Gnasher Posted July 13, 2005 Report Share Posted July 13, 2005 I have just got a Vectra 2.0l and want to know if this would be ok for towing a fairly heavy 21 ft boat. The car wasnt bought for this purpos. Will this do for upto 10 mile trips or will a 4x4 still be needed. I dont to hook it up before ive had some advice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul D Posted July 13, 2005 Report Share Posted July 13, 2005 Dan, Look up the max towing weights from the specification of the car. I would imagine towing on teh flat will be OK ( The Mondeo can tow up to 1,800 KG on braked trailer ). I think Adam tows with a Vectra. Your fun will start when trying to tow the boat out from a slipperly slipway..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
duncan Posted July 13, 2005 Report Share Posted July 13, 2005 It will almost certailnly tow it, your stopping distance will be significant and great care should be taken approaching any braking situation - trailer brakes are at best variable over the season. Keep the obvious things clearly legal - high viz secure prop/drive bag, lights and number plate. As the police never seem to tire of saying every trailer is likely to break some regulation somehow so don't attract attention. Avoid steep slippery slips except at high water for recovery - consider sitting a couple of guys on the front wings if required! Carry a long length of strong rope with loops in either end 'just in case'. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newboy Posted July 13, 2005 Report Share Posted July 13, 2005 Adam uses an Astra to tow Blue Warrior, but BW is only about 1000kg inc the trailer. A vectre (old shape) can legally tow up to 1400kg and 1500 or 1600kg for the new shape. Is it a petrol or diesel? A 2.0l petrol has 133nm of torque while the diesel has over 230nm. The petrol might struggles a little on most slip as your boat is quite big. A diesel has a better chance to cope with most slips. As Duncan says, use a long piece of rope to tow the trailer up the slip this way, your car is on the top and it's only pulling the trailer and not trailer plus the car together (but make sure you have someone to slam on the hand brake. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gnasher Posted July 13, 2005 Author Report Share Posted July 13, 2005 Its a 2.0L SRI petrol. I was hoping to get the boat out next week for a day session as im not going to put her back in her muddiford mooring. I will look for an altenative mooring that is still cheap. I will see if I can get a mate to tow it in his transit instead. Fishing this season will be very limited now because of transport. As it is a petrol engine, perhaps the Vectra may not be powerful enough but there is contrasting views. The boat is fairly heavy, 21ft but with a huge volvo lump inside that weighs a fair amount. Is there a site that will give me towing weight, just incase. Also I will be keen on a buddy boat for the 1st session, not travelling to far though as she is juicy. I only have a Fish Finder, no GPS yet. Preferably from Lymington for some smoothies and bass. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newboy Posted July 13, 2005 Report Share Posted July 13, 2005 Do you know for sure how much your boat weigh? Most family car will tow 1400+ some will tow up to 1600 might even be 1800 for a large estate, like volve. The site I use for car info is Parkers guild Select the manufacturer, then model, you read all about the car, drivability, comfort etc etc. On the very last page, the model breaks down further to each trim level, and you can read about it's technical data like weigh and torque and horsepower. for example Vectra 2.0 SRi It can tow 1200kg braked trailer. Power Output: 134 bhp Valves: 16 Torque: 188 Nm Torque: 138 lb/ft It has 134 bhp, this has little to do with towing, generally ignored (by me anyway). Torque is 188Nm, Newton metre or 138 lb/foot. This is how much turning power, ie ability to carry the weigh/tow. In a petrol engine car, peak torque is at high rev whereas in a diesel peak torque is way down the range, usually around 2000. For comparision, I had a passat 1.9 tdi, 115bhp, torque is 285Nm, I sometime has trouble pulling the boat + trailer (about 1200kg) up Lymington slip. To overcome this, I have to either rope it up or skew the car, so that I'm pulling up and across the slip and not straight up. Also, if you empty the boat first it weighs less, ie take unused petrol out, fishing tackles, icebox, food and drinks etc etc. I now have a 95 Toyota surf, it pulls without any problems. I would be surprise if the Vectra will pull your boat out of Lymington as it's one of the steeper slipway I have encountered. Best way to find out is give it a go, do it when there are others about, if you have problems you can ask them for help. Give me a shout if you want some help, I should be down this Sunday for the monthly comp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul D Posted July 13, 2005 Report Share Posted July 13, 2005 Dan, When are you thinking of fishing out of Lymington? I will be more than happy to "buddy" up with you and if you have problems with the Vectra my X-Trail will pull your boat up Lymington slipway no problemo. Sunday though I am fishing the species comp ( provided Gordon or someone can crew for me ) and that will be out of Christchurch ( so we can bag up on the mullet again ). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gnasher Posted July 13, 2005 Author Report Share Posted July 13, 2005 Kam, you are a top man, thats more than enough info and its really interesting. It has made my mind up not to tow it as I would put it around the 2000kg mark, well above the rating for the petrol version. I will try and sort out a transit for a launch. Thanks mate. Paul, Thanks for the offer, im not sure when yet, but if all goes to plan, I will be hoping to launch her in a week to 10 days. If you are free, then it would be good to follow you out for a session. I would probabbly preferred going from wick, but the enterance to the muddiford run is shallow and I still havn't located the relay to raise the prop shaft. Lymington seems easier. Speak soon lads and good luck sunday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Newboy Posted July 13, 2005 Report Share Posted July 13, 2005 Glad to be of service. I'm not sure it's a good idea to launch a boat with the leg down. I always trim up my outboard as the skeg might hit the slipway and break. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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