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lightning



Member Since: 23 Apr 2009
Location: High Peak, Derbyshire
Posts: 2848
United Kingdom 
Towing a car on a dolly.
My friend needs a Ford C-Max towing to an engine reconditioners. He has a dolly which he says is suitable but what's the law on this?

Is the dolly classed as a braked or unbraked trailer. The Defender is obviously well over the weight of the C-Max but even if the dolly is braked, the rear wheels of the car won't be. And the towing limit for an unbraked trailer is well below the weight of a dead C-Max.

What's the law on this, can anybody tell me?
Post #1051520 12th Nov 2024 9:56pm
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Retroanaconda



Member Since: 04 Jan 2012
Location: Scotland
Posts: 2656
Scotland 
A dolly means the car becomes a trailer, and so as it's over 750kg the rear wheels (and dolly wheels) would need to be braked. Usually done through one of those linked brake systems that people use to tow a small car behind a motorhome on a dolly.

Putting it on a proper trailer will be much easier.
Post #1051531 12th Nov 2024 10:25pm
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Bluest



Member Since: 23 Apr 2016
Location: Lancashire
Posts: 4217
United Kingdom 2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Java Black
If you aren't using the dolly for recovery then it'll need some sort of functioning brake system that operates both the dolly and the car brakes as the two together are a trailer. I dont know if that sort of thing exists or not. Taking a vehicle for repair isn't recovery. 2007 110 TDCi Station Wagon XS
Post #1051532 12th Nov 2024 10:33pm
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blackwolf



Member Since: 03 Nov 2009
Location: South West England
Posts: 17450
United Kingdom 2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 DCPU Stornoway Grey
The only occasion when a dolly is legal now is to recover a road-legal vehicle which has broken down on the road to the nearest place of safety. Ergo setting off from a safe place is not legal. Use a trailer, it is the only legal option (other than a flatbed).

Cars towed by motorhomes don't use dollies, they use A-frames. These are probably illegal although no-one seems sure and there is presently no case law to establish precedent. What is beyond doubt is that on a A-frames all wheels.pf the towed car must brake, the brakes must meet the requirements for braking efficiency (which could be a problem if it has a servo), and must auto-reverse.
Post #1051535 12th Nov 2024 10:38pm
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