Spikey36 Posted March 21, 2017 Share Posted March 21, 2017 I am just about to pick up a Swift Bessacarr E496 2014 and very excited as this will be our first motorhome. I am trailing the internet looking for an approximate price to get a Aframe fitted? Can anyone help and suggest companies in Scotland. Thanks Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RogerC Posted March 21, 2017 Share Posted March 21, 2017 Depends on which type you want.......rigid/heavy as from Armitages in West Yorkshire (good system....had and used one for 5 years), lightweight electronic lightweight or cable operated heavier system as from Towtal in Stoke on Trent or many other suppliers around the country. PS....factor in a few £000's more if you need a towbar fitting as well. IIRC Armitage is around £900 upwards for frame and car modification. As for the Towtal systems I suspect their electronic one is in the region of £2000.....at least that's the sort of figure I was quoted from a supplier down south for a similar electronic system for our motor. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spikey36 Posted March 21, 2017 Author Share Posted March 21, 2017 Hi Rodger, Thanks for your reply. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StuartO Posted March 22, 2017 Share Posted March 22, 2017 The debate about A Frame versus trailer has been well covered on this Forum and there are strong advocates of both. The economics are worth considering because used A Frames have very little value. You can't use an A Frame abroad these days. A Frames cost roughly the same as buying a trailer on which to tow your car, perhaps a bit less if you buy a brand new trailer. Either way you need a tow bar and electrics. There are plenty of used car transporters around and if you buy one made by a reputable maker (like Ifor Williams) you will be able to sell your trailer and get a good price for it easily if you wish to dispose. I have used an Ifor Williams CT136 for several years and it works well. Easy to tow and reverse, easy enough to load/unload. I have taken it abroad several times without difficulty. I bought it used off EBay for under £800 (it was cheap because it was badly listed) and would expect to get at least £1,000 if I sold, perhaps more; a new one would cost perhaps £1,800 these days. My towbar cost me £350 fitted by a MH specialist about ten years ago. I had an A Frame years ago and couldn't get on with it - it towed well (except for reversing) but it was too fiddly lining up the car with the towball, but maybe that was just me. Lots of people swear by them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek Uzzell Posted March 22, 2017 Share Posted March 22, 2017 Armitage Trailers prices are quoted here http://www.armitagetrailers.com/Aframes.htm This company at Falkirk advertises as being a distributor of Car-a-Tow A-frames http://www.mthautoservices.co.uk/Page/motorhomes.html http://www.caratow.com/prices.php Unless it’s absolutely essential that you tow a car behind the Bessacarr immediately, I suggest you put the plan on the back-burner for a while. By all means do the research, but as this will be your first motorhome you’d be wise to spend some time becoming accustomed to it as it stands before committing to an expensive modification. I’m also a mite wary of the potential impact towing a car might have. The E496 model is dimensionally large and no lightweight - if the one you are buying has the basic 2.3litre 130hp motor, it should be anticipated that towing a car will blunt performance noticeably. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Kirby Posted March 22, 2017 Share Posted March 22, 2017 Derek Uzzell - 2017-03-22 8:55 AM................Unless it’s absolutely essential that you tow a car behind the Bessacarr immediately, I suggest you put the plan on the back-burner for a while. By all means do the research, but as this will be your first motorhome you’d be wise to spend some time becoming accustomed to it as it stands before committing to an expensive modification. I’m also a mite wary of the potential impact towing a car might have. The E496 model is dimensionally large and no lightweight - if the one you are buying has the basic 2.3litre 130hp motor, it should be anticipated that towing a car will blunt performance noticeably. Agreed. I'd also suggest you check that you can fit a towbar to the Bessacarr (and at what cost), as it has a fairly long rear overhang, which may not have a full chassis extension under it. The towbar will almost inevitably terminate below the rear skirt level, which will increase the risk of grounding. In general, long rear overhangs and towing are not the best mix. For stability, it is preferable to maintain the towball as close to the rear axle as possible, which favours vans with shorter overhangs. Not such a problem if flat towing, but possibly problematic if towing a trailer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StuartO Posted March 23, 2017 Share Posted March 23, 2017 Brian Kirby - 2017-03-22 6:22 PM .... In general, long rear overhangs and towing are not the best mix. For stability, it is preferable to maintain the towball as close to the rear axle as possible, which favours vans with shorter overhangs. Not such a problem if flat towing, but possibly problematic if towing a trailer. Good point, and even my Hymer B674, which doesn't have a long overhang, has grounded the towbar occassionally, for example when I came to the bottom of a steep decline and levelled out (on an ordinary road) the towbar grounded. But over the ten or more years I have had this MH it has been a rare occurence with no actual damage to the towbar (or trailer) so no real harm done. The trick is to spot when you are approaching a steep take off or landing and slow down! But I agree with Brian that with a MH having a long rear overhang, it could be a lot more of a problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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