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Sept 18, 2013 17:38:57 GMT
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Hello all.
I have been planning to build a hot rod for a while and have decided to use a London taxi (fx4) as a base. I am planning on a crew cab pick up with suicide doors open engine and fender less.
Anyway, i was wondering if anyone has any info on the towing capacity of the Austin fx4 as i cant find it anywhere. I have found a few tow bars for sale so i know they are out there but they don't give any info on towing capacity. I would like to tow a caravan with it when it is done.
Cheers.
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Sept 19, 2013 8:50:18 GMT
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Should be a plate on the car itself so see if you can find a friendly cabby to let you have a look, if not I'm not sure other than contacting the manufacturer.
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Volvo back as my main squeeze, more boost and some interior goodies on the way.
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Dez
Club Retro Rides Member
And I won't sit down. And I won't shut up. And most of all I will not grow up.
Posts: 11,712
Club RR Member Number: 34
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Taxi towing capacityDez
@dez
Club Retro Rides Member 34
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Sept 19, 2013 10:14:46 GMT
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Legally, it's probably not rated to tow, as there's pretty much no reason a cabby would need to tow anything when using it as a cab, so I'd be surprised if the manufacturer bothered putting it through the relivent test.
For unplated vehicles, it's then down to a percentage of gross weight, check the govt. towing site to see what that percentage is for braked and unbraked.
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Sept 19, 2013 17:03:40 GMT
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I have a taxi and have towed cars and vans with it and even used it as a dent puller on the odd occasion.
It does this without issue. In fact I don't think the taxi even knows its towing as it feels no different to drive.
I have seen plenty of unplated cabs with towbars so they are out there. Maybe try calling a hire firm or repair centre as they usually have spare cabs floating around.
As for the laws, I have no idea.
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Sept 20, 2013 16:49:54 GMT
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they're a heavy old bus,so actual weight behind it shouldnt be an issue unless your hauling a big heavy car trailer or twin axle caravan. altho from my 1 experience of driving an fx4, itl be a slow journey.
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Sept 20, 2013 20:12:34 GMT
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I had a Fairway FX4 about five years ago that I wanted to put a towbar on and use for pulling my trailer. I asked around all the taxi specialists (at the time there were still thousands of them in service, so lots of specialist garages in London). The answer was always the same: it can't be done, they're not suitable for towing. I had a workshop manual (500 odd pages download as pdf, can't remember what website it came from but recommended if you can find it) and that said the same thing.
Needless to say, I went ahead and fitted a towbar. I pulled my trailer (single axle, braked, about 1.5 tons loaded) for thousands of miles and as stated above, hardly knew it was there. The Nissan lump is the same as in (iirc) decent towing vehicles like the Patrol, plenty of torque, my advice is to go ahead. As stated above, it's something that just isn't necessary when the taxi is being used for its intended purpose, which presumably is the reason so many people will tell you it can't be done.
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1958 Hillman Minx
1988 Saab 900 T16
1989 Renault Trafic camper van
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1994 Volvo 850 T5
1988 Saab 900i 4-door auto: breaking - anyone need parts?
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fred
Posted a lot
WTF has happened to all the Vennies?
Posts: 2,957
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Sept 20, 2013 20:21:58 GMT
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If folk say it cant be done - Do it
its called progress I think !!
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'79 Cossie ran Cortina - Sold
2000 Fozzer 2.0 turbo snow beast
'85 Opel Manta GSI - Sold
03 A class Mercedes
Looking for a FD Ventora - Anyone?
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Sept 28, 2015 15:13:29 GMT
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Any one know. What towbar l can buy for my fairway? Dimensions please or any towbar that can be adapted? Thanks regards R
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Sept 28, 2015 16:52:54 GMT
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Hi, things have moved on since this thread started and they are a lot hotter on it now. If there is no weights on a plate on the the vehicle then it's not deemed suitable for towing. The DVSA know this and you can be sure of a stop, and they won't let you proceed to a place of safety either. There was someone on another forum who bought a Discovery and it had no plate so he couldn't tow with it. The fact there are no new towbars available is because the vehicle is not suitable for towing so they are not allowed to make towbars.
Colin
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Sept 28, 2015 18:26:04 GMT
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Sept 28, 2015 18:32:18 GMT
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Hi, things have moved on since this thread started and they are a lot hotter on it now. If there is no weights on a plate on the the vehicle then it's not deemed suitable for towing. The DVSA know this and you can be sure of a stop, and they won't let you proceed to a place of safety either. There was someone on another forum who bought a Discovery and it had no plate so he couldn't tow with it. The fact there are no new towbars available is because the vehicle is not suitable for towing so they are not allowed to make towbars. Colin It depends on the date of registration. Older vehicles are still allowed to have a towbar even though there is no plate. European Law now states that all light passenger vehicles registered on or after 1st August 1998 require a type approved towbar tested to EC94/20 and towball with suitable D&S value. This is not retrospective and does not affect any vehicle registered before this date. I have a towbar on my 05 Smart Fortwo. Mercedes didn't homologate it for towing in the UK however they did for Germany. One of the few times EU law works to our advantage as what is legal in one EU country HAS to be legal in another as long as a German TUV approved towbar fitted that conforms to EC94/20. Mine was £450 new but I was lucky to get is a bit cheaper  |
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Sept 28, 2015 18:57:32 GMT
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Hi, yes, that all very well but as long as you keep it sensible and stick to reasonable combinations like 750kgs unbraked trailers, and braked ones that weigh less than the towing vehicle. Anything else is going to cause you trouble at the side of the road and leave you in limbo while they decide whether you can be a test case or they quietly drop it without actually telling you.
A while ago While I did my CPC course, we were talking during a break and the instructor said that they had a group of DVSA inspectors in doing theirs and he said at one point they were argueing amongst themselves about what was right or not on some point. There are so many grey areas that they don't know themselves. The only loser in all this is whoever get stopped because they will have to pay the price, more so now the DVSA is self funding.
Colin
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Pid363!
Posted a lot
Madness is all in the mind!
Posts: 1,038
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Sept 28, 2015 19:21:24 GMT
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Back in the 80's a few banger drivers used to use them for towing big old heavey trailers and big old brit bangers p5 westys etc on and they did a good job!
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Sept 28, 2015 20:06:24 GMT
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I had a Fairway FX4 about five years ago that I wanted to put a towbar on and use for pulling my trailer. I asked around all the taxi specialists (at the time there were still thousands of them in service, so lots of specialist garages in London). The answer was always the same: it can't be done, they're not suitable for towing. I had a workshop manual (500 odd pages download as pdf, can't remember what website it came from but recommended if you can find it) and that said the same thing. Needless to say, I went ahead and fitted a towbar. I pulled my trailer (single axle, braked, about 1.5 tons loaded) for thousands of miles and as stated above, hardly knew it was there. The Nissan lump is the same as in (iirc) decent towing vehicles like the Patrol, plenty of torque, my advice is to go ahead. As stated above, it's something that just isn't necessary when the taxi is being used for its intended purpose, which presumably is the reason so many people will tell you it can't be done. Just a small point here,its not the engine size or power that determines tow capacity. Its the ability of the tow vehicle to control the towed load,therefore its the tow vehicles brakes,suspension,steering and mass that count. Which is why you can shove v8 yank lumps,and cummins in landies,and still only tow 3.5t. |
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Sept 28, 2015 20:08:29 GMT
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Hi, yes, that all very well but as long as you keep it sensible and stick to reasonable combinations like 750kgs unbraked trailers, and braked ones that weigh less than the towing vehicle. Anything else is going to cause you trouble at the side of the road and leave you in limbo while they decide whether you can be a test case or they quietly drop it without actually telling you. A while ago While I did my CPC course, we were talking during a break and the instructor said that they had a group of DVSA inspectors in doing theirs and he said at one point they were argueing amongst themselves about what was right or not on some point. There are so many grey areas that they don't know themselves. The only loser in all this is whoever get stopped because they will have to pay the price, more so now the DVSA is self funding. Colin Even better when the DVSA and Traffic plod start 'a discussion' between themselves ....... |
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Sept 28, 2015 23:42:27 GMT
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Is it legal in the UK to employ the services of a competent structural or mechanical engineer to design a bespoke item for this? It won't be cheap but it might be a way around your problem if all else fails.
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Sept 28, 2015 23:58:32 GMT
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Hi, yes, that all very well but as long as you keep it sensible and stick to reasonable combinations like 750kgs unbraked trailers, and braked ones that weigh less than the towing vehicle. Anything else is going to cause you trouble at the side of the road and leave you in limbo while they decide whether you can be a test case or they quietly drop it without actually telling you. A while ago While I did my CPC course, we were talking during a break and the instructor said that they had a group of DVSA inspectors in doing theirs and he said at one point they were argueing amongst themselves about what was right or not on some point. There are so many grey areas that they don't know themselves. The only loser in all this is whoever get stopped because they will have to pay the price, more so now the DVSA is self funding. Colin Even better when the DVSA and Traffic plod start 'a discussion' between themselves ....... I've been in the middle of those conversations a few times, its quite painful when a member of the public is stood there listening to you 'discuss' if they have committed an offence. |
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Sept 29, 2015 17:36:19 GMT
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Even better when the DVSA and Traffic plod start 'a discussion' between themselves ....... I've been in the middle of those conversations a few times, its quite painful when a member of the public is stood there listening to you 'discuss' if they have committed an offence. Lol you should have heard the 'discussion' that went on between the police who stopped us and (I assume) c&e doing diesel dipping when we got to the front of the queue in an lpg Montaray! |
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