Towing Advice

[ChrisxsRIB]

Hi

Although I have been boating for years I have only recently purchased my first RIB and could do with some advice.

I have a 6M XS with 150hp Suzuki outboard on a twin axel trailer. I'm wondering if my 2011 Saab 93 2l diesel would be a suitable tow car?

I can tow up to 7.5tonn with my licence so that's not a worry.

Slipway I'd be using is quite shallow and I'm only looking to launch in the spring and drag back out for the winter so I don't really want to go changing the car just yet.

[PAC22NI]

I've a Pacific 22 on twin axle trailer and use a 2016 X trail 2wd without issue so far. I'd say ul be fine for what u need it for.

[PAC22NI]

Meant to add it's only 1.6 diesel and I've had no issues so far - touch wood!!!

[Xk59D]

Welcome buddy, enjoy the boat!

The long and short of this will depend on what that rig weighs and potentially what the plated mam of the trailer says. As it is a 4 wheel trailer i assume it might be plated for circa 2000kg, need to check that.

Now, this is where a debate can start, if you read any caravan forum you will see that your car is illegal right off the bat IF it is a 2000kg trailer mam and a 1600kg max on the car. Even if the trailer is empty the police can charge you based on that weight plate......some claim.

Others say the above is tosh and you can tow it with a 2000kg plated trailer so long at the actual weight does not exceed the max limit of the car. I have read enough to satisfy myself that this is legal but I have a friend who was fined for towing an empty trailer with a plated weight that exceeded the car. He didn't challenge it though so probably would have got off with it if so.

So, you will need to satisfy yourself really as it is your licence but if you search for trailer towing on this forum you will find documentation from a vosa official saying it was legal, at the minimum I would print that and keep that with you.

For fairness the owner of SBS trailers told me it was illegal only a few months ago when I bought my new trailer, I had my trailer plated down just in case to avoid this issue.....can't win!

I would guess from the little info you've given just now that it will tow it but you need to give us more info really to get a proper answer buddy. I suspect it won't be far off your car's max towing weight and with a max nose weight of 75kg according to Google so pay attention to that when setting it up.

I have probably given more questions than answers but come back with specifics and someone will help.

Cheers

[Xk59D]

Originally Posted by PAC22NI

I've a Pacific 22 on twin axle trailer and use a 2016 X trail 2wd without issue so far. I'd say ul be fine for what u need it for.

There is surely no way on gods green earth that will be legal, that must be way in excess of the xtrail 2k limit, assuming it is a manual of course?

I thought dry Pacific's were in the 1800kg region without a trailer under them?

[PAC22NI]

It's converted to outboard - dt140 .
MAM not more than 3500kg - although close!

[Xk59D]

I'm paranoid about this stuff now as my boat was sold to me as circa 1250kg....it wasn't remotely close when I stuck it on a weight bridge. It was nearer 1600kg actual in my case but with weight of trailer took it to 1960kg, trailer was rated for 1800kg so it had to go. I actually weighed the trailer separately to clarify and make sure I bought the right one second time round.

That mistake has cost me a LOT of money, it wasn't even my mistake!

[PAC22NI]

Yeah I know the feeling!
As my boat has been stripped of her inboard - approx 500kg of weight that makes the difference, dt140 think is about 170kg. Trailer is about 300kg so MAM is just shy of 3500kg.

[Xk59D]

What trailer do you have bud?

Just about every new 4 wheel trailer made (except alum ones) are 450kg ish.

I'd have jumped on a 300kg twin axle with a 2k limit if I knew about it.

[PAC22NI]

It's based on trailer made by maverick rides - it was in poor state and had them alter it to suit my boat. In fairness it's prob in around 350kg.

[ChrisxsRIB]

Thanks for the advice so far.


The trailer is plated to 1500kg. I believe the car has a kerb weight of 1529kg with a towing capacity of 1600kg. I know I'm getting close to the maximum weight for the car (assuming the RIB is anywhere near 1500kg) but as I'm only planning on a short tow of around 25 miles on A roads I'm not too worried.

[ChrisxsRIB]

This is the slipway I'm planning to use.

[camelgas]

Originally Posted by ChrisxsRIB

Attachment 117381

This is the slipway I'm planning to use.

A long rope or extention pole will keep the car dry.

I made a 3mtr pole out of 3x bits of 50mm box, has a hitch on one end and a ball on the other.

Comes to bits to fit in car boot, works a treat and keeps the car on dry land.

[Poly]

Originally Posted by PAC22NI

Yeah I know the feeling!
As my boat has been stripped of her inboard - approx 500kg of weight that makes the difference, dt140 think is about 170kg. Trailer is about 300kg so MAM is just shy of 3500kg.

But what's the towing limit on the xtrail?

Originally Posted by ChrisxsRIB

Thanks for the advice so far.


The trailer is plated to 1500kg. I believe the car has a kerb weight of 1529kg with a towing capacity of 1600kg. I know I'm getting close to the maximum weight for the car (assuming the RIB is anywhere near 1500kg) but as I'm only planning on a short tow of around 25 miles on A roads I'm not too worried.

I know A roads are highly variable around the country but 25 miles on a roads wouldnt convince me you weren't going to have to stop suddenly at speed. It sounds like you should be legal IF the boat weight and contents (fuel etc) are under 1500kg on the trailer. Take Xk59D advice and put it on the weigh bridge though, as certainly some boats that size would not be under 1500kg fully loaded.

Originally Posted by ChrisxsRIB

Attachment 117381

This is the slipway I'm planning to use.

For that slip twice a year there is no way I'd swap the car if it is legal. For twice a year just use a good rope. If it becomes a lot more often then Id look at getting an extension bar.

[paintman]

Trip to the weighbridge would remove any doubt & often comes as something of a surprise - or shock.
Load the boat as you would for normal use - don't bother filling the tanks as fuel weight is a simple calculation.
Unless you happen to have bits of steel lying around then a rope would be fine - assuming you can't do it with the trailer still attached to the car.

[Xk59D]

Originally Posted by ChrisxsRIB

Thanks for the advice so far.


The trailer is plated to 1500kg. I believe the car has a kerb weight of 1529kg with a towing capacity of 1600kg. I know I'm getting close to the maximum weight for the car (assuming the RIB is anywhere near 1500kg) but as I'm only planning on a short tow of around 25 miles on A roads I'm not too worried.

To clarify something, the rib and trailer combined needs to weight less than 1500kg.

It is worth taking to get weighed as the car is close too, that way you know for sure. If it is 1501kg on the bridge you couldn't tow it with a range rover legally.

If legal I wouldn't swap cars either for that usage.

The PAC 22 on the other hand, that sounds close to me. I would defo be getting that weighed.

[PAC22NI]

4wd xtrail weighs 1580kg. 1.6 diesel can tow up to 2000kg

[PAC22NI]

Auto gear box can only tow 1500kg

[paintman]

Post deleted as I answered my own question!

[bullionbill]

The Pacific 22 with inboard Yanmar engine is 1.6 T dry boat.