Tow A Frame Ltd

Tow A Frame Ltd: lightweight A-frame towing systems for motorhomes

Tow A Frame Ltd is a UK company specialising in lightweight, auto-aligning A-frame systems for towing a car behind a motorhome. Its core product, the TowGlide auto-align A-frame, is designed, manufactured and tested in the UK. The company also fits tow bars and provides servicing for its A-frame systems.

The business is led by director Mike Northeast and operates from a trading address at Copse Meadow Farm on Hayling Island, Hampshire. Workshop visits and collections are by prior appointment only.

The TowGlide A-frame and its braking system

The TowGlide A-frame is an auto-aligning coupling that connects a motorhome to a car. It weighs 9.5 kg and has been independently pull-tested to 7.1 tonnes. The design includes the patented WedgIT alignment tool and POZILOCK pins, which provide a push-and-turn connection with checking holes that line up only when the pin is correctly secured.

The braking system is electronic and proportional. A controller combines the motorhome's brake-light signal with a deceleration sensor in the towed car. A vacuum system maintains brake-servo assistance while the car's engine is off, and an actuator presses the brake pedal. Braking builds progressively with demand, so the car's own brakes apply in tandem with the motorhome's braking rather than relying on a sliding overrun hitch.

The A-frame is supplied with a tactical storage bag and spares. The company states that the system is designed to connect in minutes and is practical for repeated stops and longer trips.

Installation, tow bars and servicing

Tow A Frame Ltd installs its A-frame systems and, since March 2020, has been an NTTA-trained tow bar installer. The company offers tow bar fitting alongside A-frame installation. It also provides servicing for its A-frame systems: a full service is required every two years or 10,000 towed miles, whichever comes first, and a safety check and test every year or 5,000 towed miles, whichever comes first.

The company maintains a vehicle suitability checker on its website and invites customers to confirm whether a particular car is compatible before proceeding.

Company background and UK manufacturing

Tow A Frame Ltd traces its origins to 2002, when it began with the original Smart Trailers Cross Country, followed by the Brooklands Trailer with sliding ramps. In 2004, Half Moon Bay Leisure was established as the holding company for Smart Trailers, Bantam Trailers and Smart Tow, which has since grown into Tow A Frame Ltd. In 2010, the company became the sole UK distributor of the Smart Box Duo power braking system, originally developed by SMI and now part of the Demco Group in the USA.

The company reports over 30 years of combined experience in the towing and automotive industries. Its A-frames, inserts, pins and hardware are designed, manufactured and tested in the UK, and it works with local suppliers and manufacturers.

Customer feedback and practical information

The website includes customer reviews attributed to Google. One review from Mark Washington describes an Abarth installation and says the car "tows as if its not there". Another excerpt from Nicola Hall mentions help from Mike and Bobby from initial enquiry to collection.

Tow A Frame Ltd is registered in England and Wales under company number 08230851. Its registered office is at 15 The Chandlers, Salt Meat Lane, PO12 1GF. The trading address is Copse Meadow Farm, Copse Lane, Hayling Island, Hampshire, PO11 0QB. The company notes that specifications may change and that prices are subject to change.