What type of vehicle to tow with

[Christos]

I am new to this and looking to buy a RIB with road trailer with expected total weight (boat / motor / trailer) not exceeding 750Kg. Whilst I would expect an average car to be able to handle this, what about when launching / recovering on a slippery slope. From your experience, is this average 2 wheel drive car going to cope?

[Poly]

Christos,

The answer is probably!

An average family car will pull that up most decent slipways. On really steep or slimy slipways (or when the slipway stops and you just have sand/mud/gravel) then you are probably better using a rope to get enable you to keep the car on solid ground.

I suspect that when I've had wheelspin on slipways it has had more to do with tyres than 2wd itself.

[9D280]

Mine fully loaded on the trailer clocks in at 749Kg. Focus to tow it - not had an issue with recovery or towing yet.

The one slip I have had to use a rope on I wouldn't have put a 4x4 down - Torville & Dean could have used it to practice on!

[thomas]

Think about ride height too, my friend has an Astra with lowish profile tyres and has a problem with the exhaust going under the water at certain states of the tide.

[boristhebold]

Buy a cheap landrover defender 90, great for towing, good space for chucking your clobber intot he back of and fun to work on or do up a bit, which you will need to do as things tend to vibrate apart. ha ha ha plus you will then enter the secret landrover defender club where everyone who drives one waves at you when passing (it came a bit of a shock to me when I first got one and found everyother defender driver grinning and waving at me)

[mick]

Defender good as anything not everybody waves though there are some misrable sods

[mister p]

They're not waving, they're cries for help.

[mick]

Originally Posted by mister p

They're not waving, they're cries for help.

didnt think it would be long before you sniffed a Land Rover post out

[9D280]

Originally Posted by thomas

Think about ride height too, my friend has an Astra with lowish profile tyres and has a problem with the exhaust going under the water at certain states of the tide.

....which brings us back to the rope! (or a trailer with a longer drawbar)

Another thing to think about - a bunk trailer, although arguably better for the hull on the road, will need to go a lot further into the water than a swing beam roller type to get the boat off. My current boat came with a bunk trailer. Had to unchitch & rope it every time to get it off & on. Traded it in for a swing beam roller. Only once had to unhitch since (see above!) and I now don't even get the back tyres wet most times.

Towing equations are always about the sum of the parts......

[sib]

Anyone tow with a VW Transporter van ?
If so any issues with grip on slipways ( 6m rib) ?
Talking about the 2 wheel drive ones ...

Thanks

[mick]

Originally Posted by sib

Anyone tow with a VW Transporter van ?
If so any issues with grip on slipways ( 6m rib) ?
Talking about the 2 wheel drive ones ...

Thanks

I've had 2 in the past brilliant van if you get the top engine I had an auto as well Useless on anything slippy though hence the defender now.

[ronin]

I agree on the Defender. I use a 110 and its brilliant for everything although a tad slow on the big inclines when rib is fully fueled ... but will carry 7 adults and a load of offshore gear as well which is cool ...

If you're not a Defender fan ( ... shame ) my father in law is a livestock farmer and he swears by 98,99, 2000 model Mitsibushi Shogun short wheel base (the flared arch model) - I think this has a 2.8ltr engine but he says has real grunt or the Nissan Patrol SWB again I think a late 90's model which may be a 4 ltr !! You an pick these up for about £3k on eBay and they can easy do 200k which is a bargain...

[Chris]

If you are on a tight budget I would avoid "cheap" defenders as they are likely to be sheds. IMO you get a lot more for your money with a discovery. An up and together TDi 200 or 300 will cost about 2-3k or 5-6k for a reasonable TD5.

Whatever you go for, if its a Landrover then you have to have the stomach for the occasional garage bill !

[Mollers]

If value is what you're after, forget LR altogether. Defender 90s are mad money, non-rotten Discos likewise.

A half tidy Daihatsu Fourtrack is a darn good tug, Nissan Terrano/Ford Maverick are cheap. Pajeros can come for sensible money.

[Downhilldai]

Originally Posted by Mollers

If value is what you're after, forget LR altogether. Defender 90s are mad money, non-rotten Discos likewise.

A half tidy Daihatsu Fourtrack is a darn good tug, Nissan Terrano/Ford Maverick are cheap. Pajeros can come for sensible money.

A lot of guys down this way use the Dai Hatsu 4-track. Cheap & reliable workhorse, if a little prone to rust.

[Mollers]

Originally Posted by Downhilldai

A lot of guys down this way use the Dai Hatsu 4-track. Cheap & reliable workhorse, if a little prone to rust.

And..... 3500000g max tow weight.

[Dhf]

I use a Pajero myself 2.5td auto, you don't have to rely on the slip with a 4x4, sometimes it can frustrating waiting for others taking ages on the slip, because they hav'nt practiced reversing prior to their new hobby,
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Paul.

[SteveHall]

I use a Navara, Works really well for me - Big load area for all the wet kit, plenty of power and 4x4 if required.

[ncp]

May not be relevant across the pond, but for it's size, my Jeep Grand Cherokee tows the most (7200 lbs) and still fits in the garage at home/work. Beats the Toyota's and Nissan's of the same size.

[mick]

Originally Posted by ncp

May not be relevant across the pond, but for it's size, my Jeep Grand Cherokee tows the most (7200 lbs) and still fits in the garage at home/work. Beats the Toyota's and Nissan's of the same size.

What is it petrol or diesel