Re: Towing. Advice please

"Cassillis" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> I have been asked by a colleague to tow a 2.5 ton boat from Hertfordshire
to
> Dorset. I intend to use a disco 1 200TDI for the job. Will the vehicle be
> able to cope with this?
I can't remember what weight you are allowed to tow with the Disco but
the handbook will have a section on this. In any case the Disco is well up
to the job.
> I have no experience in towing but i am a competent
> driver.
Make sure there is some nose weight on the trailer and above all take
your time, take a bit longer and get there safely.
> I havent looked at the boat not trailer yet so i'm not committed to
> anything. What should i be looking for ? Advice or comments please
>
Jack up trailer one wheel at a time and spin the wheels to check for
noisy bearings. So many people back boat trailers into water to unload and
consequently submerge and contaminate the bearings with saltwater etc. If
you hear any growling noises from the bearings, *don't* take it until they
are fixed. Also check condition of coupling and tyres.

HTH Martin.

In message <[email protected]>
"Oily" <[email protected]> wrote:

>
> "Cassillis" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > I have been asked by a colleague to tow a 2.5 ton boat from Hertfordshire
> to
> > Dorset. I intend to use a disco 1 200TDI for the job. Will the vehicle be
> > able to cope with this?
> I can't remember what weight you are allowed to tow with the Disco but
> the handbook will have a section on this. In any case the Disco is well up
> to the job.
> > I have no experience in towing but i am a competent
> > driver.
> Make sure there is some nose weight on the trailer and above all take
> your time, take a bit longer and get there safely.
> > I havent looked at the boat not trailer yet so i'm not committed to
> > anything. What should i be looking for ? Advice or comments please
> >
> Jack up trailer one wheel at a time and spin the wheels to check for
> noisy bearings. So many people back boat trailers into water to unload and
> consequently submerge and contaminate the bearings with saltwater etc. If
> you hear any growling noises from the bearings, *don't* take it until they
> are fixed. Also check condition of coupling and tyres.
>
> HTH Martin.
>
>

I'm sure it doesn't apply in this case - but remember that towing
over something like 250kg requires an extra test if you got your
licence after [insert date I can't remember here].

There's one or two of the horsey brigade come a cropper round
here.

Richard

--
www.beamends-lrspares.co.uk [email protected]
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Lib Dems - Townies keeping comedy alive

"beamendsltd" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:86123d344e%[email protected]...
: In message <[email protected]>
: "Oily" <[email protected]> wrote:
:
: >
: > "Cassillis" <[email protected]> wrote in message
: > news:[email protected]...
: > > I have been asked by a colleague to tow a 2.5 ton boat from
Hertfordshire
: > to
: > > Dorset. I intend to use a disco 1 200TDI for the job. Will the vehicle
be
: > > able to cope with this?
: > I can't remember what weight you are allowed to tow with the Disco
but
: > the handbook will have a section on this. In any case the Disco is well
up
: > to the job.
: > > I have no experience in towing but i am a competent
: > > driver.
: > Make sure there is some nose weight on the trailer and above all
take
: > your time, take a bit longer and get there safely.
: > > I havent looked at the boat not trailer yet so i'm not committed to
: > > anything. What should i be looking for ? Advice or comments please
: > >
: > Jack up trailer one wheel at a time and spin the wheels to check for
: > noisy bearings. So many people back boat trailers into water to unload
and
: > consequently submerge and contaminate the bearings with saltwater etc.
If
: > you hear any growling noises from the bearings, *don't* take it until
they
: > are fixed. Also check condition of coupling and tyres.
: >
: > HTH Martin.
: >
: >
:
: I'm sure it doesn't apply in this case - but remember that towing
: over something like 250kg requires an extra test if you got your
: licence after [insert date I can't remember here].
:
: There's one or two of the horsey brigade come a cropper round
: here.
:
: Richard

just check for the E inclusion on your license

Si

I am not sure of the regs in the UK, but here in SOuth Africa You can
only tow up to the mass of the tow vehicle with overrun brakes and
after that you need coupled brakes up to the Max towing mass of the
Disco which in my handbook is listed at 4000Kgs.

From memory I think the handbook gives similar advice with coupled
brakes being required after a certain mass and I doubt the authorities
would overrule the manufacturer.

In my experience towing that sort of mass will certainly tax the disco
but I suppose it depends what sort of hills you need to climb.


regards
Stephen

On Fri, 9 Jun 2006 12:11:58 +0100, "GrnOval"
<[email protected]> wrote:

>
>"beamendsltd" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:86123d344e%[email protected]...
>: In message <[email protected]>
>: "Oily" <[email protected]> wrote:
>:
>: >
>: > "Cassillis" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>: > news:[email protected]...
>: > > I have been asked by a colleague to tow a 2.5 ton boat from
>Hertfordshire
>: > to
>: > > Dorset. I intend to use a disco 1 200TDI for the job. Will the vehicle
>be
>: > > able to cope with this?
>: > I can't remember what weight you are allowed to tow with the Disco
>but
>: > the handbook will have a section on this. In any case the Disco is well
>up
>: > to the job.
>: > > I have no experience in towing but i am a competent
>: > > driver.
>: > Make sure there is some nose weight on the trailer and above all
>take
>: > your time, take a bit longer and get there safely.
>: > > I havent looked at the boat not trailer yet so i'm not committed to
>: > > anything. What should i be looking for ? Advice or comments please
>: > >
>: > Jack up trailer one wheel at a time and spin the wheels to check for
>: > noisy bearings. So many people back boat trailers into water to unload
>and
>: > consequently submerge and contaminate the bearings with saltwater etc.
>If
>: > you hear any growling noises from the bearings, *don't* take it until
>they
>: > are fixed. Also check condition of coupling and tyres.
>: >
>: > HTH Martin.
>: >
>: >
>:
>: I'm sure it doesn't apply in this case - but remember that towing
>: over something like 250kg requires an extra test if you got your
>: licence after [insert date I can't remember here].
>:
>: There's one or two of the horsey brigade come a cropper round
>: here.
>:
>: Richard
>
>just check for the E inclusion on your license
>
>Si
>

On or around Fri, 09 Jun 2006 11:44:27 +0100, beamendsltd
<[email protected]> enlightened us thusly:

>
>I'm sure it doesn't apply in this case - but remember that towing
>over something like 250kg requires an extra test if you got your
>licence after [insert date I can't remember here].

1/1/1997

>There's one or two of the horsey brigade come a cropper round
>here.

hehe.

I've long held the view that some of the worst driving I've seen was by
horsey types. not all of 'em, mind... but some have just about the most
arrogance I've seen, allied to an apparent inability to pilot a large
vehicle properly.
--
Austin Shackles. www.ddol-las.net my opinions are just that
Travel The Galaxy! Meet Fascinating Life Forms...
------------------------------------------------\
>> http://www.schlockmercenary.com/ << \ ...and Kill them.
a webcartoon by Howard Tayler; I like it, maybe you will too!

Austin Shackles <[email protected]> wrote:

> ...
> I've long held the view that some of the worst driving I've seen was by
> horsey types. not all of 'em, mind... but some have just about the most
> arrogance I've seen, allied to an apparent inability to pilot a large
> vehicle properly.

something new and interesting on usenet every day

never seen (or heard) a horse refered to as a vehicle before.

s-cnr

--
William Tasso
110 V8

Oily wrote:

> > I have been asked by a colleague to tow a 2.5 ton boat from Hertfordshire
> to
> > Dorset. I intend to use a disco 1 200TDI for the job. Will the vehicle be
> > able to cope with this?
> I can't remember what weight you are allowed to tow with the Disco but
> the handbook will have a section on this. In any case the Disco is well up
> to the job.

3500 kg on overrun brakes. Although It is recommended that you do not
tow more than 80% of the kerb weight of the vehicle.

> > I have no experience in towing but i am a competent

**** me, another accident waiting to happen on the M5 in the silly
holiday season.

You say that you have no experience of towing - I am sure that you are a competent driver - maybe a 2.5 ton boat on motorways for that kind of distance is not the best thing to cut your teeth on. For sure, your Disco will cope with it all day long but there is a lot more to this than the motor. The advice on the bearings is a good one - as is checking out the brakes and the tyres and the condition of the coupling etc.

Part of the advantage a driver who has experience towing will be the instintive 'feel' for a rig - if you have never towed before then you will not know if something feels right or wrong.

The consequences for when it goes wrong (especially on the motorway) have the capapbilty of varying from a little bit scary to downright fatal - I would really consider getting a bit more experience under your belt before you take this on.
If you do decide to still push on my advice would be TAKE IT VERY VERY STEADY - 60mph is the MAXIMUM you can do. Stay the hell out of lane three - normal motorway traffic speeds should mean that you will be doing way over the 60 limit if you need to use lane three. Make sure that your lighting board is working and clean. Ensure that the mirrors on your car are sufficient for you to see well clear of the trailer - if not you need some mirro extensions, you can be prosecuted for not having them.

Link here from the RAC - http://www.rac.co.uk/web/carcare/advice/general_help/towing_tips;jsessionid=B52607F8FF22B7A2C102A49F

One last thing - let me know what date/time you intend to travel - I will stay off the motorway!!!!!

"Landylover" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> Oily wrote:
>
>> > I have been asked by a colleague to tow a 2.5 ton boat from
>> > Hertfordshire
>> to
>> > Dorset.

<snip>

>> > I have no experience in towing but i am a competent
>
> **** me, another accident waiting to happen on the M5 in the silly
> holiday season.
>
You snipped what he claimed to be competent at, but if it's "navigating"
he's not likely to have too many problems on the M5.


--
Kevin Poole
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