Towing

[vdubber87]

Hi guys. I am about to purchase a 14' aluminum fishing boat, with no steering wheel (tiller steering), so just a basic 14'. I am wondering about towing. Will i have any trouble towing it with a 4 cylinder car that has 90 hp to the wheels? Any tips and advice is appreciated.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Towing

absolute not, as long as there is a hitch available for it. some of the small cars are not rated to tow, and there is no hitch. Suzuki Areio is an example.

 

[vdubber87]

Re: Towing

this is a VW golf 5 speed manual.

 

[F_R]

Re: Towing

A lot depends on how fast you intend to go. It is absolutly amazing how much wind resistance there can be when you get up over around 60.
I once headed off to Texas with an EMPTY 17' boat trailer towed behind and old K-car. Couldn't get it up to interstate speed and had to go back and get my truck.

 

[vdubber87]

Re: Towing

hm interesting, I dont think i'll have problems especially because the car is manual = stronger transmission.

 

[JB]

Re: Towing

Trailers and towing Forum.

 

[CATransplant]

Re: Towing

hm interesting, I dont think i'll have problems especially because the car is manual = stronger transmission.

Your Golf should handle the load OK, but you're not quite right about the transmission, as you'll discover the first time you launch and retrieve your boat. It takes some fancy footwork and handwork to coordinate the clutch, gas, and brake to launch and retrieve with a manual transmission.

You'll figure it out, though. Get a proper hitch installed on your car and go for it.

 

[BLLDOGG]

Re: Towing

manual trans are not stronger than autos. does the car have a manual to look up ratings? thats a pretty weak motor. I imagine it hardly pushes itself along.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Towing

i use to launch and retrive and 18' Cobia, it was in the late 70's with a Toyota corola wagon, 20R engine, 5 speed. of course a good ramp. when on ramp emergency brake up. put in gear, and give throttle, and let out clutch, as you lower the emergeny brake. be ready to pull that brake back up if you go backwards, or stall the engine. takes a little practice. but no worse that stopping at a stop light on a steep hill.

 

[wildspeed]

Re: Towing

You will have no problem towing a 14' with the Golf,

and yes the use of a manual transmission is a plus on a "small engine" as it required less effort/power from the engine.

Being from Europe it's mandatory to be able to start a stick shift car in a hill from stop to get your license.

I don't know when people on this side of the pond will realise that you don't need gass guzzler tow vehicle to move 4000 lbs or less load....maybe when the price will reach 6$/gal....

I do not attent to flame anybody but the bigger isn't all the time the better/more suitable....

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Towing

You will have no problem towing a 14' with the Golf,

and yes the use of a manual transmission is a plus on a "small engine" as it required less effort/power from the engine.

Being from Europe it's mandatory to be able to start a stick shift car in a hill from stop to get your license.

I don't know when people on this side of the pond will realise that you don't need gass guzzler tow vehicle to move 4000 lbs or less load....maybe when the price will reach 6$/gal....

I do not attent to flame anybody but the bigger isn't all the time the better/more suitable....

Clutch / parking brake co-ordination is purely practice. All we ever drove in England were stick shifts with small engines, however we still towed our boats around and put them in and out on the ramps. You will be just fine with that set up. If you need hill start practice then go find a hill with the car alone till you feel confident.

 

[j442w30]

Re: Towing

I pull my boat with a Chevy Cavalier with the manual transmission. It does take some getting used to when pulling the boat out but don't be too aggressive when pulling out or you will shorten the life of your clutch. I bought a set of chocks and then tied them together with about 6ft of rope. After I back the trailer down into the water to retrieve the boat I set the chocks behind the rear car tires with the rope connecting them draped over the hitch. Then when I pull out the chocks prevent the car from rolling backwards and they get dragged up behind the car. I strongly recommend you do something like this, it makes things so much easier.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Towing

I pull my boat with a Chevy Cavalier with the manual transmission. It does take some getting used to when pulling the boat out but don't be too aggressive when pulling out or you will shorten the life of your clutch. I bought a set of chocks and then tied them together with about 6ft of rope. After I back the trailer down into the water to retrieve the boat I set the chocks behind the rear car tires with the rope connecting them draped over the hitch. Then when I pull out the chocks prevent the car from rolling backwards and they get dragged up behind the car. I strongly recommend you do something like this, it makes things so much easier.

Great idea, I usually have someone pull them out when i start moving up the ramp.