Weight for Towing a Fairline Weekend 21

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...go for a 4x4 with low ratio gear selector and part time 4wd. This, whilst an old technology, improves mpg on the road

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Only if fitted with freewheeling front hubs, whereupon the whole thing becomes a pain to engage 4WD and saves nothing once the hubs start to stick/jam...

Also anything with perm 4WD will likely give the option of still being open centre diff in Low range so avoids winding the transmission up on slipways with good traction...
 
Take it down the weighbridge is a good start, I did that with our Regal just to be certain.

Given that it's a similar size, this is what I've found. The boat's a Regal 2150LSC, with the V8 anchor in the back so all up it's a tad over 1600kgs as the weights quoted in the brochures are for the smaller engined versions. The trailer is a 4 wheel SBS, plated at weighing 480kgs on it's own and capable of taking 2400kgs. All up on the weighbridge with I think 1/4 tank of fuel it was 2100kgs.

I've towed this with 3 different vehicles, 1st was a new Disco3 TDV6 that barely knew it was there and lugged it from Kent to Wales with no problems at all. 2nd was my wife's 2.0d X3 and that (as anticipated) struggled as it's only rated to tow 2000kgs (as most small SUV's are) are the gearing is all wrong. Thankfully I didn't have to tow it too far and I wouldn't like to use an X3 / Freelander for anything more than about 17-1800kgs based on that experience. I've now got an old P38 Range Rover and the only reason I know the boat's behind me in that is the even more alarming rate the fuel gauge drops /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif It's quite a tall setup, so can be affected by side winds quite a bit and that's where the bigger 4x4 excels, it's got more control over it if you drive properly. Having low range is a laugh as well, I can put it in 1st low range and not even touch the throttle to get the whole lot out of the water and up the ramp. Just take my foot off the brake and she's off, rather than the scrabbling around I witness with anything else. I've lugged a few car/boat combos up the slipramp before now with it.

Transits will do it, but be aware you need some weight in the van otherwise it's too light to actually have control of the rig. 1200kgs of van will not control 2000+kgs of boat, believe me, I've been there and it isn't nice. Easier to just rent a 4x4 from SHB really. http://www.shb.co.uk/
 
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I've read right through and no-one seems to have mentioned the obvious. Go to the HGV testing station, or any other Public Weighbridge and weigh the outfit. Unhitch and leave the whole trailer/load on the weighbridge. You could check the complete Gross Train Weight as well with the tow vehicle/trailer/load on the w/bridge and loaded as you would normally be.

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Good point, but check the third post again carefully /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
 
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