Thread: All over the road above 80kph - towing.

Trailers should have between 5 to 10% of their total mass pushing down on the towbar of the vehicle, or they'll sway. But with that size of boat, 80km/h might be your safe limit anyway.

The boat is not sat right on the trailer. Looks like in the picture too much of the boat over the front of the trailer tyres. Therefore leading to too much weight on the back of the car. Need the trailer tyres to take more of the boat weight rather than the back of the car.

You have the same problem when you put a car on a car trailer. If the car is too far forward or back. Then the trailer will sway all over the place at speed.

Interesting. I might get it weighed hitched and unhitched to see how much weight the draw bar is actually holding. I have been also told that it seems that the axls may need to go back another 6 inches or so as most of the weight is in the motors.

I am also happy to sit on 80kph, but if the LR or trailer need setting up better, I would feel a lot more confident.
I dont have the vacuum assist setup for the cable brakes yet. Not sure how to go about it on a tdi.

i had a simmiler problem recently i put a turnbuckle on the front of the boat connecting it to the trailer and better straps on the back so everything was tight which improved things alot but i moved the axel forward 7 inches in the end now she tows great so id be looking at how much ball weight you have as you will probally need to move the axels forward some

on a side note the boat towed great behind my boat builders car so im guessin the lighter/air suspension carnt have extra ball weiht on it

Originally Posted by Neavesie

Any ideas on why I cant get past 80kph when towing my big boat.
It wants to sway all over the road, even in good conditions.
I have a td5a with sls and ace and sits great until I get to the highway.
I recently had it towed 900km+ with a 05 Pajero and it sat well at 110kph.

(I also think that my LR could be less floaty when driving normally.)

Suspension need upgrading?
Trailer balance incorrect for the LR?

Not sure where to start looking.

Attached is a pic so you can get an idea of the size and weight I am pulling.

Go with balance of the boat on trailer as others have suggested as the first point of call.

Have a think about how the boat was loaded sicne you put it on the Disco. When it was on the Pajero, did it have an anchor and chain in the front or did you add it later, have you since loaded the front of the boat with heavy stuff, like a ton of sinkers.

Is it an in floor fuel tank that when full pushes more weight forward while on the trailer, was the fuel tank empty when behind Pajero for long trip.

If all that fails, then look at the suspension, but again like the others, I would go balance of baot on trailer.

Mate boat balance is usually the key.

I suspect my 21 foot glass seafarer vagabond would weigh more and my d2 tows it well at. 100 and more. Mine has a heavy front weight bias. 10 per cent is a. Standard happy figure usually but you will have to experiment. The paj longer wheelbase probably helped it overcome the effects.

Cheers

Cheers

I never towed it with the LR until recently and after draining the tanks.
It does have fuel tanks in the hulls and were full when I drained them after I bought the boat (100l in each). I am unsure exactly where the tank are located though in relation to the hulls.
There was no proper front stopper for the hulls on the trailer. After installing these the boat is now 2" back which is the correct position on the rollers, this was after the tanks were drained as well. The gear in the boat is about the same.

So I have towed it with 50l of fuel and boat forward 2" and 100l (half full) of fuel and the boat 2" back.

If you want to drag it to Bendigo, I have a weighbridge and you can play around with the weights if you wish and all for free and take as much time as you like. Weekends would be the best as it doesn't get much use then.
We have lots come here and play sort out their trailers and vans.
Send me a PM if you wish.
Lindsay.