Warning for those using A-Frames

peedee replied on 14/08/2023 12:11

peedee

Posted on 14/08/2023 12:11

I have towed my current car, a Suzuki Celerio, on an A-Frame since purchased new in 2016. Yesterday, having towed it for 7 years this happened when executing a hill start from a site onto a busy road. Fortunately I had waited until the road was completely clear. The car broke loose from the frame. The crash bar pulled completly off as I turned right onto the road and the car carried on straight across the road, up the opposite kerb and unfortunately came to a halt against a telegraph pole rather than in the bushes. Fortunately it all occurred at very slow speed and no other parties were involved. I strongly suspect the cause was metal fatigue, the crash bar literally being torn from the chassis and with it the front bumper by the strain of the start on an incline compounded by the right turn.

This is not the first incident of this kind. A couple of years ago a very similar incident was reported on anther forum although in that one the car was older.

I am posting this so that others are made aware of the potential problem and suggest that they have their A-Frame attachments annually checked, especially on older vehicles. Mine was checked two years ago, but clearly this interval was too long. I was lucky, no other parties were involved and no one was hurt.

peedee

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26 replies

Tinwheeler replied on 14/08/2023 12:45

Tinwheeler

Campervanner from Cornwall

Posted on 14/08/2023 12:45

Hard luck, PD.

I’ve always had doubts about A-frames and their safety.

Vulcan replied on 14/08/2023 13:45

Member

Vulcan

from North Yorkshire

Posted on 14/08/2023 13:45

From the first photo the crossmember looks intact, was it just the four mounting bolts that sheared off.

LLM replied on 14/08/2023 13:58

LLM

Motorhomer from Northumberland

Posted on 14/08/2023 13:45 by Vulcan

From the first photo the crossmember looks intact, was it just the four mounting bolts that sheared off.

Posted on 14/08/2023 13:58

My first thought also Vulcan, if so I'm amazed that they all went at the same time with no prior warning.

PeeDee I'm very pleased it was just bent metal, nobody hurt.

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peedee replied on 14/08/2023 15:06

Member

peedee

Motorhomer from Bedfordshire

Posted on 14/08/2023 13:45 by Vulcan

From the first photo the crossmember looks intact, was it just the four mounting bolts that sheared off.

Posted on 14/08/2023 15:06

There were six bolts holding the crossmember to the chassis, three either side. Only one ripped out, the others still held the torn metal bits from the crossmember (crash bar) in place.

peedee

Lutz replied on 14/08/2023 15:25

Lutz

Caravanner

Posted on 14/08/2023 15:25

Having an additional crossmember as anchorage for the A-frame amounts to a structural modification to the car which makes the vehicle type approval null and void, requiring an IVA to legalise the modification. At that point any weakness in the durability of the design should be picked up. No matter how old, this sort of thing should never happen. Someone should be held responsible for the outcome and pay for the consequences and it shouldn’t be the insurance.

LLM replied on 14/08/2023 15:36

LLM

Motorhomer from Northumberland

Posted on 14/08/2023 15:36

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Lutz replied on 14/08/2023 15:47

Lutz

Caravanner

Posted on 14/08/2023 15:47

Surely if the A-frame anchorage on a 7-year old vehicle was corroded then this should have been picked up at the last MOT.

peedee replied on 14/08/2023 17:02

Member

peedee

Motorhomer from Bedfordshire

Posted on 14/08/2023 17:02

I think to pick it up at the MOT which was only done in July, you would have to remove the front bumper to inspect the mounts. Not something garages do during MOTs

Lutz it was not an additional crossmember. The cars original one had just had mounts added to it. I have used A-Frames for over 20 years and this is the first time I have had any problems.

peedee

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Lutz replied on 14/08/2023 17:38

Lutz

Caravanner

Posted on 14/08/2023 17:02 by peedee

I think to pick it up at the MOT which was only done in July, you would have to remove the front bumper to inspect the mounts. Not something garages do during MOTs

Lutz it was not an additional crossmember. The cars original one had just had mounts added to it. I have used A-Frames for over 20 years and this is the first time I have had any problems.

peedee

Posted on 14/08/2023 17:38

Do I understand you correctly that the crash bar that was ripped out was a Suzuki component to which the A-frame mounts were attached? If that is so I presume Suzuki never approved the attachment of A-frame mounts, so it would have been up to the A-frame manufacturer to provide data confirming that the crash bar on that car was capable of coping with expected loads.

Considering the possible implications of a failure (you were lucky that no-one was injured in this case) I think this is a case that should be reported to the DVLA for possible recall action, regardless of whether corrosion or a fault in the design was the cause. The seriousness of the failure should not be underestimated.

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