Folding trailer

[kaman]

Having been moth balled for over a year now, I've decided that I'm going to make better use of my touring Caravan in 2017.
I bought a honwave t38 last year with a view to taking it along with my caravan.
Around half a dozen sites that I have frequented in the past are on the coast with beaches and slipways etc.
I'm looking for a basic light weight launch trolley for the T3.8.
Not something road legal, just sufficient to wheel the sib minus the engine a couple of hundred yards around the campsite to the waters edge to save me from deflating it.
Seen this on Ebay

Boat Trailer Jet Ski Dinghy Craft Trolley inflatable Launch Rib Wheels Fittings | eBay

I'm looking to hook it onto the car tow bar.
I'm happy to fashion an extension piece to facilitate a hitch.
Anybody recommend a half decent light weight collapsible trailer?

[breezeblock]

empty your inbox I was trying to message you

[kaman]

Inbox now empty.

[HDAV]

Would launching wheels on transome not suffice?

Honwave Wheel Kit For Air Floor Inflatables

Better pic

http://marinedirect.co.uk/honda-honw...27-mp-298.html

[kaman]

Hi HDAV.
I've got proper Honwave transom wheels on my Sib.
I've got a dodgy neck and really don't like moving the Sib any further on them than is absolutely necessary.
A few of the campsites I've been to, I would have to wheel the sib a good few hundred yards to get from caravan pitch to the water.
I'm thinking of adding a hitch to one of those little collapsible trailers and moving the T3.8 from the caravan pitch to the water with the SUV.
Plan would be to put the deflated Sib and thd collapsed trailer inside the caravan.
Outboard in the boot.
Once at the campsite blow sib up, build trailer, put sib on trailer ready for deployment.
I would leave it on the trailer for duration of stay.
When leaving deflate sib / dismantle trailer and pack into the caravan.
That's the plan any hoow☺

[HDAV]

Seems a lot of extra gear can't you just tie the bow on to the suv and gently tow it to the water? Perhaps use a a thick webbing strap from stern to bow under the floor and onto the tow bar?

Would seem more faff building a folding trailer getting the sib onto it then dragging it to the water and launching when you have ever wheels already?

[kaman]

Originally Posted by HDAV

Seems a lot of extra gear can't you just tie the bow on to the suv and gently tow it to the water? Perhaps use a a thick webbing strap from stern to bow under the floor and onto the tow bar?

Would seem more faff building a folding trailer getting the sib onto it then dragging it to the water and launching when you have ever wheels already?

That notion did cross my mind but some of the caravan sites are a fair old size with speed bumps one way systems rough beach terrain etc.
The Honwave wheels are just little - not the best.
I've seen others tieing their Sibs onto their cars even seen people sitting in the boot of SUV'S holding the bow as someone else drives.
I go away myself often so the folding launch trailer makes more sense than faffing around with ropes.
Plenty of room in the caravan to keep it.

[HDAV]

Have a look here Dinghy Launching Trolleys-Boat Launching Wheels-Jet Ski Launcing Trolley have a few options one specifically for inflatables and an off road towing attachment.

[HDAV]

As if by magic http://www.rib.net/forum/f10/brand-n...tml#post735638

[kaman]

In the end I went for the trailer that I originally posted the link to in my opening post.
I found it else where for just over 70 quid .
Should get it next week.
I'll post up my findings hood or bad

[Andy JC]

Originally Posted by kaman

Hi HDAV.
I've got proper Honwave transom wheels on my Sib.
I've got a dodgy neck and really don't like moving the Sib any further on them than is absolutely necessary.
A few of the campsites I've been to, I would have to wheel the sib a good few hundred yards to get from caravan pitch to the water.
I'm thinking of adding a hitch to one of those little collapsible trailers and moving the T3.8 from the caravan pitch to the water with the SUV.
Plan would be to put the deflated Sib and thd collapsed trailer inside the caravan.
Outboard in the boot.
Once at the campsite blow sib up, build trailer, put sib on trailer ready for deployment.
I would leave it on the trailer for duration of stay.
When leaving deflate sib / dismantle trailer and pack into the caravan.
That's the plan any hoow☺

Hi kaman. I've thought of doing something like this but decided against it due to the minimal payload on most tourers. On average, the payload on many caravans is only around 150kg after you've taken in to account the battery & gas cylinder. This really isn't very much, especially when you add up the weight of all your cupboard contents etc. With a motor mover I've worked out I'm close to the limit BEFORE adding any boats/motors/equipment!
I used to have a Honwave T38 and even though they have an air floor, they aren't that light. Just getting it through the narrow caravan door would've been a struggle. To add a trailer to the mix would likely push you over the limit. Unfortunately, many caravan accidents are down to being over loaded or badly loaded [emoji45]
Out of interest, what caravan do you have & what do you tow with? How would you transport the engine, fuel tank, life jackets etc?
Sorry to sound like a party pooper but thought it was worth pointing out[emoji4]

[kaman]

Hi Andy TBH not used the aforementioned set up yet.
I had several places in mind that I intend to take the Sib / Caravan combo.
The sites I have in mind are no more than 90 ish miles from my home.
Having had to move the Honwave around my garage recently I concur - it is an awkward beast and I won't be wrestling it in and out of my caravan.
Instead it'll be going in the back of my VW tiguan with rear seats folded flat, along with the outboard and other boat clobber. I have a large roof box for carrying other odds and ends too - thus keeping the car / caravan combo within the 85% rule.
The trailer will go in the caravan on the floor above the axle. I've got strong velcro straps to keep it all together.
The plan is for me to get a few trips away in the caravan with the Sib.
My old man will probably come along every other trip to add more ballast to the car .
The Mrs has a 2.2 diesel mondeo with a cavernous boot. For the trips away with the Mrs and kids both cars will be used with the payload divied up between both cars and the caravan accordingly .
The Mrs is happy driving the car solo and happy with the idea that she will have a car not tied up with launch / retieval duties at her disposal. She can therefore do as she pleases when I'm amusing myself in the Sib - ☺☺☺☺.
She has in the past point blank refused to tow either the Caravan or my Honwave 3.5ae which is permanently trailered making joint Sib / Caravan jollies very difficult.
Hopefully the little trailer will get the chance to justify it's existence this year.

[kaman]

The Lil Trailer

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[69cmw]

Originally Posted by kaman

thus keeping the car / caravan combo within the 85% rule.

What rule is this?

[Poly]

Originally Posted by 69cmw

What rule is this?

It's a rule of thumb (often misquoted as the law) from the caravan club that the trailer* should weight no more than 85% of the car**, which helps to prevent the tail wagging the dog.

* I think this is actual weight if trailer in its laden state.
** I think this is usually quoted as the kerb weight of the car - which is essentially it's unladen weight.

[69cmw]

Ok, so it's not law, it's just some caravan club blurb

[beamishken]

Surely that trailer can only weigh a few kgs maybe 15? probably not going to make a huge difference . We used a similar thing years ago with our caravan and sib it made the boat so much easier to launch etc.
The 85% is only a guide many cars can tow over their own weight landcruiser and landrover's etc can tow 3.5 tonnes and weigh just over 2 tonnes which makes a nonsense of the 85%thing

[Andy JC]

Originally Posted by beamishken

Surely that trailer can only weigh a few kgs maybe 15? probably not going to make a huge difference . We used a similar thing years ago with our caravan and sib it made the boat so much easier to launch etc.
The 85% is only a guide many cars can tow over their own weight landcruiser and landrover's etc can tow 3.5 tonnes and weigh just over 2 tonnes which makes a nonsense of the 85%thing

Agreed the trailer probably wont weigh much, it was transporting the boat in the caravan that originally concerned me. Good to hear he decided against that though.
Re. the 85% rule, I think it's generally aimed at inexperienced towers. Probably wise to stick to if you're new to the game. My outfit is about 92% and it's rock solid. Same setup for about 6 years.
Kaman, If you're keeping the boat and motor in the car you should be fine
With kids and the dog in the car, unfortunately, it's not an option for me!

[HDAV]

Originally Posted by Poly

It's a rule of thumb (often misquoted as the law) from the caravan club that the trailer* should weight no more than 85% of the car**, which helps to prevent the tail wagging the dog.

* I think this is actual weight if trailer in its laden state.
** I think this is usually quoted as the kerb weight of the car - which is essentially it's unladen weight.

There are plenty of vehicles that tow more than their own weight... the important one is the manufacturers plate

That's what the vehicle has been designed and tested to tow.
Shogun is gross weight of 3030kg kerb weight of 2375kg towing weight of 3500kg.....

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by HDAV

Shotgun is gross weight of 3030kg.....

[emoji15] I wouldn't want to see the size of the pheasant