then...

[@callumbeech779]

Also, you mention that the armytages a-frame has the breakaway brake to pull the brakes on should it fall off, however in practice that won't happen because the a-frame will drop onto the ground therefore removing any tension from the brake cable of the car so the brakes do nothing in that situation.

[@STEPHKING-hp2dd]

Callum you make a very good point, surely if the crash beam is removed this decreases the efficiency of the impact strength of the vehicle. I had my Fiat 500 done at TAF in Chesterfield and was so pleased the crash beam was left on my vehicle. They also used 12.9 bolts on all fixings for super strength. I also agree with your comment about the break away cable not working. The fact that this guy got booked in within a week is because they are not as busy as the most highly rated A frame company in the United Kingdom, you get what you pay for and a £300 saving is nothing compared the loss of your vehicle due to having an impact and having no crash beam to save your vehicle and more importantly yourself

[@mcgowansontour]

Ok so you’re not getting the point. They take off your crash beam and replace it with theirs modified to fit the a frame. It still has all the strength of the old crash beam. They give you the old beam in case you wish to take off the a frame at a later date.

[@anthonylovett6700]

Hiya Nice A-Frame use to have one myself made by different company though but very much the same but found it very heavy later on in life so now changed to a lighter one i have all the paperwork for different countries i did actually get stopped in france by 2 french police in a plain car that pulled in front of me put the blue light on top had to pull over at a toll exit told me that i couldn't tow my car on a A-frame on Autoroutes 😢 i was panicking for a while as the wife couldn't drive she said show them the letter from the company that fitted it but after showing them my letter that i got in french they checked my tow-car over finally said i could carry on and said if i get stopped again show them this letter. but don't hold me to it but im sure now that you have to use a trailer now after the law was changed a few year ago PS I know they say your tow-car is classed a braked trailer I may be wronge but please check befor you try wouldn't like you to go through what i went through all the best keep the videos coming 😀

[@mariogajewski6069]

Why don't they pick the rubbish up next to the lake😮

[@johne8379]

As you modified your car, does that affect your Insurance?

[@mcgowansontour]

No it doesn’t. I did contact them and they just made a note of it on my policy. Makes a change lol. 👍

[@johne8379]

@@mcgowansontour thanks for your reply

[@joybrown-mw2cs]

Not at all happy regarding the removal and replacement of the crash beam (note the foam pad has not been replaced). As in insurance claims investigator (admittedly retired), if I had to view a vehicle in this condition (nothing to do with the A Frame) having had the manufacturers crash beam and foam pad removed (it is there for a reason) and replaced with something made by someone else, who has no idea what the car makers steel strength, fitting etc is., I would reject the claim, the original crash beam is integral to the crash testing of the vehicle, and its safety rating, if this has been tampered with, the claim could be rejected, think of the cost if a pedestrian had been hit. I am not discussing the towing situation, but the practicalities of using the car on the road, have you thought about this?

[@sccobyste]

Must say the vehicle crash bar is make of hollow tin and these are full box section so mules stronger. The foam pad should stay as it will help in the event of it impacting a pedestrian,

[@bozwellboyce8364]

Very informative vlog. Very interested in the comments regarding being able to tow abroad, I had heard A-frames were not allowed in Europe, so be good to know if this one is ok. Did you get a good price on VB air suspension ?

[@mcgowansontour]

No I didn’t get a price, but will be looking into it. 👍

[@MrJasdog107]

Been over to Spain this Christmas/New Year. We saw 3 UK motorhomes on the journey down all towing cars with A Frames . Bit of grey area I wouldn't tow ours all that way.

[@mcgowansontour]

@@sccobyste no your wrong again.

[@sccobyste]

@@mcgowansontour The towing of a vehicle by the other is only allowed exceptionally and to the nearest place that is sufficiently safe to leave it there until assistance comes. Remember that “A-frames” are not allowed in Spain, since as a general rule you cannot tow a vehicle, so you can only tow vehicles using approved trailers. 6.

[@frankupton9544]

How much is your red one up for sale. Please

[@mcgowansontour]

Hi Frank We got it up for £5500 Ono

[@nickwright3746]

Can you use those in Europe

[@mcgowansontour]

It’s a bit hit and miss. Some police ignore them others don’t. To be honest we’re not going to take it. 👍

[@MrJasdog107]

Had a couple of Tow Bars and a A Frame fitted by Armitages a well sound business.

[@mcgowansontour]

Totally agree 👍

[@johngrabowski5259]

Please don’t buy one they are not safe! For similar money buy a trailer. Trust me I paid the price.

[@mcgowansontour]

Don’t agree with you.

[@johngrabowski5259]

I have a hymer motorhome and a vw up tow car, I had an A frame fitted to the car by a well known supplier. I used it maybe 4 times without problem. I went to the Lake District on holiday, while going through one of the towns luckily doing no more than 20mph the A frame coupling sheard off the car hit an oncoming vehicle then slammed into the back of the motorhome causing some 6k damage to both. So lucky it didn’t happen doing 6ph on the motorway. Eisenstein said: it’s very easy to FOOL people but much harder convincing them they’ve been FOOLED!!!

[@Peakwanderer]

@@johngrabowski5259 Which A-frame was it?