Do I really have to upgrade my car in order to trailer a bigger boat??

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Galeon Galia

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We currently own a Ford Galaxy and our existing rig is within its 1750kg braked towing capacity. We would like a slightly larger boat ideally with room for a portable loo (my wife says it's easy for us chaps but complicated for her), but everything we like (such as Beneteau 650 WA with 150hp Suzuki) is too heavy. We could dry stack the boat but it defeats the object of being able to trailer and we don't want to go with a rib for safety reasons (small children), not that they are any lighter. Any suggestions as to combos which would tick the boxes? Otherwise, we'll just have to change the car and the boat! Thank you.
 
there is always a lot of confusion over towing law on here, and I know even as I type this I am going to get shot down but here goes.

I am assuming you are just towing this boat in the course of your hobby, and in no way associated with any business or trade.
The legal limits for towing a trailer as a private individual are that the whole load must not exceed 2.55m in width and the length of the trailer, hitch and a-frame should not exceed 7m. The lenth of the rig can exceed this length (i.e. the boat can over hang).

The trailer will have a plated weight. This is the combined weight for the trailer and load and must not be exceeded.

Your car (note car not commercial vehicle) will not have a plated weight. The manufacturers reccomended towing capacity is just that, a reccomendation. this is done for many reasons - warranty, practicality, service suitablity and in most cases good common sense but it is not a legal towing limit. The only weight limit is the maximum defined as 3500kg

Only commercial vehicles have a plated towing weight.

So long as your load weight does not exceed the trailer weight, and the load dimensions comply then you can tow a bigger rig with your current car.

HOWEVER - this will prematurely wear your gearbox, brakes, suspension and perhaps also your engine. plus you will have to be careful on steep hills and you might find recovery from a slipway difficult.

While you do not have to change your car it may be prudent to do so if you want to tow the new boat on a regular basis.

And yes, I know what the caravan club say. They too have mis-interpreted the regulations. The VOSA regs apply to plated commercial vehicles.
 
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Whitelighter said:
there is always a lot of confusion over towing law on here, and I know even as I type this I am going to get shot down but here goes.

I am assuming you are just towing this boat in the course of your hobby, and in no way associated with any business or trade.
The legal limits for towing a trailer as a private individual are that the whole load must not exceed 2.55m in width and the length of the trailer, hitch and a-frame should not exceed 7m. The lenth of the rig can exceed this length (i.e. the boat can over hang).

The trailer will have a plated weight. This is the combined weight for the trailer and load and must not be exceeded.

Your car (note car not commercial vehicle) will not have a plated weight. The manufacturers reccomended towing capacity is just that, a reccomendation. this is done for many reasons - warranty, practicality, service suitablity and in most cases good common sense but it is not a legal towing limit. The only weight limit is the maximum defined as 3500kg

Only commercial vehicles have a plated towing weight.

So long as your load weight does not exceed the trailer weight, and the load dimensions comply then you can tow a bigger rig with your current car.

HOWEVER - this will prematurely wear your gearbox, brakes, suspension and perhaps also your engine. plus you will have to be careful on steep hills and you might find recovery from a slipway difficult.

While you do not have to change your car it may be prudent to do so if you want to tow the new boat on a regular basis.

And yes, I know what the caravan club say. They too have mis-interpreted the regulations. The VOSA regs apply to plated commercial vehicles.
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That's fine until a) you are involved in an accident (whoever's fault) and insurance company doesn't want to play ball, or b) your car is dragged down a slimey slip into the brine! I've towed all sorts of stuff - legally and probably not quite so legally (:rolleyes:) it can all go wrong very quickly and a heavy or overweight trailer requires intense concentration all the time. Not saying don't, but personally I wouldn't do long journeys and wouldn't make it a regular thing. Perhaps find storage local to slipway instead with occasional run home for working on, winter etc?

P.S. Is the Galaxy not front wheel drive? Without a front tow hitch, I suspect that it will be hard work recovering a heavy boat...
 
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rbcoomer said:
That's fine until a) you are involved in an accident (whoever's fault) and insurance company doesn't want to play ball, or b) your car is dragged down a slimey slip into the brine! I've towed all sorts of stuff - legally and probably not quite so legally (:rolleyes:) it can all go wrong very quickly and a heavy or overweight trailer requires intense concentration all the time. Not saying don't, but personally I wouldn't do long journeys and wouldn't make it a regular thing. Perhaps find storage local to slipway instead with occasional run home for working on, winter etc?

P.S. Is the Galaxy not front wheel drive? Without a front tow hitch, I suspect that it will be hard work recovering a heavy boat...
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I totally agree with all you have said - hence my HOWEVER.

He doesnt have to change his car but I would advise getting a more suitable vehicle
 
There is a lovely boat for sale in d2 marine torquay:rolleyes:, its our boat there currently selling, the boat is a 20ft wellcraft 20 excell cuddy with room to sleep and room plenty enought room for a porta loo, the trailer is 600kg and the boat is 1100kg dry so can be towed with your galaxy.
certainlt ticks all your boxes for weight and boat layout.

Hope you dont mind me saying,:o:o
 
Whitelighter said:
I totally agree with all you have said - hence my HOWEVER.

He doesnt have to change his car but I would advise getting a more suitable vehicle
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I'm not looking to argue with you re VOSA and plated weights; but are you stating that it is legally verified and documented that the car manufacturers recommended maximum towing weights have no relevance as far as the construction and use regulations are concerned, as long as the towed weight does not exceed 3,500 kg ? i.e. there's no legal requirement to comply with those recommended weights, nor an insurance company get out clause that could use such to their advantage ?

The reason I ask is that my car is not homologated for towing. It uses the same body shell as other V6 versions which are homologated for towing, the towbar mounting holes are there already, it has the same brakes, clutch, gearbox ratios etc but has a different exhaust system. It makes no sense to me that it cannot be used for towing !
 
If your vehicle is not a commercial vehicle then afaik legally yes.

I don't know what your insurance companies position would be - I would expect that if everything were in good condition etc then there would be no problem but I'd check with them first
 
Whitelighter said:
and I know even as I type this I am going to get shot down but here goes.

The legal limits for towing a trailer as a private individual are that the whole load must not exceed 2.55m in width and the length of the trailer, hitch and a-frame should not exceed 7m. The lenth of the rig can exceed this length (i.e. the boat can over hang).

.
Click to expand...

Having added to the confusion we will shoot you down!!!!!!

Max trailer width 2.55m, max overhang 305mm each side is allowed as long as overall width not over 2.9m.
Max length is 7m for trailer EXCLUDING coupling and draw bar (the potential grey area is where the draw bar starts on a boat trailer)
Up to 3.05m rear overhang allowed before other measures needed.

Plenty of info here:
http://www.ntta.co.uk/
 
dpb said:
Having added to the confusion we will shoot you down!!!!!!

Max trailer width 2.55m, max overhang 305mm each side is allowed as long as overall width not over 2.9m.
Max length is 7m for trailer EXCLUDING coupling and draw bar (the potential grey area is where the draw bar starts on a boat trailer)
Up to 3.05m rear overhang allowed before other measures needed.

Plenty of info here:
http://www.ntta.co.uk/
Click to expand...

Ok, so I was over cautious.

You agree with me re: weight though I see
 
Whitelighter said:
Ok, so I was over cautious.

You agree with me re: weight though I see
Click to expand...

Yes I think so, but I didn't realise the only legal limit was the 3500kg, always took it as the manufacturers limit.
Not sure I would ever go much over the manufacturers limit myself though.
Just think how you would feel if yer 2500kg trailer towed by a 1800kg manufacturers limit car ended up on the wrong side of a kerb at a busy school crossing!!
 
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