Hi
What does the 26M tow like. I ask because the nose weight suggested by the user manual seems far more than many cars can handle. Our large estate car tows the caravan perfectly but it's nose limit is 87 kg max. Do others tow with similar car?
Tue, 01/03/2022 - 7:11pm
#1
Tow ball weight
Hi Gary I tow with a Nissan Navara D40 which can take a nose weight up to 140kg which is more than adequate. Plenty of members have been successful with other vehicles so hopefully someone else has better experience. Your estate has quite a good capacity. I'd suggest adjusting the position of the boat to get within the cars capacity to meet your legal obligation and then drive with care. I don't think Macgregor's advice is statutory.
Historically I have towed some ridiculous things, at a time when the rules were a lot more lax and merely adjusted my driving.
Just a suggestion, I have adjusted the position of trailer axles on a few boat trailers to set the correct nose weight. I'm not sure if this is possible with the original single axle trailer that is supplied with a Mac. The other option is a twin axle boat trailer up grade.
Hi all
Ours is a twin wheel trailer. I was thinking of taking it to a public weighbridge. With its weight confirmed I can add it to the published empty boat weight and search for the Yamaha 50hp weight. That should be what the car needs to pull. Has anyone found out the boat and engine weights?
I tow a 1500kg caravan but adjust the payload to match the cars 87kg nose weight.
I think it has always been a borderline experience towing one of these with a car. I have done it with a large GM omega, but never an enjoyable Experience
Mine is a single axle trailer. I upgraded to a Rangerover for towing that did make an improvement and I even lost a wheel on the motorway once and was able to keep it all under control.
I now use a 3 ton Cadillac pick up to do the job, no more snaking in crosswinds and I do not notice I am towing,it is 4WD and the best tow car I have ever driven.
You also need to consider recovering the boat. I usually tow with a Ford Ranger pickup, which recovers in low range without an effort. I have used my XC90, but cringe because it does not have a low range and struggled to get the boat up the ramp. As far as towbar weight, you can easily move things around in your boat to lighten this. I use a bathroom scale to check the tongue weight.
David Claassen
"Logan's Run"
2006 26M
Most cars, even large ones max out at 2200kg max calculated tow weight, even something like a Freelander. I am guessing this would leave the total over max train weight even with a lightly loaded car.
I am looking at alternatives to my old Range Rover that are not so juicy on fuel for the daily grind and the most car like thing I would consider is an Audi Allroad which has a calculated 2500kg tow weight.
I do need to spend a bit more research time on this but I have seen between 2600kg and 2800kg (heavily loaded boat) quoted as trailer and boat weight for an M on a double axle steel trailer . sound about right?
I am still learning on this so welcome any corrections to above
Matt
I currently use a Kia Sorrento 2007 model which is rated to 3ton unlike the newer ones. Modern vehicles are made lighter so the tow capacity has reduced. Previously I used Nissan Terrano. I have never had any issues with snaking and always felt the boat towed like a dream . I have probably had my towhitch weight a bit high but that actually helps to keep the rear wheels well attached to the road and I think may reduced snaking.
As my Sorrento is now getting old I have thought about changing it and wondered about a Ford Transit van . My only concern is that the newer ones don't come as 4x4 unless 2022 model which is silly money. Does anyone have e patience towing and using slipway without 4x4 ?
The caravan club recommend the nose weight of what you are towing should be 5 to 7% of the total weight of the loaded trailer
I think that's going to be a very heavy trailer and heavily loaded boat. The unladen boat is 1157kg, standard trailer 240kg (say 400kg for steel double axle) Yamaha 50hp 115kg total 1672kg. Everything else is in your control, so don't fill up on fuel and water until arrival. So you should be able to keep total towed weight under 2200kg that allows 500kg for contents which is quite a lot. May be I'll add another 50hp outboard to mine!
As Gary points out Macgregor specifies a nose (tongue) weight of 113kg to 130kg this is for the single axle trailer and I assume either his advice or American requirements to achieve towing stability. I don't think we have anything other than guidance for this measurement. Generally the higher the weight the less likely you will suffer snaking. A twin axle trailer should not need as high a nose weight. If you can get it down to your capacity of 80kg I am sure you will be OK
I have a very well made trailer by Lizard Trailers Cornwall which though I guess a copy of an original was very badly designed. It isn't adjustable and the nose weight was ridiculous, nearer 250kg. I had to move the axles forward 300mm and still need to load to the back of the boat to bring it down to a sensible amount. She does travel beautifully behind the Nissan and we can maintain allowable speeds. Acceleration is affected but it is perfectly acceptable.
As David says load the boat to adjust nose weight so as not to go over the makers max load on the ball. Then try her out very carefully. Obviously the bigger the towing vehicle the nicer the driving. Also at gatherings someone will always be willing to put her in the water and you can always aim for slips where a tractor is available.
Jonathan
Our Merc E class Estate D220 has air rear suspension to keep it level when loaded or towing, that helps with the 1500kg caravan. We move items in that to get it pretty much spot on the 87kg nose weight. The 1500kg caravan is close to the 85% recommended weight of car kerb weight suggested by the caravan clubs.
There is a picture of a estate car towing on this site.
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