Towing poptop van in sand

[ozscott]

Hi all,

I have a late 80's Golf. Its single axle. All up weight with all the gear would be about 1.3-1.4 tonns. Independent suspension should help. It has 195 14 LT (look to me 75 profile but not on the sidewall).

I have towed a 2.3 tonn dual axle road van in deep sand (cheescutters but 4 of versus two for my rig) and various campers of different weights in sand (campers with nice tyres - very high profile and reasonably wide), but my usual tow is a large box trailer with cage and all up weight would be 1.1 tonns but it has 205/70/15's and have never got bogged even in very deep soft cuttings etc. D2 V8 Manual with 31 AT's on 16's (CDL and ETC).

I dont think this van will be a drama with the existing wheels, but I was thinking of putting spacers on (the current wheels are just under 1 cm from the chassis rails but plenty of clearance outboard and up and down) and putting wider rims and tyres with a nice high profile. Of course the track on the van is different to my truck now and wont get any better wider, so its not going to follow my track anyway.

I am going to just suck it and see I think, but does anyone have a similar set up to mine that can comment on their experience.

Cheers

Cheers

[weeds]

which beach are you towing on??

sounds like you have had plenty of experience........i was very nervous on the maiden voyage up teewah beach i.e. getting on and off the beach

[ozscott]

Hi mate - Moreton, Straddie (including main beach), Fraser etc. I have been to all three, but this is a different set up and the smallest tyres I have had.

I reckon it should go fine, but just wondering is all.

Cheers

[weeds]

i have read it can be a slog getting over the the eastern beach on moreton......

having now seen maxtrax being used i reckon a set or two would be handy.....i borrowed two sets on my maiden trip, ended up using the to help another vehicle out

[ozscott]

Thanks mate. Yep a couple of max tracks would be a nice thing to have in the roof basket, even if I never used them - if nothing else it might save dropping the tyres to 5psi and having to re-inflate. The only area that there could be any probs is going up a steep cutting and having to stop for someone coming the other way before hitting the cords. I have had that before and just dropped the pressures right down on truck and trailer and tractored back a few feet and then forwards without a drama.

Cheers