Towing abroad

[SeacretSailor]

When you get a definitive list of the rules and understand them. Write a little pamphlet. Cos I don't think anyone else ever fully get them. PS the only way to know the weight of your rig is to take it to a weigh bridge

Just spoke to marina. They have a scale on the boat lift. Will do that and then buy the correct spec/trailer to suit.

 

[SeacretSailor]

I towed a 26 foot 2.8m trailable yacht with a 35 foot mast to Brittany for three summer holidays on a 4 wheel trailer with no stress!

Stress was considerably reduced using a good tow vehicle. I had a SWB Mitsi Shogun. Bought for £1K!

I weighed my complete load and trailer at a local scrap yard before going any where and kept the ticket for inspection.
It was never needed.......

The maximum beam of a load (boat) you can tow is 2.9 m without an escort!

The maximum legal trailer width is 2,55m

The maximum overhang of your trailer is 305mm . Yeah go figure above max width it even confuses plod!
It is unlikely your boat will be longer than a glider but there is a maximum train length before you have to display a long vehicle sign on the back. Can't remember from memory.

Launching and recovery was totally stressles with a telescopic extendable draw bar and a front tow bar. Dont dream using ropes fir recovery or launching. Crane is best.

Trailer Side reflectirs and front and rear marker lights on the load extremities are critical and often overlooked.

A tail board must be fixed at a reasonable height at or close the rear of the load..

Keep the load in the trailer light and balanced. Don't exceed the nose weight for your tow vehicle as this will result in prosecution. Empty fuel, water and provisions out of the boat. Put some heavy gear like chain anchors, outboards in the tow vehicle. Don't trust the builders dry weight or displacement figures!

Use commercial high pressure tyres (more plys) on the trailer to give greater stability and load carrying capacity with less side wall flexing.

Make sure you have a good rear view as with a beam of 2.8 m you won't be able to see to pull out without extended rear view side mirrors. Your vehicles standard fitting will not be sufficient or legal.

We happily towed at 60mph. Never got pulled.

Don't let them put you in the queue for the ferry with the caravans and trailers. Make sure you are with the commercials. The caravans have to drive through a width guage that is set to 2.6m. Guess how I know that!

Oh carry spare wheels, bearings and grease and a good bottle jack.

Strip and repack all bearings after any immersion.

Great, thanks for info. Shogun’s are great. Mum had one for years, totally solid.

good advice about commercial tyres and mirrors ??

towed many times before and weirdly relish the challenge of a larger boat.

 

[Bigplumbs]

I towed a 26 foot 2.8m trailable yacht with a 35 foot mast to Brittany for three summer holidays on a 4 wheel trailer with no stress!

Stress was considerably reduced using a good tow vehicle. I had a SWB Mitsi Shogun. Bought for £1K!

I weighed my complete load and trailer at a local scrap yard before going any where and kept the ticket for inspection.
It was never needed.......

The maximum beam of a load (boat) you can tow is 2.9 m without an escort!

The maximum legal trailer width is 2,55m

The maximum overhang of your trailer is 305mm . Yeah go figure above max width it even confuses plod!
It is unlikely your boat will be longer than a glider but there is a maximum train length before you have to display a long vehicle sign on the back. Can't remember from memory.

Launching and recovery was totally stressles with a telescopic extendable draw bar and a front tow bar. Dont dream using ropes fir recovery or launching. Crane is best.

Trailer Side reflectirs and front and rear marker lights on the load extremities are critical and often overlooked.

A tail board must be fixed at a reasonable height at or close the rear of the load..

Keep the load in the trailer light and balanced. Don't exceed the nose weight for your tow vehicle as this will result in prosecution. Empty fuel, water and provisions out of the boat. Put some heavy gear like chain anchors, outboards in the tow vehicle. Don't trust the builders dry weight or displacement figures!

Use commercial high pressure tyres (more plys) on the trailer to give greater stability and load carrying capacity with less side wall flexing.

Make sure you have a good rear view as with a beam of 2.8 m you won't be able to see to pull out without extended rear view side mirrors. Your vehicles standard fitting will not be sufficient or legal.

We happily towed at 60mph. Never got pulled.

Don't let them put you in the queue for the ferry with the caravans and trailers. Make sure you are with the commercials. The caravans have to drive through a width guage that is set to 2.6m. Guess how I know that!

Oh carry spare wheels, bearings and grease and a good bottle jack.

Strip and repack all bearings after any immersion.

None of that seems to be very stressful at all

 

[Bigplumbs]

If you tow with a Land Rover like I do you have the added joy of that letting you down..... Don't you just love limp mode when you are towing

 

[Mr Googler]

If you tow with a Land Rover like I do you have the added joy of that letting you down..... Don't you just love limp mode when you are towing

Or is tugging the right term?

 

[DavidJ]

If you tow with a Land Rover like I do you have the added joy of that letting you down..... Don't you just love limp mode when you are towing

Have a great Christmas ??

 

[jrudge]

Based on my very limited experience of towing to quote tsb240 I have 3 bits of advise

1 carry spare wheels, bearings and grease and a good bottle jack.

2 carry spare wheels, bearings and grease and a good bottle jack.


3 carry spare wheels, bearings and grease and a good bottle jack.

 

[Bigplumbs]

Or is tugging the right term?

I think it might be

Here is how to easily fix it though and with the addition of a long straw on the WD or GT85 you are good to go

 

[dunedin]

If you tow with a Land Rover like I do you have the added joy of that letting you down..... Don't you just love limp mode when you are towing

This has been standard for Land Rovers for decades. My late father towed a 22 foot yacht from Scotland to the South of France (extremely slowly) behind a Series 2 Land Rover in the 1970s. A couple of minor breakdowns on the route south, but easily fixed (no electronics in those days) on a journey that took a week.
But engine had major problem on arrival, and couldn’t get spares in time. So he took out the spark plug in a failed cylinder, and towed the boat back over the Alps on three cylinders. Must have caused the most horrendous tailbacks, as even on 4 cylinders could barely do 20mph up a decent hill - and brakes couldn‘t cope with more than about 20mph on the downhills either (all drum brakes?), and boiled/faded unless stayed in low gear downhill.

 

[Mr Googler]

I think it might be

Here is how to easily fix it though and with the addition of a long straw on the WD or GT85 you are good to go

I know…..I told you about it on a thread when you went into limp mode towing to Scotland ??

Sticking turbo actuator arm. It’s actually due to a brass collar that the actuator arm passes through so I’m told. telescopic magnet helps to so you can work it back and forth whilst spraying

 

[Bigplumbs]

I know…..I told you about it on a thread when you went into limp mode towing to Scotland ??

Sticking turbo actuator arm. It’s actually due to a brass collar that the actuator arm passes through so I’m told. telescopic magnet helps to so you can work it back and forth whilst spraying

It works itself back and forth each time you switch the ignition on and off provided you let the system settle between on and off. (Obviously Landrover knew it was an issue) Her indoors does the on and offing while I do the spraying. The very long straw (3 pieces heat shrunk together) helps a huge amount.

Just watched Top Gun Maveric ..... Very good it was to...... Glad his F14 did not go into limp mode