Have purchased a boat which weighs just under 3t, trailer is around 700kgs.
Obviously this pushes me over the 3.5t threshold a little - I know this requires my CE but if I’m only doing this privately for my own use is there anything else I need to look for?
And although I’m looking at using a discovery or something to tow it with it’s also been suggested that I could use a twin tyre van with tow bar.
Can anyone who tows things more often than I comment on this one? I’m not planning on launching the boat or anything so there are no steep ramps - it is being driven from A to B via motorway.
stagedriver:
Have purchased a boat which weighs just under 3t, trailer is around 700kgs.
Obviously this pushes me over the 3.5t threshold a little - I know this requires my CE but if I’m only doing this privately for my own use is there anything else I need to look for?
And although I’m looking at using a discovery or something to tow it with it’s also been suggested that I could use a twin tyre van with tow bar.
Can anyone who tows things more often than I comment on this one? I’m not planning on launching the boat or anything so there are no steep ramps - it is being driven from A to B via motorway.
If the trailer plated MAM is more than 3500 kgs then it requires more than over-run brakes such as air brakes
If it has over-run brakes then the max weight it can legally be is 3500 kgs
What is its MAM and what brakes does it have??
An ifor Williams 16ft tandem weighs800kg ,a 10 ft weighs 610 kg ,I wouldn’t think a boat that weighs that much would fit on the 10 ft one .they are 3.5 tonne gross .
In terms of vehicle choice - I have access to a discovery but curious to see what other vehicles can be suggested. It was also suggested that a twin tyre transit may work too with it’s towing ability…I wasn’t too sure about the towing power however!
stagedriver:
In terms of vehicle choice - I have access to a discovery but curious to see what other vehicles can be suggested. It was also suggested that a twin tyre transit may work too with it’s towing ability…I wasn’t too sure about the towing power however!
Not sure that a transit has a towing capacity of 3500 … that would usually need a GTW of 7000 and the most I have come across have been around 6000 GTW with a 2500 towing capacity … It could be that I have never come across them on the transit forum
You’d be better towing it with something heavier like a 7.5 tonner or even a 4.6 tonne sprinter ,something with a good wheelbase ,I don’t fancy your chances with such as a disco ect .
stagedriver:
In terms of vehicle choice - I have access to a discovery but curious to see what other vehicles can be suggested. It was also suggested that a twin tyre transit may work too with it’s towing ability…I wasn’t too sure about the towing power however!
Not sure that a transit has a towing capacity of 3500 … that would usually need a GTW of 7000 and the most I have come across have been around 6000 GTW with a 2500 towing capacity … It could be that I have never come across them on the transit forum
Isn’t it the iveco daily that has the best towing capacity
Disco on air suspension is the best for big heavy towing with possibly the exception of a landcruiser.
The extra length of a sprinter/transit type van does give stability but its kerb weight will be a ton less than the Disco which makes a lot of difference. This can be offset by putting ballast in but it’s likely the train weight will prevent it.
The rules were relaxed on width for towing with a 3.5t or less tow vehicle. You can theoretically tow an empty 20ft container on a flatbed Ifor behind a Land Rover but, I wouldn’t want to very far.
Other upside with a 4x4 over a van is if you have to reverse a heavy trailer up anything but a fairly gentle incline you’ll be glad of the low range box.
Dan Punchard:
I don’t fancy that ballast ending upon top of me when the disco is upside down ! It would be better with a flat ,keep the ballast on the out side .
It’s the van I was on about putting the ballast in. Empty van will be probably sub 2t, Disco nearer 3t. Although couple of sacks of something heavy stapped in the passenger footwells wouldn’t harm in any 4x4 either if you are long and heavy.
Newer model Disco and other 4x4s have trailer stability control also. Used to tow with Sprinters, wouldn’t go back to them.
New Ford Ranger pick-up and possibly Isuzu D-max are the best commercial tow choices at the moment though and also best option for moving maximum loads for hire&reward without o-licence requirement. Personally I’d install air-suspension on the rear axle though.