What do you tow your boat with?

davidpbo said:
I don't like the fact that for my vehicle (Nissan Pathfinder) Diff lock is automatically engaged in low ratio as I want to be able to use low ratio to save the clutch yet still have full maneuverability. Diff lock (centre and axles) really limits that and risks transmission damage on a firm surface. My old Trooper I could have modified it so I could have used low ratio without 4WD (not often necessary once off the slip) but never did.
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I have the same issue with me new Shogun, the last one let you choose but the new one though it still has the for options on the second stick engages lock in two of them.
 
David2452 said:
I have the same issue with me new Shogun, the last one let you choose but the new one though it still has the for options on the second stick engages lock in two of them.
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I have an 02 shogun auto with many selectable options. I found out that with SWMBO driving having selected normal road going 4wd it can quite happily tow our 2 ton outfit up a steep wet slipway with the both the trailer and its own hanbrake firmly in the on position!
 
Lakesailor said:
This is at Ferry nab. That is a good, clean slipway with no current. By the time he'd got the boat out he'd cooked the clutch. A 4X4 with a low ratio box is good. Ones with auto are also good for slipway use.

If you are on a tidal slipway with a slippery and loose surface, the wind has picked up and a current is running across the slip. That's a bad time to find your car won't pull the boat out.


The smoka above the bonnet and drifting behind the car is from his clutch


This picture shows the warden taking over because the Volvo wouldn't pull the yacht out of the lake
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Eejits! The wardens are experts at pulling yachts out and it only costs a few quid. Far cheaper than a new clutch.

Having said that, the hill up the crook road (or even the road up out of windermere) is pretty steep with something like a sonata on the back though If it stuggled going up I was always more nervous going downhill, even when I was towing with my old disco.
 
ghostlymoron said:
I'm surprised that towing increases your fuel consumption by so little! When I tow a caravan with my Merc, the fuel consumption goes from 53mpg to 30 mpg.
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TD5 designed as a work horse its designed to play with large weights, where as your merc it was an after thought...

But your heater was not an after thought you probably have AC, your sunroof does not leak, the car goes where you point the steering wheel most of the time, you do not have to open the drivers window to have some where to put your right shoulder and your left leg is not loosing a constant battle with the handbrake.. :rolleyes:
 
onesea said:
Do it properly Landrover 110. I had Disco if it went over 60 with heavy traffic towing 1.8t of caravan it was not happy..

The only thing unhappy on the 110 at 75 ish is the fuel gauge you CAN see it move... keep it to 60 or tuck in behind a coach and its not so bad.

Without towing it does around 30 as long as you stay below 70, towing sensibly I think its 25 but... me sensible? worst score was 18, but that was not going slowly...
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Advising people to buy a Defender because they need to tow things is cruel and unusual punishment; I own one, but it's a perverse hobby as they have appalling ergonomics and unless you're a deaf dwarf amputee aren't nice to drive long distances. As Defender and series 1 Discovery running gear is practically identical(wheelbase aside) how they can have significantly different characteristics isn't clear; more likely the disco had something wrong with it.
 
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bignick said:
Eejits! The wardens are experts at pulling yachts out and it only costs a few quid. Far cheaper than a new clutch.

Having said that, the hill up the crook road (or even the road up out of windermere) is pretty steep with something like a sonata on the back though If it stuggled going up I was always more nervous going downhill, even when I was towing with my old disco.
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Wouldn't have thought the ca Lakey showed should have struggled too much with that boat. I agree the wardens are pretty good but sometimes are too busy if you haven't got on the list early enough especially at the end of the season or they get a call out.

I never take the Crook Road with a boat on the back preferring to go along the bottom road to the roundabout a mile or so past Bowness and turn right up past the top end of Windermere doesn't take much longer and is a bit safer IMHO. I agree about that hill being steep.
 
I was surprised, but it just wouldn't have it. I suspect the driver was not getting the best from it. His hill starting technique involved rolling backwards. :D
 
I'm not totally up on weights but I picked up a lovely Mitsubishi shogun 3.2 for under 6k
Ive never towed with it yet, but if the old man has t sold his 16ft alloy assault craft next year I may give it a go
 
penfold said:
Advising people to buy a Defender because they need to tow things is cruel and unusual punishment; I own one, but it's a perverse hobby as they have appalling ergonomics and unless you're a deaf dwarf amputee aren't nice to drive long distances. As Defender and series 1 Discovery running gear is practically identical(wheelbase aside) how they can have significantly different characteristics isn't clear; more likely the disco had something wrong with it.
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I drive one (93 90tdi) every day and every word you say is so true!
Maybe the difference was having and not having anti roll bars fitted?


Lynall
 
Penfold on the comfort value I am not arguing see my post #24, they are a car of choice.....

As for towing different suspension (anti roll bar as Lynall suggested??), heavier car I guess the two make a significant difference when it comes to snaking...
 
onesea said:
Do it properly Landrover 110. I had Disco if it went over 60 with heavy traffic towing 1.8t of caravan it was not happy..

.
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Was that a Disco 2? A quick Google shows that there were problems and even a LR alert for it. Other replies suggest the tow hitch is too high for caravans and an adjustable plate is needed.
 
I find it odd that the Volvo couldn't pull that boat in Lakesailor's picture out. My S80 does it easily, but it is an automatic.
 
davidpbo said:
Wouldn't have thought the ca Lakey showed should have struggled too much with that boat.
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I had one of those Peugeots for moving the family around. Went to south of france 2x a year with 7 of us, roof box and 4 bikes on the back. Did this for many years. Drove a dream.

Then we got a caravan. It was a horrid tow car. After one trip SOF and back it was knackered. Sold it and got a Range Rover Sport. The only problem is I keep forgetting the caravan is attached. I expect a boat is easier to tow, but I'm surprised they got to the slip in the first place.
 
davidpbo said:
Correct me if I am wrong but I think the Subaru estate and Forester have low ratio mpg not too bad. Kia Sorrento is another one. I drive a Nissan Pathfinder, 3000kgs towing capacity. Mpg not brill <30mpg I think.

I would rather use a van or people carrier if I could but boat too heavy.
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My Subaru Legacy have happily towed all sorts of stuff, and with the automatic hill start brake/clutch, easy for even SWMBO to use. Even good in mud.
 
I used to tow my Leisure 17 with a VW Golf. Launching down a steep, slippy slip was no problem but I usually had to get a couple of heavies to sit on the bonnet to retrieve it. Once when the boat was not fully up to the stops on the trailer, one of these 'heavies' the commodore no less, suggested that to get it a bit further up I should get up a bit of speed then brake suddenly. With great trepidation I did as suggested half expecting the mast to crash through the Golf's rear window but it worked perfectly with the boat snugly up against the stops.
 
A BMW 3l diesel tows 1.8 ton and is a lot more pleasant to drive than a 4x4, more economical too. If you need 4wd get a proper one, Subaru make those.
 
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