I bought "Windfall", a 26S last year, and had a most enjoyable time in the Solent. - I manage to drag her out of the water, and store her locally on Hayling Isle, but want to stray a bit further. Ive seen some discussion on towing etc, but would like to see a list of tow cars that owners have had success or otherwise with. Obviously the S is lighter than the X or M, so a full 4x4 wont necessarily be needed. Is there anything available ?
Thu, 20/01/2011 - 4:28am
#1
Tow Car
I don't know how light the S is and it may well be that a non 4x4 would be OK but it is important to check the car manufacturer's stated towing capacity. Apart from the risk of great inconvenience to you if a rozzer decides to check your rig, there's also the huge risk of liability if you were to have an accident whilst towing when over the manufacturer's recommended max (and your insurer would run a mile too!) Sorry if you already know all this, but I thought it is worth saying here for the benefit of anyone who hasn't picked up on the importance of staying within the limits.
I have been towing my 26X with a Ford Maverick S Reg 2.7 turbodiesel short wheelbase (not the current model which is much lighter). This is a fairly unlikely looking vehicle for the task but frankly it has served me very well for 5 years and the load is well within Ford's stated max. Probably no more than 30mpg overall, although it doesn't have a computer and I don't check that closely! Easy to drive and not too big for parking in the supermarket etc and cheap to buy (The Nissan Terrano is exactly the same vehicle).
By the way, if you do decide to go for a 4 x 4 (especially a cheapish one) then I suggest you wait until the Spring. I think there are a lot of people out there who buy a cheap 4x4 to get them around in these harsh winters we have been having and they just sell them on in the Spring so there could be plenty to choose from in the Autotrader come April!
Don't forget to think about the maintenance of the trailer. Rusted wheel bearings and seized brakes are the big enemy.
Hope these few comments are of some help.
Mike
Thanks Mike,
I used to tow a caravan, but thanks for the reminder regarding legislation. I suppose I was targetting "26S" owners, as , according the specs Ive seen it is considerably lighter than the X or M. I do remember seeing a full members list on the site , with boat types and other details, - I was wondering if "tow car" was a useful extra column. However I see this list has gone (data protection ?).
I have a large people carrier, which towed the caravan OK - however the cylinder head has cracked !! and its probably terminal - so I need to change it, and want to make sure I get the right car. The current wish spec is 50 mpg, convertible , room for outboard, dinghy etc in boot ! - I think I'm going to struggle ! -
Regards
Peter
Hi Peter
The membership list is available in this forum under the "Important Stuff" section. There's a topic called Membership List, where you'll find the list attached as a PDF. You have to be logged in to see this section, since the information is only available to members.
However, as you said we don't have a tow-car column. I guess we could add one if there's enough interest, perhaps an idea to raise at the AGM?
Cheers
Rick Jones (Treasurer), former 26X & 19 owner, Isle of Wight
Dear All,
I recently bought a Mac26X thinking my Volvo V70 could tow 1600kg, so was OK. Slipways are proving a strain so I'm also interested in what cars other people are using to tow their MacGregors. Before I splash out on a 2nd hand Discovery or Touareg, does anyone have any ideas on something more economical to do the job?
Regards
Stuart Macrae
Hi Stuart
I think all would agree that 4wd is essential, and don't forget that the all-up weight of a Mac 26 on the trailer is likely to be nearer 2 tonnes, and when pulling up a slipway there's another 1/3 tonne of water ballast to drag up the hill!
I can only comment on my own choice of car, which is a Kia Sorento 2.5 diesel. I bought it 4 years ago when I bought the Mac, and it's done very well. It has a high tow weight and also nose weight rating (very important) and has been very reliable. I chose it mainly on price, it was 4 years old at the time and cost I think 9k from a dealer. This was far cheaper than a comparable discovery. It's a well-appointed model as well, not the basic, and auto transmission which saves the problem of using a clutch on a slipway!
Cheers
Rick Jones (Treasurer), former 26X & 19 owner, Isle of Wight
Hi Rick,
Thanks for the prompt reply. Very helpful.
Kindest regards
Stuart