General Rule for toeing

[mhatherall]

Ok here goes the next qurstion, now that I have the boat the car is the next to be sorted, I need to know what kind of engine size, petrol or diesel etc will be needed to toe my 21ft inboard 170 hp boat and trailer, I assume around 2.5 ton ?
We currently use a 2.0 diesel Mondeo but I am not sure this will cut it ?

Mike

 

[DinghyMan]

Usual recommendation is tow 85% of vehicles kerb weight - so you are looking for a proper 4x4 of some sort.

Also if you took your test since 1 Jan 1997 you need another driving test to be licenced to tow a trailer.

See here for kerb weights for many vehicles.

 

[hlb]

Well first you need a car heavier than whatever you are towing. Dont forget the wieght of the trailer. HP dont matter to much, but maybe then need a low range gear box.

The problems are not so much about how fast it will pull it, as to, if you can stop at all.

I had a two ton boat, with a trouper to pull it. Going was fine, 70 mph, no problem. Though it was an ideal tow car, stopping was another thing. You need a fair bit of experiece of towing. Mine was HGV class 1 with 100 tons plus on the back at times. To Saudi or Baghdad.

I had few problems, but theres alot to think about, and thats just about towing.

Then theres the sea, thats another thing.

 

[mhatherall]

Well I know its ALOT lighter but I am used to pulling our 21 ft caravan, so toeing is OK, I just need to make sure its not gonna kill the car.

 

[DinghyMan]

2.0 Modeo 85% of kerb weight is 1263 - 1314 KG's depending on saloon or estate so you need at least two to tow the weight you want to tow!

Just noticed the 'van - you must be towing over 100% of vehicle weight with a 21ft 'van, our 19ft 'van is 1300KG but thats just about a third of our towing vehicles rated towing weight.

 

[mhatherall]

Google says this (1000 kg = 1 metric ton); so I guess the car needs to weight more then 2500 kg !

 

[DinghyMan]

Car weight should be 2500KG * 1.17 = 2941 KG's to keep within the recommended 85%. A big motor.

Do you really want to tow it all the time or just hire/borrow/bribe someone who owns a 4x4 to get it home?

 

[mhatherall]

well Yer I have been thinking I might just wait and when I have the experience I'll cruise it where ever we want to go, juust will have to take a few more days out then usual., I'll take the boat and get the missis to meet me there in the car

 

[paulburton44]

I tow my boat which is about 1.8tons plus extras... The trailer is well maintained twin axle 4 wheel/braked trailer.

Used to use a Nissan Xtrail (will tow 2000kg)....was ok but had no low ratio for the slipway..

Then tried a Vauxhall Frontera (will tow around 2500kg)....Was very good on slipways but struggled on motorways..

Now I have bought a real tow car...a Landrover Discovery 2.5TDi (will tow 3500kg)....

Breaking is not a problem...I find the trailer does most of its own braking.. I try and avoid emergency stops...

I have towed my boat well over 1000miles this year.

As said before....if you only need to tow twice a year....find someone with a real 4x4 and offer them some beer...

 

[Its_Only_Money]

Mike, assume with braked trailer the all-up weight will be best part of the 3500kg towing limit for trailers so you'll need a "full size" 4x4 - Landrover Defender (LWB rather than short would be my preference), Discovery, Range Rover, Landcruiser etc etc, no Suzukis /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I don't know of any normal car that weighs 3500kg x 1.17 and can still tow 3500kg so its safe to say you'll be well over the 85% guideline... But think how easy it will make towing the caravan!

Alternatively look at hiring/borrowing as and when you need.

Plod will pull you if the rig doesn't look right....so don't even try the Mondeo! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[mhatherall]

YHer will do, I think its wait and get the experience and then just cruise her down

 

[CaptainMike1970]

A friend of mine upgraded his boat to beyond the weight that his company car could tow (and we all know that a company car will tow twice what a normal car can tow, and is much faster even in reverse!!!!!) so he used to hire a big 4x4 from SHB 4x4 (link here - http://www.shb.co.uk/ ) whenever he needed to move the boat, even for his two week hols in the lake District with the boat (before speed limit) and he thought it was still a cheaper option than having to own a big 4x4 which he only needed to tow the boat.

 

[hlb]

Nothing to do with killing the car. It's about killing you, or maybe some one else. Micky mouse boat/car type trailers, are nothing like proper commercial ones. With a commercial trailer, the brakes come on the trailer first, the trailer stops the truck. So no snaking or jackknifing. Over run brakes means, the car stops the trailer, with a little help, but this just mainly stops the trailer wheels and you carry on regardless.

Think were all here, just trying to save your head strong life. It was only a couple of days ago, we argued against the boat of your dreams. Nothing wrong with a Fairline Holiday, but it's still only an inshore boat. Hope you know what your doing, in either trailing boats about. Or going out to sea.

 

[mhatherall]

This sounds like another "The Newbie is a stupid head" again, First of all I would like to let you know that I am a sensible person (thanks) and I am not about to go and kill myself. To be honest its comments like yours "Your Head strong life" that are really starting to pee me off. If I was as head strong as you say I would not have bother coming here for advice to begin with. Secondly the boat WAS NOT the boat of my dreams in was a boat that we in my budget, of which I came here and asked advice, which told me not to buy the boat. And to be honest with the amount of Yes / No, Good / Bad comments I had it is a good job I still have my sense of sensibility to me. Most people on here have given me good advice and have spoken to me with a good level of respect; frankly I am mad about your level judgment. So please stop trying to make me out to be some kind of starry eyes school kid and please in future if you are going to comment remember I can actually dress myself in the morning.

P.S. Worry about the people who don’t ask questions.

P.P.S Not that I have felt it necessary to explain myself before, but I have had experience of using ribs for about 5 years, I am an ex-Welsh guard with Army RYA Level 1 and 2 training, I have decided that since I have not been out on a rib for a good few years and I have not used my RYA knowledge, I would do it again, along with my wife to back up my knowledge, now does that really sound like somebody who is head strong. Your advice is two opinionated to be any help, and I think somebody should look in the mirror before calling other people names.

 

[BrendanS]

It's going to depend on budget again. I've a similar size boat with 4 wheel/2 axle trailer. Had no problems towing with a 4 litre Jeep Cherokee. I also had no problems towing with a 5litre V10 VW Touraeg, but the price differential is huge.

Most mainstream genuine 4x4's should be able to cope, but budget range would be a good starting point.

 

[EddieA]

!

Hi - I'd assume that your boat weighs quite a lot less than 2.5 tonnes, I reckon with the boat and outboard you have described your looking at 1.8 tonnes max...go to a public weighbridge and make sure!

 

[BrendanS]

Re: !

You have to factor in trailer (very heavy), fuel, stuff on boat, etc. Boats rarely remain empty after being used for a while, so more realistic to weigh it after a season of using it.

You'd be suprised what a difference it makes.

 

[EddieA]

Re: !

Good point Brendan, still suggest you take her to a public weighbridge and weigh her, because unless you do, you cant be sure of trailer and boat weigh..

 

[BrendanS]

Re: !

He, and others reading, will understand the general point. If you are going to weigh a boat/trailer combo, you might as well do it in realistic circumstances, and chuck in everything you'll have in there normally when trailing. Including fuel and water tanks, anchor and chain, safety stuff, dinghy, and for some generator and toaster, and all the family gear for the week/weekend, including bedding and oilies and tool kit, and ......... Much of that is better off in the car until you arrive.

It will shock.

 

[tico]

Re: !

did think that 2.5T is a bit on the high side (even with loads of junk)
Suggest a PM to sometime forumite Lanason.... he has towed a Holiday.