Towing ribcraft 5.85

Jieboy · 29 December 2005, 15:00

Whats the smallest size of car, engine what would be able to toe a Ribcraft 5.85, very little amount of petrol, gear. With a 150 yam 4 stroke? Only need to tow it twice a year @ 60 miles per trip?

CJL · 29 December 2005, 19:15

I tow a 585 Ribtec with a Audi A3. Would not want to do it with anything smaller really.

I've got optimax 135 and 100litre tank with quite a bit of kit on board.

My old car, a golf was just about right too. Anything smaller would be stupid.

Chris

Tim M · 29 December 2005, 20:06

Whats the total weight of that load?

Jieboy · 29 December 2005, 20:14

CJL, how do you find the boat? engine? Whan sort of top end do you get? What is the engine like on fuel? Sorry for all the questions, just very interested in this boat spec. Thanks.

Tim M · 29 December 2005, 20:22

For referance I towed a 900kg boat with a 1.2 Fiat Punto (illegal I know) without any dodgy effects.

Steve Waters · 29 December 2005, 20:50

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jieboy

Whats the smallest size of car, engine what would be able to toe a Ribcraft 5.85, very little amount of petrol, gear. With a 150 yam 4 stroke? Only need to tow it twice a year @ 60 miles per trip?

Hi Jieboy, It's not only about car size and engine. You need to work out a weight for the complete load and then look at what sort of vehicle you want to use. A lot of smaller cars have a very limited towing capability and may not be legally able to tow the total weight that you want to pull. For example my car has masses of pulling power (grossly overpowered! I have discovered!) does not always give the best towing ability I have a Volvo estate that just hates pulling my little RIB up a slippery slope because its front wheel drive and an automatic! not the best combination when it gets wet!! I have masses of towing experience but practical things like getting up a ramp were new to me. The Volvo is fine on the road! Get your weights sussed first then see what best suits you as an all round car. It really does depend what you want out of it: but do try and stay on the right side of the towing law 'cause overweight for your towing combination is like a red rag to the boys in blue....

Steve Waters · 29 December 2005, 20:53

Quote:

Originally Posted by CJL

I tow a 585 Ribtec with a Audi A3. Would not want to do it with anything smaller really.

I've got optimax 135 and 100litre tank with quite a bit of kit on board.

My old car, a golf was just about right too. Anything smaller would be stupid.

Chris

Fantastic looking bit of kit; did that A frame come withit?

tcwozere · 29 December 2005, 21:08

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jieboy

Only need to tow it twice a year @ 60 miles per trip?

Hire or borrow summat.. It doesn't make sense to work out your entire years driving on a 120 miles..

DJL · 29 December 2005, 21:10

I've just ordered a Ribcraft 5.85 with Yam F150 - although Ribcraft say on their site that it should come in under a ton, I reckon mine will be more like 1150kg.

I will be towing it with a Ford Focus, but only to get it to the marina - I won't be towing regularly or launching with it.

The MAM of the standard Ribcraft trailer is 1500kg. Assuming you have a driving license with B+E or above you can legally get away with pretty much anything that has a towing limit greater than the weight of your boat - something in the region of 1200kg or more.

Jieboy · 29 December 2005, 21:13

Tcwozere, I like you suggestion. Where would I go to hire such a vehice? How much would it cost?

DJL · 29 December 2005, 21:18

What car have you got at the moment?

Jieboy · 29 December 2005, 21:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by DJL

I've just ordered a Ribcraft 5.85 with Yam F150 - although Ribcraft say on their site that it should come in under a ton, I reckon mine will be more like 1150kg.

I will be towing it with a Ford Focus, but only to get it to the marina - I won't be towing regularly or launching with it.

The MAM of the standard Ribcraft trailer is 1500kg. Assuming you have a driving license with B+E or above you can legally get away with pretty much anything that has a towing limit greater than the weight of your boat - something in the region of 1200kg or more.

What did they say the performance would be? Is the Yam 150 quite a thursty engine?

Jieboy · 29 December 2005, 21:21

I drive an evo 8 but toe with my mums megane coupe 1.6

DJL · 29 December 2005, 21:41

Just did a quick Google - Meganne coupe 1.6 looks like it can tow 1200Kg? Should be ok for the occasional trip

When did you get your driving license?

Didn't really talk too much about performance - Jason said it would be fast, at the limit of the hull (upper 40's). I've got so much junk on mine though it probably won't be all that fast. As to fuel consumption the Yam isn't the most economical buts its not the worst either. I remember 'working' it out and coming up with a figure that wasn't too horrendous. Robin gets 1.3-1.4nm per litre with a 140 Suzuki, so a little less than that I guess.

RIBnet went sloooow there for a minute..

robin · 29 December 2005, 21:52

Daniel......excellent choice Sir.

tcwozere · 29 December 2005, 22:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jieboy

Tcwozere, I like you suggestion. Where would I go to hire such a vehice? How much would it cost?

shb claim to be Europes leading 4x4 hirers.. Altho they are South Coast based, they should be able to either help, or point you in the right direction..

Ezgoing · 29 December 2005, 22:30

Jieboy,

Congrats on having the courage to ask the question.

Big issue for me when towing is stopping ability. I have often found that ordinary cars can with some coaxing tow considerable loads. but God help you if you have to stop them in a hurry. the earlier suggestion of hiring a vehicle for your occaisional trips seems like a good suggestion. There are a lot of 4x4s around and you will sometimes find some of the car dealers will let you have a "borrow".

In some places there are even some guys with 4x4s who will do the towing for you.

rgds

Jieboy · 29 December 2005, 22:39

Working for Mitsubishi is suppose I could " borrow" a shogun or L200 for the day. Not many of our demo,s have tow bars tho, if any at all? Had my licence just under 4 years, guess I will need to go for that trailer test thing. What exactly is it and what does it involve?

DJL · 30 December 2005, 00:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jieboy

Had my licence just under 4 years, guess I will need to go for that trailer test thing. What exactly is it and what does it involve?

You'll definitely have to do the B+E test - I don't think you'll be able to find a combination of tow vehicle/Ribcraft 5.85 that will be legal under cat B.

The B+E test is basically like the normal test but you're towing a trailer and its lasts longer. You don't have to do any manoeuvres on the road, but you will have to do a reversing manoeuvre and a controlled stop at the HGV centre. Apart from that you just have to couple and uncouple the trailer. It'll cost you a few hundred by the time you've had a few lessons and paid for the test.

Jieboy · 30 December 2005, 18:32

DJL
Thanks for all your help I am gonna look into the towing test a bit more, i.e find out where to do it in my area. Or even better, just get my mate to drive the car 60 miles twice a year ( he,s on the boat enough, its the least he can do)
Have a good new year eneryone.