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Message 5 of 5
Posted by member Andy Mcmullan on Thursday 19 May 2011
I have a Pilot and tow it with a Land Rover Discovery TD5. I get aboout 27 mpg with a lot of short runs so the economy isn't too bad considering the weight of the car and the permenant 4x4 system.
The Discovery is perfect for towing and the air suspension is very good for keeping the car level.
The towing capacity of the Disco is 3.5 tonnes so you have a lot of capacity in reserve. The weight of car makes it feel very safe with this load.
The dual ratio gear box is brilliant for pulling the boat up slipways and I have had not even a hint of a skid even on the slimiest ones.
Just select low ratio first, let out the clutch with no throttle and the car will pull the boat without fuss.
I'd also echo what Dominic says about the trailer. I towed my old boat on a single axle trailer with bunks and now I have a double axle roller coaster type. This format is much better for towing, giving more security with punctures etc. The trailer also sits rock steady. It is much better for launch and recovery.
Maintenance on a braked trailer is more intense but a couple of hours spent washing everything down and a regreasing the bearings after a saltwater dip keeps everything in check for me. Periodically I drizzle some oil down the brake cables to keep them working well. I never need to fully submerge the trailer so fortunately the hitch and over-run brake assembly never gets wet.
If the trailer is neglected it will suffer badly in no time. If I could get my boat lifted in I would go with that but unfortunately that option isn't available.
Cheers, Andy
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Message 4 of 5
Posted by member Peter Cox on Thursday 12 May 2011
The driving licence legalities depend on when you passed your test. If it was in the last few years (I don't know how many), you are limited to a combined trailer plus load weight of 750 kg, unless you take a separate driving test with a trailer. If you have held a licence for many years or have passed the trailer test, the limit is much higher. The RYA has guidance on its website and the boating magazines occasionally carry an article on it, including slipway tips.
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Message 3 of 5
Posted by member Dominic And Nicola Gribbin on Wednesday 11 May 2011
Ctd
Should add, you will presumably have a trailer provided with this craft. Be it single axle or twin it will need to be a braked version.
If you will be self launching, go for a roller version. Our bunked version can be tricky in wind to recover our Pilot. Rollers so much easier.
Regards
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Message 2 of 5
Posted by member Dominic And Nicola Gribbin on Tuesday 10 May 2011
Hi Jennifer and Jonathan.
From our own experience of 14 years towing 'Jura Pilot' (a 1993 Family Pilot) she is comfortably and v.safely pulled, up and down dale, by our 2004 (manual) Land Rover Discovery Pursuit (2.5 Turbo diesel). She is the second Disco we have owned. No licence other than a standard private vehicle licence required...just constant caution, greatly lengthened braking distances and common sense.
Our Pilot is probably in the 1.5 tonne range these days, given all her extras and upgrades but the two tonne Disco gives one a beautifully secure towing platform. Can't recommend these lovely cars too much (1998 model onward that is). Ours has been 100% reliable from new.
I have to admit after years of expenseive bills servicing the trailer following countless immersions in salt water, we saw the light. Now we tow her to a crane facility, which ever stretch of coast we find ourselves and get her lifted in and out each time.
Trust me, you will end up with seized cables, corroded wheel bearings and brakes with regular salt dips. Its a fact one has to accept, no matter how hard you try to spray down with fresh water.
Myself, with no time to strip down the trailer each season and service the inevitable list of corrosion issues we realised it would be a lot cheaper to crane in and out than pay the inevitable £400 plus yearly trailer bill. Having had the badly corroded wheel bearings spectaculary overheat & fail (collapse) on me one time heading for Plymouth Sound I vowed never to salt dip the trailer again!
Clearly, the economics of this are a personal matter dependant on frequency of launching but it works for us.
Regards and happy boating! You won't be disappointed with your Pilot!
Dominic and Nicola.
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Message 1 of 5
Posted by member J Hagan on Saturday 30 April 2011
Hello,
Me and my husband are in the initial stages of purchasing a Hardy Family Pilot 20 (approx. late 80's production). We will be purchasing an old 4x4 specifically for the task of towing her around and would like some advice.
Do any of the members here tow their hardy's and which car does the job for them?
We are thinking of possibly a Jeep Cherekee or an Isuzu Trooper. Legally speaking, I have looked at the Direct Gov website and am a little confused as to the max weights without needing a towing license. If anyone could shed some light on this matter this would be great!
Any tips for newbies on a slipway would also be greatly received!
Thank you in advance,
Jennifer and Jonathan.
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