WE often talk about the fun factor of boating. We also talk a lot about gear – the boats, the electronics and the engines. We talk less about towing. But understanding towing is a necessity for anyone who owns a trailer boat and it deserves some attention.
Towing shouldn’t be difficult or complicated, although it should be understood and performed properly. When things go wrong towing, they typically go very wrong. Do a quick Google search on boat ramp mishaps and you’ll understand what I mean.
While the ramp is important, let’s start our towing “checklist” at home.
Check before you go
For trouble free towing, I recommend going through a checklist at home before hitting the road.
If it’s a just a short trip, I go over the essentials. Check the safety chain is on, the with strap, then the tie down straps. Double check the engine is in its correct position for driving. I also check the jockey wheel is up and secure and all of the connections to the car are secure. These include a safety chain, tow ball and electrics. If you have electric brakes, make sure you check those too. I then check the trailer lights.
If I’m embarking on a longer trip, there are a few other items to add to the check list.
Longer trips away from home usually involve many hours driving along freeways or even dirt roads. Things can go wrong and you’re typically a long way from home.
It pays to check and replace your bearings before a big trip. It also pays to replace them once a year or so anyway.
It’s also a good idea to go over any mechanical or moving parts on the trailer and ensure they’re in good condition. Parts such as suspension components and areas around the hitch can be susceptible to corrosion and become a weak point when things heat up on the freeway or you spend hours along a bumpy dirt road.
And finally, check your tyres to ensure they’re in good condition and there’s sufficient tyre pressure. Make sure you have a spare, or two, and know how to change it. Carrying a spare wheel bearing kit is also a good idea for the longer journeys.
On the road
Towing a trailer can be daunting if you have never done it before. As I said above, we’ve all seen photos of accidents involving trailers or mishaps at the ramp.
The most important factors when towing a trailer are keeping to a safe speed and ensuring your trailer isn’t overloaded.
Most 4WDs these days are quite capable of towing small to mid size boats at speed. As a result, many drivers don’t feel the need to slow down or take it easy on windy roads. It’s a common mistake. Always take it easy when towing and never forget there’s a trailer behind you. Even a smaller boat can cause problems at speed. Unexpected wind, bumps in the road, passing trucks, etc, can cause sudden issues and turn a fishing trip into a dangerous situation.
I’ll go into more detail about safe tow weight shortly, but even if your car is capable of towing your boat, it pays not to overload it. Most trailers are suited to the boat and motor, a tank of fuel and a few bits and pieces. That’s it. Don’t overload it up and use it like a load carrying trailer.
4WDs
Most modern 4WDs are capable of towing all but the heaviest of boats. But before you buy a new 4WD or boat, it’s worth understanding the limits of your vehicle and the local rules in your own state.
As for each state’s rules, I’ll leave that up to you to research. Every state has a slightly different interpretation and there’s not enough space in this magazine to go into details. Ensure you check speed limits, trailer width, mirror requirements, brake requirements and driving rules in each state. Don’t assume your trailer is suitable for your state, either. Some boat manufacturers only build and sell their boats and trailers to the spec of their own state, even though they’re sold nationally.
One factor that won’t change state-to-state is your vehicle’s suitability for towing. Thankfully, these days there are more options and it’s easy to find a suitable 4WD to tow all but the biggest boats.
Dual cabs or crew cabs are popular these days. Not only are they great for towing, but they also make great family cars and if you’re a tradie, can be used for work purposes. It’s a win win!
However, not all 4WDs are created equal. It’s still worth looking at the specs of each vehicle and measuring that up against your boat or a boat you intend to purchase.
Vehicles such as the Isuzu D-MAX (pictured), offer a 3.5 tonne towing capacity. That’s about as good as it gets without moving to a larger “truck” such as a RAM or Chevrolet. Fishing World has tested several D-MAXs and a similar Isuzu MU-X and found them to be a quality tow vehicle with all of the creature comforts and safety standards.
The D-MAX features a 3.0L turbo diesel engine with 140KW or power and 450NM of torque. It’s no slouch.
I picked up my 535XS Bar Crusher from the manufacturer in Melbourne and drove it almost 1000km home outside of Sydney. My boat is well under 2 tonne and it towed with ease. The additional towing features such as Trailer Sway Control, Electronic Stability Control and even the reverse camera, made hitching up, reversing and towing the boat a breeze.
The safety features that give the D-MAX its 5 star ANCAP rating, not to mention the comfortable interior, made a long trip much more enjoyable.
Recently, Fishing World had the opportunity to tow test another D-MAX, the fully spec’d X-TERRAIN. This time we were towing Bar Crusher marketing manager, Ben Sandman’s 670HT, a 2.4 tonne plate boat sitting on a Easytow trailer. The X-TERRAIN handled it effortlessly.
The weight and size of the 670HT is suitable for most 4WDs, however if you intend to go bigger, it pays to check your vehicle’s credentials and make a visit to the weigh station.
Any after-market accessories to a vehicle adds weight and deducts from the weight you can tow. Vehicles have a “ball weight” or “towball loading”, which is roughly 10 per cent of the towing capacity. The more weight you add to your car, including passengers, fuel, bull bars, luggage etc, the lower your ball weight becomes.
It’s a confusing subject, but one you must understand. If you own or intend to own a heavy trailer boat over 2 tonne, I encourage you to visit your local weighbridge and weigh your fully-loaded vehicle. Then it’s a matter of doing some sums and working out exactly what you can tow based on the vehicle’s stated tow limit and what you’re carrying onboard. Even though a vehicle such as the D-MAX can tow 3.5 tonne, taking it to that limit without checking your capacities, could be problematic.
Boats are similar. Most people look at the trailer, boat and engine combination and forget things like fuel, gear and other items carried in the boat. It adds up and before you know it, you’re towing a boat that’s too heavy. It’s illegal and dangerous.
Of course, choosing a car with the best possible safety standards and maximum towing capacity, not to mention one that will tow easily without wasting precious fuel, is a must!
The wrap up
Towing a boat is a necessary function of owning a trailer boat. It can be done safely and easily with some practice and basic knowledge.
My advice is to make a list and always check it before leaving the driveway. If you intend to travel further, along highways and dirt roads, add some much needed items to that check list and ensure nothing is left off.
And of course, ensure you have the right vehicle and understand its limits and correct towing capacities.
More importantly, have fun! Towing becomes second nature to most boat owners and that allows you to focus on the destination and the reason you bought a boat in the first place!
