prv
Well-Known Member
I know - why do you think I specified "an older car"?
My Uno was an M reg from 1994.
Pete
Volvo has it - Minstrel tow car
- Thread starter dylanwinter
- Start date
I know - why do you think I specified "an older car"?
My Uno was an M reg from 1994.
Pete
ProDave
Well-Known Member
But thankfully it is still legal to DIY fit a type approved towbar to your car.
My last two cars (a Legacy then my present Forrester) didn't have towbars when I got them, and I fitted a Witter towbar to each of them.
In some ways it's good to buy a car that has never towed before and fit the towbar yourself. Very easy on both the Legacy and Forrester.
I've been driving Subaru's for the last 20 years. Must have done 200,000 miles in them (not all in the same car!). They have all been old, ALL >100,000 miles and only had one CV joint failure on an old L series subaru (pre dates the Legacy) and it wasn't a hugely expensive repair. Use after market parts where possible, the originals can be expensive.
Like a lot of decent modern cars, treated well the engine / drivetrain is good for probably 200K miles.
Another plus for the subaru's, their boxer engine is one of the few that won't completely destroy itself if your cam belt snaps. I know this because I had one go, the car just stopped. Though apparently that only applies to the non turbo versions.
dylanwinter
Well-Known Member
radical shift in economics
I could not find a rental transit with a tow bar
so I went to a four wheel drive place in Aylesbury
It worked out that an average boat shift using a rented tow vehicle was going to cost me £140 for a pick up truck for 24 hours - 114 one way 250 miles of truck time
£200 including fuel
A car for £500, road tax and insurance - say another 400 - call it £1,000 plus fuel
So as long as it less than 6 movements it pays to rent
then from a suggestion above to ring around all the hire places I found a long wheel base transit from three counties with a tow bar for £40 - unlimited mileage
suddently the economics take a giant leap in favour of renting
say £100 for rental and fuel
so that means if I can get the transit each time and prepared to do each move in one 24 hour day
12 moves a year
and 12 moves a year with a 22 foot boat is for crazy people
the downside of renting is that the moves are more complicated because of the need to return the vehicle within 24 hours
on the other hand renting means that I do not have to worry about maintaining yet another bit of elderly Volvo engineering - replacing one old volvo (the beast) with another
On the other hand...
Dylan
I could not find a rental transit with a tow bar
so I went to a four wheel drive place in Aylesbury
It worked out that an average boat shift using a rented tow vehicle was going to cost me £140 for a pick up truck for 24 hours - 114 one way 250 miles of truck time
£200 including fuel
A car for £500, road tax and insurance - say another 400 - call it £1,000 plus fuel
So as long as it less than 6 movements it pays to rent
then from a suggestion above to ring around all the hire places I found a long wheel base transit from three counties with a tow bar for £40 - unlimited mileage
suddently the economics take a giant leap in favour of renting
say £100 for rental and fuel
so that means if I can get the transit each time and prepared to do each move in one 24 hour day
12 moves a year
and 12 moves a year with a 22 foot boat is for crazy people
the downside of renting is that the moves are more complicated because of the need to return the vehicle within 24 hours
on the other hand renting means that I do not have to worry about maintaining yet another bit of elderly Volvo engineering - replacing one old volvo (the beast) with another
On the other hand...
Dylan
ProDave
Well-Known Member
Dylan, you are looking at the tow car from the wrong angle.
WHY are you tinking of getting a SECOND car, just for towing, just to sit there, taxed, mot'd and insured, for most of the time going nowhere?
You should be looking at if from the point of REPLACING your current vehicle with something capable of towing. Then it's just additional costs to look at (higher road tax and lower fuel consumption)
I love my Subaru and could not see the point in having such a capable car sitting there unused while I drove around in something small, pokey ang gutless if I wasn't actually towing.
WHY are you tinking of getting a SECOND car, just for towing, just to sit there, taxed, mot'd and insured, for most of the time going nowhere?
You should be looking at if from the point of REPLACING your current vehicle with something capable of towing. Then it's just additional costs to look at (higher road tax and lower fuel consumption)
I love my Subaru and could not see the point in having such a capable car sitting there unused while I drove around in something small, pokey ang gutless if I wasn't actually towing.
dylanwinter
Well-Known Member
crazy mileage
I do a lot of miles - and I am so used to small pokey and gutless that I like it
Just could not imagine driving something that big to and from the boat with just me, the dog and four bits of sailing stuff - clothes bag, sleeping bag, food box, camera box.
Dylan
I do a lot of miles - and I am so used to small pokey and gutless that I like it
Just could not imagine driving something that big to and from the boat with just me, the dog and four bits of sailing stuff - clothes bag, sleeping bag, food box, camera box.
Dylan
VicS
Well-Known Member
Like wise . The Volvo estate sits in the garage except when a large estate car is needed. Cos it does not do much more than 20miles to the gallon ( esp now its de-tuned to run on unleaded).
Peugeot 106 does over 60miles to a gallon of diesel. ... Got more guts than the Volvo too!
Ex-SolentBoy
Well-Known Member
Good advice from ProDave.
Sounds to me like your imagination is getting in the way of pragmatic economics.
Do you really want to drive all the way up north to move a boat (probably not very far) and then all the way back again in 24 hours?
I thought the idea was to sail around Britain? Are these boat movements Back home, or simply along the coast?
If the second, surely it would be cheaper to just buy a trailer and blag a local tow?
Either way, old trailers and cars don't really devalue any more so it's only the incremental cost which will be minimal.
dylanwinter
Well-Known Member
I am a sailor
I am a sailor - it is part of the disease to let imagination get in the way of pragmatic economics - I assumed we were all afflicted to some measure
The plan is still to do the whole distance in the boat - but to bring it home for December, january, Feb
The slug has spent some tough winters hanging on moorings
it is hard on any boat
I do not want to treat this one as badly as I abused the slug.
However, I have discovered that sailors generally want to watch films about the places they sail
The DVd with the broads on it has sold really well - and it is my guess that some films about the lake district would also go down pretty well.
There is a lake right in the middle of Ireland - and for ages I have been trying to get some-one to commission a film about the Shannon
If I can get some sailing related filming while also filming KTL then that would be better than trucks or radio programmes about dog biscuits - although I am pleased to have the work.
I am a sailor - it is part of the disease to let imagination get in the way of pragmatic economics - I assumed we were all afflicted to some measure
The plan is still to do the whole distance in the boat - but to bring it home for December, january, Feb
The slug has spent some tough winters hanging on moorings
it is hard on any boat
I do not want to treat this one as badly as I abused the slug.
However, I have discovered that sailors generally want to watch films about the places they sail
The DVd with the broads on it has sold really well - and it is my guess that some films about the lake district would also go down pretty well.
There is a lake right in the middle of Ireland - and for ages I have been trying to get some-one to commission a film about the Shannon
If I can get some sailing related filming while also filming KTL then that would be better than trucks or radio programmes about dog biscuits - although I am pleased to have the work.
ProDave
Well-Known Member
How does the cost of bringing the boat home for the winter compare to the cost of storing it on the hard somewhere?
It might be viable while you are still close to home, but I repeat my suggestion that when you need winter storage, look for a sailing club where you happen to be and join them for a season to use their facilities.
It might be viable while you are still close to home, but I repeat my suggestion that when you need winter storage, look for a sailing club where you happen to be and join them for a season to use their facilities.
dylanwinter
Well-Known Member
that varies
obviously the cost of bringing it home varies from place to place
distance from home
being able to bring the boat home to prep it for the following year can be very valuable
I am to stay as flecible as possible
the ability to tow the boat gives me a lot more flexibility
Dylan
obviously the cost of bringing it home varies from place to place
distance from home
being able to bring the boat home to prep it for the following year can be very valuable
I am to stay as flecible as possible
the ability to tow the boat gives me a lot more flexibility
Dylan
maxcampbell
Well-Known Member
And that flexibility will be maximised by owning the tow vehicle, imagine renting a van to tow to Ireland
I'm on our 4th Volvo, and I've towed stuff with all of them. I've had 2 740 auto petrols, an 850 T5 (turbo petrol, like the cops - which was lovely, but only 25mpg!) and now a V40 diesel manual. They've all been bought old, and done lots of miles very reliably. FWD has been fine for towing - get the tidiest diesel (which would imply manual, mainly) of whatever model.
I'm on our 4th Volvo, and I've towed stuff with all of them. I've had 2 740 auto petrols, an 850 T5 (turbo petrol, like the cops - which was lovely, but only 25mpg!) and now a V40 diesel manual. They've all been bought old, and done lots of miles very reliably. FWD has been fine for towing - get the tidiest diesel (which would imply manual, mainly) of whatever model.
mickywillis
Well-Known Member
Then do yourself a favour and look out for a Rover 75 Diesel Tourer.
Mines an auto and regularly turns in 47 MPG on a run.
Makes a superb towing vehicle ( look on the net)
Get a 114 BHP version and enjoy great MPG and comfortable cruising, get a 135 BHP one, buy a RoverRon tuning box and you get BETTER MPG and can blow off all those Audi's and BMW's. The Rover uses BMW's M47 4 cylinder diesel engine (without the variable geometry turbo) no cambelt to change, easy to service and parts are easily available.And together with the Roveron box, you'll get 160BHP.
Mine has covered in excess of 190 K miles and still runs as sweet as a nut. It gets driven every day and has NEVER broken down in 6 years of ownership.
They make excellent load luggers, carry the dog in comfort along with all your bits and pieces and can happily take you to that wedding on Saturday or the family holiday or kids to school etc!! A true Multi Purpose Vehicle without breaking the bank.
They also have great owners club with a wealth of info (www.the75andztclub.co.uk) and come in many different trim levels.
Go on do it, you won't regret it.
Corribee Boy
Well-Known Member
Dylan - I've just looked at the picture of the trailer. I posted in a previous thread that my 900kg corribee, on a very similar trailer with breakback and launching dolly, weighed in at 1920KG axle weight.
I would actually be very surprised, therefore, if your trailer was less than about 800kg (allowing my boat to be only 25% overweight at 1120kg)
So;
1. Put it on the weighbridge - as everyone says.
2. Check the tyre loading.
Whatever you do, get on and do it
I would actually be very surprised, therefore, if your trailer was less than about 800kg (allowing my boat to be only 25% overweight at 1120kg)
So;
1. Put it on the weighbridge - as everyone says.
2. Check the tyre loading.
Whatever you do, get on and do it
dylanwinter
Well-Known Member
picking it up
picking it up with a rented transit long wheel base tuesday evening
best stay clear of the A34 tuesday evening
D
D
Dylan - I've just looked at the picture of the trailer. I posted in a previous thread that my 900kg corribee, on a very similar trailer with breakback and launching dolly, weighed in at 1920KG axle weight.
I would actually be very surprised, therefore, if your trailer was less than about 800kg (allowing my boat to be only 25% overweight at 1120kg)
So;
1. Put it on the weighbridge - as everyone says.
2. Check the tyre loading.
Whatever you do, get on and do it
picking it up with a rented transit long wheel base tuesday evening
best stay clear of the A34 tuesday evening
D
D
Avocet
Well-Known Member
Yes, but are you really suggesting that Dylan gets something at least 14 years old just so he doesn't have to fit a type approved tow bar?! They're readily available, the only point I was trying to make was that if he buys a tow bar for a post '96 vehicle he needs to make sure it is e-marked ratehr than just some home made fabrication or some cheap no-name import.
The chasis plate doesn't help that much (on either and old or a new car) because it just specifies the maximum weight the car and be and that which the combination can be. If you subtract one from the other it only tells you want you can tow when the car is laden to its maximum permissible weight.
Avocet
Well-Known Member
I think, in your circumstances, Dylan, this is rapidly turning into a no-brainer! That's a pretty good find on the rental front and if I were in your position, I wouldn't think twice - I'd rent!
I've driven "old sheds" all my life and I do all my own maintenance - always have. Just scrapped my last car at a quarter of a million miles, in fact. If you do all your own work and you have good facilities for car maintenance, AND you just want the pleasure of ownership of your own tow vehicle, that's fine. If not, I think the chances of you picking something up for the sort of budget you're looking at, expecting it to lie dormant all the time except for half a dozen trips a year, AND not have to spend time, money, or both on it are barely 50-50 in your first year, and less in subsequent ones.
Lakesailor
Well-Known Member
Except it's max towing capacity is 1600Kg
Tommyrot
Well-Known Member
+1
Do your best to stick it on a weighbridge while you can.
You'll be fine towing, just make sure it's tied on so it'll never move, and take your time/
mickywillis
Well-Known Member
But so does the Volvo 240/940 that Dylan was suggesting he look into buying?
As he really doesn't know the max weight of his trailer/boat combo, personally I'd be surprised if he exceeds the 1600Kg, especially if towing it "dry" and with all other bits and pieces removed.
Point I was making is the R75 Tourer (or a MG ZT-T) would also make a good day to day car, thus negating the need to tax, insure, service and MOT 2 seperate vehicles. Dylan could wave goodbye to his daily driver and buy 1 vehicle to do 2 jobs, without spending a fortune.
BTW a R75 Tourer in manual mode is only £170 PA on the RFL, has a 15K mile service interval and is Group 11/12 on insurance.
Lakesailor
Well-Known Member
It's too close to call.
The only sensible thing to do is weigh the boat/trailer and choose a vehicle capable of towing it, legally.
My personal feeling is that it will be nearer 1800Kgs.
There is the Gross Train Weight to consider as well