Towing on Shingle?

HughN · 09 September 2013, 18:35

Next week I have to drive on shingle with a trailer, collect a boat and drive back. I am slightly worried that I will get stuck, especially with the drag of the trailer. Any tips?

The vehicle is a Td5 Discovery with traction control, self-levelling suspension, etc., etc.,
My plan was:

let some air out of the tyres of the car and trailer (how much?)
Stay in high ratio and get into second ASAP
NOT use the diff-lock (so that the traction control can work properly if it needs to)
Keep at a steady speed in a straight line

If the chassis hits the beach its probably 'game over', though I can jack the rear suspension up another couple of inches.

Any experience / advice gratefully received. The last time I did this (about ten years ago) I got well and truly stuck!

paddlers · 09 September 2013, 18:45

How far to hard standing or at least a patch of reasonable going ?
I'd be tempted to run a strap to the trailer/boat and pull it in stages across the tricky section shortening each pull. Without the trailer you should get across as long as you travel at a reasonable speed & keep the revs up in a low gear. As soon as you lose forward momentum it's usually game over I'm afraid.....
I usually carry a high lift jack plus sand ladders & hate using them....

Lee argyle · 09 September 2013, 19:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by HughN

Next week I have to drive on shingle with a trailer, collect a boat and drive back. I am slightly worried that I will get stuck, especially with the drag of the trailer. Any tips?

The vehicle is a Td5 Discovery with traction control, self-levelling suspension, etc., etc.,
My plan was:

let some air out of the tyres of the car and trailer (how much?)
Stay in high ratio and get into second ASAP
NOT use the diff-lock (so that the traction control can work properly if it needs to)
Keep at a steady speed in a straight line

If the chassis hits the beach its probably 'game over', though I can jack the rear suspension up another couple of inches.

Any experience / advice gratefully received. The last time I did this (about ten years ago) I got well and truly stuck!

2nd gear high, on a shingle beach...... I'd be in low if anything, I'd also avoid driving in shingle if possible!! any incline and your going to struggle. Leave the vehicle on good ground and rope / winch the trailer

HughN · 09 September 2013, 19:04

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lee argyle

2nd gear high, on a shingle beach...... I'd be in low if anything, I'd also avoid driving in shingle if possible!! any incline and your going to struggle. Leave the vehicle on good ground and rope / winch the trailer

No incline, but it is several hundred yards to the boat!

paddlers · 09 September 2013, 19:24

Low box in 3rd or 4th will give you the power but to be honest I'd be looking for a tractor or another site to beach the boat....
The trouble with shingle is there's no bottom so even with chunky tyres you just dig down until you're sat on the chassis.
You've got to keep the power on & your speed up to avoid sinking! Wouldn't fancy it with a boat & trailer on the back !
Good luck if you try it!

mick · 09 September 2013, 19:31

Let all your tyres down to 10 psi you will be amazed at the difference can someone go with you as back up as well

HughN · 09 September 2013, 19:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by mick

Let all your tyres down to 10 psi you will be amazed at the difference can someone go with you as back up as well

Better take a compressor too!

willk · 09 September 2013, 20:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by HughN

Better take a compressor too!

Chuck in a few old mats/carpet and a decent shovel. Try not to dig in, if you do, stop at once and clear a gentle slope up and out. Use the mats to drive out on. Be patient. Most trouble is caused by gunning it when it isn't needed. 2&3 low would be my choice with the diffs locked (but then I'm old tech). If you can get a few old planks then bring them too - you can drive on them. Yes to the hilift etc. Bring a spreader plate for the hilift

Bigmuz7 · 09 September 2013, 21:12

Quote:

Originally Posted by willk

2&3 low would be my choice

You need good revs and decent torque .. so this is my prefered choice too .. but then it depends on the make up of the shingle and your tyres

The best advice is ... if you start and make good traction .. dont stop ! .. cos you might not overcome the shingle mole hill infront of your tyres

treerat · 10 September 2013, 11:03

Can you set the boat up with a damn good jockey wheel, drive along, around in front, person drops rope onto eye, keep going at all times, it's the stop / start that can get you.

lakelandterrier · 10 September 2013, 12:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by paddlers

.... I'd be looking for another site to beach the boat....

+1

j.i.wilson · 10 September 2013, 13:02

From your description I simply wouldn't do it, too risky.

But if you have to....

Consider

Tides - give yourself max time to get out
Rugs, carrpets, planks to use to spread load
Route, can you go further but on better ground?
Trailer - 2 or 4 wheels? Ground clearance?
Ropes, plenty of them.
Backup, who will pull you out if the worst happens?
Damage to boat or car, who pays?
Winch, can you get access to one?
Can it be man handled off? Surprising what you can do mob handed.

And, last, don't laugh. Do you know anyone with a driving horse? As well as driving a RIB, I have a horse and cart. My driving horse could pull half a ton. If there are any in your area I bet they would be I interested in the job! Long shot I know, but good fun and will get the job done.

Good luck
Ian

Sent from my HTC One X using Rib.net

PeterM · 10 September 2013, 13:19

Just get the whole thing on camera...:-)

paddlers · 10 September 2013, 13:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by PeterM

Just get the whole thing on camera...:-)

+1.

HughN · 10 September 2013, 13:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by j.i.wilson

From your description I simply wouldn't do it, too risky.

Tides - give yourself max time to get out. It is above the tide line.
Rugs, carrpets, planks to use to spread load. If I can get them back again the wife might not notice!
Route, can you go further but on better ground? Hmmm...*
Trailer - 2 or 4 wheels? Ground clearance? Two wheels.
Ropes, plenty of them. I have bought some extra ropes from eBay, but only after buying them found it was from a 'fetish' shop. That feedback won't look good.
Backup, who will pull you out if the worst happens? I have to get access from the Environment Agency. I think they might help if I do get stuck (again), as they don't want me stuck on the beach any more than I want to be stuck there.
Damage to boat or car, who pays? Me. Financially and emotionally.
Winch, can you get access to one? No.
Can it be man handled off? Surprising what you can do mob handed. That is 'Plan Z'!

* "Plan B" is to launch the boat, get along the beach a bit and get a very long piece of rope and park the car as close as I can but on hard ground, using inflatable fenders as rollers (which is what we usually do anyway). A few years ago I saw a "member of the travelling community" do this with a Shetland, at low tide, without any rollers and at about 20 mph.

Maximus · 10 September 2013, 17:16

...If it's Proper Shingle you WILL get Stuck!.... Plan 'B' sounds it would at least be upping your Odds's............if it were me I'd get it-Drive-Tow it to a Slip if at all poss.

I wonder if 'Traveller' was helping someone

Or Helping Himself!!?

colcreate · 10 September 2013, 18:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by HughN

Next week I have to drive on shingle with a trailer, collect a boat and drive back. I am slightly worried that I will get stuck, especially with the drag of the trailer. Any tips?

Quote:

Originally Posted by HughN

Backup, who will pull you out if the worst happens? [COLOR="green"]I have to get access from the Environment Agency. I think they might help if I do get stuck (again), as they don't want me stuck on the beach any more than I want to be stuck there.

The last time I did this (about ten years ago) I got well and truly stuck!

Perhaps you should just remind the Environment Agency of your past attempt at the onset and get them to do it for you!

Save everybody a lot of bother!

What vehicle would they recover you with?

Bigmuz7 · 10 September 2013, 19:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by HughN

I have bought some extra ropes from eBay, but only after buying them found it was from a 'fetish' shop. That feedback won't look good.

Well I hope you ordered the gimp mask/helmet too .. stick it on if the worst happens to conceal your identity

... you might gain a lot of interest on the other hand

gary222 · 10 September 2013, 22:03

I know shingle....you will get stuck! Trailer wheels will sink in too.
try this, if the trailer has a winch. Slide boat off trailer and onto lengths of gas pipe. Move trailer in front of boat adding rope to strap if needed.
Bed trailer into shingle a bit and winch boat forward, it will skid across the pipes. Add a bit of grease if needed. Keep moving the pipes to keep the boat from grounding. if there are a few of you hold the boat upright so only the keel is touching, less friction. Then move trailer further forward etc until you can reach your rope attached to car on firm ground.
How did it get there?

HughN · 11 September 2013, 06:55

Quote:

Originally Posted by gary222

How did it get there?

On a trailer behind a 4 x 4...

...but almost immediately after the shingle had been topped up with large pebbles from a quarry mixed with sand from the beach. It was as solid as concrete at the time.

**** it. It can sit there and get used by me only intermittently.