what do you tow with?

[Lostboy]

VW Touareg, never found a slipway to defeat it yet and have helped a few others out of problems with it.

Had a Chrylser GV before it (essentially a big Merc van!) and started to struggle with that on some slips, FWD is definitely not the boat-haulers friend!

[Lets go boating]

I use a nissan patrol 4.2L. Can't tell the boat is on the back, and launching is easy.

[Jus]

Impreza Turbo (4x4)

Very good so far, fine on any slip I've tried pulling a heavy 5m up.

Also accelerates with boat on tow faster than any other car I've had without a boat!

[Biggles]

LWB Frontera. Does the job admirably but its the long wheel base version and it can be a nightmare to reverse round tight corners. Especially as all the family seem to just stand there watching and not saying if I'm getting close to anything. Therefore I have to be very cautious.

Needed help once when the tide ran out and the trailer ended up in thick mud. My mates winch pulled that one out along with half a ton of mud.

Was also defeated when pulling my mates trailer out and one of his wheels dropped down a big hole. After we snapped the tow rope he went in and lifted the trailer up. Got it out then.

Generally at the first sign of trouble I put it in Low Ratio and it just chugs out slowly then.

[Nos4r2]

Originally Posted by fishbait

thanks for all the responses folks. Has anyone tried a van and a 4x4 often enough to know the pros&cons of launcing retrieving on awkward slips (or even getting to the slip in eg Cornwall?)



Have you ever pulled your rib up a slippery/long/steep/ slip with the VeeDub? This is the crux of what I'm at here...I towed for ages with a volvo estate (2L) no probs, in fact you can tow - on the flat - with anything. The fun starts on steep hills and Less_Than_Perfect launching/retrieving sites, which is where the 4x4 comes into its own - but there's all the other stuff you can do with a transporter.

TIA

FB

You can tow anything up a slip with a good electric winch on your towball...

[Nos4r2]

Originally Posted by Daniel

Yup, a friend had a 4x4 one and it towed and launched top banana (6m osprey) really well.

Cool-cheers! I've been debating getting one. It'd be a lot easier than pitching a tent and I don't want something the size of a fullsize camper.

[osprey__viper]

Discovery TD5 for me.

Three pages into the thread and Codders is still quiet, is he on holiday

[Searider]

Mate of mine has a Transporter TDi Syncro to tow his Ribtec 585. No problems at all.
A lot of money for a van though!

[codprawn]

Originally Posted by osprey__viper

Discovery TD5 for me.

Three pages into the thread and Codders is still quiet, is he on holiday

Was tempted but Gavin has put me off Land Rover's for life - I am going to sell my Discovery - Range Rover and Defender and get a chrome plated Mitsubishi with furry dice instead..........

[Searider]

Discovery 300TDi with 300000 miles on it and still going strong (ish - fingers crossed!).

Just replaced the Original exhaust. 10 years old and 300K - not bad eh?

[rbw156]

I've used a 24 year old Series III Land Rover, which has done very well. It is unbeatable on the slipway. It is slow on the motorway. However, it does require some TLC and I'd rather spend my time on the water, not looking after the tow vehicle! Hence I've just bought a used Nissan X-Trail 2.2 diesel. I'll let you know how the new vehicle gets on (hopefully tomorrow).

[fishbait]

shoulda posted sooner

I got a Toyota Hilux Surf (3.0L diesel auto) - seems longer than other 4x4s; I can sleep in the back! Well I ain't no giant, but even I can't do this on other vehicles. More like a car on steroids than a truck (which I like).

Oh yes ... it tows a dream :-)

[Neil Harvey]

agreed - surfs are fantastic, and even I can sleep in the back at 6'2"!
Wish I had never sold mine, but can't get insured on them at the moment as they are imports adn I am abroad alot (OKAY, I could but it was mega bucks!)

Good at towing too, but avoid the 2.4s as the heads have too high a risk of cracking.

[Nos4r2]

Originally Posted by fishbait

shoulda posted sooner

I got a Toyota Hilux Surf (3.0L diesel auto) - seems longer than other 4x4s; I can sleep in the back! Well I ain't no giant, but even I can't do this on other vehicles. More like a car on steroids than a truck (which I like).

Oh yes ... it tows a dream :-)

My 'little' jap import Isuzu Mu turns into a full length double bed inside and it's the same shell as a Frontera Sport.

[SOLENTER]

VOLVO ESTATE, its not what youv got its what you can do with it

[Lets go boating]

The best 4x4 for towing is a 1992 nissan patrol, can launch anywhere with it, and because it is realy big everyone on the road gets out of the way. i'm not sure about vans, maybe a transit with the 125 tdci engine.

[Stoo]

I use a GMC Yukon pulling a 5.9m Hurricane. It pulls beautifully at 130 km/h on the highway and handles steep ramps, sand and snow without problem. It sucks gas like a tank, but compared to the boat, it's miserly.

A good friend pulls a 24' aluminum something or other with a 3/4 ton Ford van (diesel) and it pulls no problem of course.

I suspect that unless you are doing a lot of towing, both of these are overkill...

[codprawn]

Having offroaded a transit van many times(great ground clearance) I must say they have an amazing lack of traction unless carrying 2 tons in the back. I know they are bringing out a 4wd one again but the normal ones would be pretty useless I would have though on a slipperyslip!!!

[Daniel]

Originally Posted by Stoo

I use a GMC Yukon pulling a 5.9m Hurricane.

Hey, i've got one of those but it only weights about 250Kg... www.hurricane59.com

[Slaphead]

I use a Landcruiser VX. It was great when I had my Pacific 22.Anyone want to buy it?£5.5k.