Tow hitch. Legal in the UK?

[er-minio]

Following my thread about trailers... another questions: are tow hitches legal in the UK?
I see them widely used in the US. Possibly because of heavier/sturdier cars, but also because of very lax regulation/safety over there (I assume).

Considering if a tow hitch can be (with the suitable 4 wheeler) a potential solution to carrying around a dirtbike (<140kg).

 

[Blackal]

What do you mean by "tow hitch"?

If you mean a load carried on the tow-ball, then you are having the same effect as an excessive nose-weight?

Pretty sure this is set by the vehicle maker (max nose weight)

 

[Big Si]

Like this?

Made by Watlings

 

[Keith Chapman]

click here for dave cooper bike racks/

 

[er-minio]

Yes, like what BigSi posted.

 

[er-minio]

then you are having the same effect as an excessive nose-weight

Yes. In reality one of the cars I'm looking at (Outlander) has only 75kg - so no go.
But I was tempted at looking at alternatives.

(lockdown... can do some planning over car change and bike transport options... I have time )

 

[Khulu]

First I need to get a pick-up truck and then a dirt bike (again)!

 

[jimbo]

All tow bars on modern cars now need to be type approved to be legal. I'm not sure how old the vehicle would be to be allowed whatever a man and a welder can knock up.
The car and the tow bar will have a maximum permitted loading.

The much more flexible US system of a square mount (like below) in a variety of sizes is much more flexible (not legal in the UK).

That is unless "taking back control" allows us to move away from this EU regulations

 

[Istanbulian]

All tow bars on modern cars now need to be type approved to be legal. I'm not sure how old the vehicle would be to be allowed whatever a man and a welder can knock up.


That is unless "taking back control" allows us to move away from this EU regulations

Your having a larf? Here's the latest "upside":-

https://www.motorsportuk.org/movement-of-motorsport-vehicles-post-brexit/

 

[Dazlove]

You definitely need to look at the nose weight as most cars seem to be below 100kg and most dirt bikes will be over 100kg.

I did find this document online, which although from 2013 might give you a guide as to what vehicle to buy to enable the tow hitch carrier for the bike of your choice.

https://www.caravanclub.co.uk/media/12354614/noseweights-mo__2_.pdf

Cheers

 

[er-minio]

Thanks for the PDF. The table is very useful.

Ye, I don't think there is any suitable car for this to be honest.
Trailer it is

 

[wildbeeste]

Your having a larf? Here's the latest "upside":-

https://www.motorsportuk.org/movement-of-motorsport-vehicles-post-brexit/

Well that will reduce the number of particpants in some events

 

[Gargy]

If you were going to buy a pick up truck for dirt biking, why not buy a van ?

 

[er-minio]

I wasn't going to buy a pickup.
I saw tow hitches mounted behind some SUVs.

But as pointed in posts #6 and #10, normal SUVs have nowhere near the capacity for those type of weights.

 

[buellzebub]

Thanks for the PDF. The table is very useful.

Ye, I don't think there is any suitable car for this to be honest.
Trailer it is

I looked into various options for transporting my R1150GS, including those systems that just raise the front wheel of the bike off the road. My motivation was lack of storage for a conventional trailer. I found that all 'non-trailer' options had a prohibitively high nose weight figure.
(Linking in with your other thread about trailers)
In the end I went for a Motolug, bought from a member on here. I was lucky enough to 'drop on' an SE Plus version which can be upgraded to carry 2 bikes if needed. I have to say I am SO impressed with it. It tows beautifully and is very stable, I've assembled it a few times now and can have it together and ready to load in under 10 minutes. Loading the GS on the first time was a little nerve racking I must admit, but now it's no problem. And obviously storing it is far easier than a conventional trailer.
All in all I would thoroughly recommend it

Sent from my SM-T970 using Tapatalk

 

[er-minio]

Thanks.

Yes, I've opened a thread on trailers a few months back and it was illuminating. I think I'll end up down that route.
It's just that, due to lockdown and no bike use, I didn't go ahead with getting a trailer and saw this as a potential option. But I was wrong.

I'm used to chuck my bikes in the back of rented vans all the time, so not an issue to load/unload.
It's mostly, same as you, storage space. But I can fix a disassembled motolug in my garage. Will just need some safety hooks on the wall I guess.

 

[Blackal]

Thanks.

Yes, I've opened a thread on trailers a few months back and it was illuminating. I think I'll end up down that route.
It's just that, due to lockdown and no bike use, I didn't go ahead with getting a trailer and saw this as a potential option. But I was wrong.

I'm used to chuck my bikes in the back of rented vans all the time, so not an issue to load/unload.
It's mostly, same as you, storage space. But I can fix a disassembled motolug in my garage. Will just need some safety hooks on the wall I guess.

There is a lot to be said for a collapsible trailer, which also allows you to roll the bike on at ground-level.