TD4 towing

Took my boat a 200 mile round trip at the weekend, my TD4 pulled it ok but there were a few moments on the twisty bits where the steering felt a bit light!

Was a bit nausea inducing, but the boat doesn't weigh that much (around 650kg all in) and I've towed it with a passat and a golf in the past. Could it just be because I was in a taller vehicle that likes a wallow now and then, or maybe tyre pressures?

It's got 15 inch alloys, new tyres, 30psi rear and 28psi front?

Fergusdaddy said:

Took my boat a 200 mile round trip at the weekend, my TD4 pulled it ok but there were a few moments on the twisty bits where the steering felt a bit light!

Was a bit nausea inducing, but the boat doesn't weigh that much (around 650kg all in) and I've towed it with a passat and a golf in the past. Could it just be because I was in a taller vehicle that likes a wallow now and then, or maybe tyre pressures?

It's got 15 inch alloys, new tyres, 30psi rear and 28psi front?
View attachment 34700

Click to expand...

Hi Fergusdaddy,
Well i tow a caravan which is twice as heavy as your boat and i cant say ive ever felt what you describe, yes the ride height is higher and a bit of roll is to be expected .
I too have 15" wheels and i inflate to exactly what you have stated so i think you are about right on that front.
You boat is quite light but it will still need to be loaded correctly if you carry anyting in the boat like a outboard or the like , my van has all the heavy kit low down and over the axle and a little bit more over the front end so i can achieve a good tow ball weight [ 140k if i remember correctly on a f/lander]
Loading the boat with weight to the rear will make the outfit pitch .
may be worth checking your dampers on the freelander especially the rear , dont know what else to suggest but the guys in the know on this forum may have more ideas.
i use an old type[bar] stabilizer on my van which does help with pitching and stability in wind and passing lorries etc....maybe that may be worth a try.

Alan

I occasionally tow a trailer that's 2 tonne gross and don't get that light feeling you describe.

The weight of the trailer is really irrelevant except for it's influence on acceleration and hill climbing.

The handling and steering is affected much more by the nose-weight of the trailer.

The towball weight for a Freelander should not be more than 75kg, and I like to run at somewhere between 25 and 50kg

Check the noseweight of your fully loaded boat-trailer - it's easy - you can use a bathroom scales for the job.

As said - it may well be the other stuff in the back as well as the trailer that's upsetting the balance.

S.

Thanks for the replies, I will check the weight with the scales!

Like I said, the boat isn't that heavy, and is not loaded with camping gear etc, that's all in the Freelander. Heaviest thing on the boat is the outboard!

Was probably just a slippy section of wet road gave me a wee scare, 99 of the 100 miles were fine!

It did use a lot more fuel than usual towing the boat though, acceleration had left the building but it pulled steadily. Cost £50 in fuel for 200 miles, and would have done the trip on £30 without the boat!

Fergusdaddy said:

Thanks for the replies, I will check the weight with the scales!

Like I said, the boat isn't that heavy, and is not loaded with camping gear etc, that's all in the Freelander. Heaviest thing on the boat is the outboard!

Was probably just a slippy section of wet road gave me a wee scare, 99 of the 100 miles were fine!

It did use a lot more fuel than usual towing the boat though, acceleration had left the building but it pulled steadily. Cost £50 in fuel for 200 miles, and would have done the trip on £30 without the boat!

Click to expand...

the outboard is presumably on the aft of the boat and the boat is facing forward on the trailer.

this would mean that there is a sizeable bit of weight right at the rear of the trailer.
can it be removed for the journey and put into the boat?

No, taking outboard off is not possible!

You need to ascertain the trailer noseweight as a starting point as previously mentioned , then load boat(trailer) to get to desired weight eg 75 to 50 . Next see what your rear axle wight is loaded in Freelander . Your rear shockabsorbers need to be in good condition , as thats where the porpoising will cause most unsettling of the vehicle when towing , freelander is on the soft side for suspension set up anyway. That trailer board needs moving back as where it is not strictly legal ! Remember that under braking weight will transfer forward on trailer and be felt as weight at towball which will try and lift front of freelander so thry and think ahead , more so than when driving solo, Its not just Freelander that can get to feel as you describe big loads behind rangerovers with spring suspension can have a similar effect . HTSH

Freelaner said:

the outboard is presumably on the aft of the boat and the boat is facing forward on the trailer.

this would mean that there is a sizeable bit of weight right at the rear of the trailer.
can it be removed for the journey and put into the boat?

Click to expand...

can you take the picture off that beatifull dog is spoiling the view

What's wrong with the trailer board?
Pretty sure I checked the regs with regard to position and height???

Its obscured ,eg lights not visible from required angles. reflectors too high , the outboard is the culprit , its not a lit projection at night etc . Thats why people have the trailer board fitted on cars with bikes on the back tied to rear face of bikes . HTSH

ps ideally you want the outboard carried other than where it is , will go a big way to sorting the problems you came on here to ask about , safer as reducing polar moments as well.