towing with tubes deflated

SPUD18 · 10 November 2008, 19:29

Advice needed - any will do but if its about my thread even better!

Ive got to tow my boat 200 miles at the weekend has anybody ever deflated the tubes or vacuumed the tubes while towing to reduce the overall width of the rib because its wider than my van? Or will it put alot of stress where the tubes are glued to the boat?

Neil Harvey · 10 November 2008, 20:00

i would not worry too much, but i would try and strap then in a bit somehow whilst not putting pressure on them too much.

Larger ribs are towed places even though they exceed the maximum towing width - this is done with the manufacturers expecting them to be towed with tubes deflated.

codprawn · 11 November 2008, 01:01

Don't worry about it - I much prefer a load wider than the towing vehicle - it's easier to see it in the wing mirrors - people keep out of your way more as well...........

Nos4r2 · 11 November 2008, 01:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

Don't worry about it - I much prefer a load wider than the towing vehicle - it's easier to see it in the wing mirrors - people keep out of your way more as well...........

Don't forget you're limited by overhang.

Channel Ribs · 11 November 2008, 10:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by SPUD18

Ive got to tow my boat 200 miles at the weekend has anybody ever deflated the tubes or vacuumed the tubes while towing to reduce the overall width of the rib because its wider than my van? Or will it put alot of stress where the tubes are glued to the boat?

How wide is it?

Avocet · 11 November 2008, 10:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by codprawn

Don't worry about it - I much prefer a load wider than the towing vehicle - it's easier to see it in the wing mirrors - people keep out of your way more as well...........

.....save that in order to be legal loads must not project more than 305mm either side of the trailer, up to a maximum width of 2.9m.

Tino · 11 November 2008, 11:03

I towed my REDBAY 6.5 many times on long Journeys (200miles plus) with the Tubes Deflated so I could see what was going on behind me and to fit within the Max width of 2.55m. It was not pretty at all but greatly improved REAR VISION. It caused no problem to the tubes which I tied loosely to stop them from bobbing around. It did no harm to the attachment of the tubes...the tubes are designed to stay in place after hitting a wave at 35 knots!

Good luck
Tino

Stoo · 11 November 2008, 11:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tino

It was not pretty at all but greatly improved REAR VISION.

And there's the rub... Towing a RIB, you must do whatever is required to look good~ I tow my Hurricane thousands of km each year at highway speeds up to 120kph. Admittedly, I have a large tow vehicle with a 5.7 litre V8.

As for seeing behind you... who cares.. it's behind you!

Deflating the tubes will perhaps reduce wind resistance, but unless you're driving more than 80 or 90 kph, I doubt it would make much difference to handling.

SPUD18 · 11 November 2008, 11:40

thanks everybody for advice, the rib is about 500 mm wider than my van either side so if i can reduce that it saves getting near the hedges on some of the small roads in cornwall

Nos4r2 · 11 November 2008, 11:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by SPUD18

thanks everybody for advice, the rib is about 500 mm wider than my van either side so if i can reduce that it saves getting near the hedges on some of the small roads in cornwall

Ahhh...if you're towing in Cornwall I'd cover it as well as deflating the tubes. The emmets don't seem to have sussed that the lanes are actually 2 way roads.

SPUD18 · 11 November 2008, 11:56

i do cover it now because when i brought it there were a few long scratches on the nearside front tubes, maybe from bushes

codprawn · 11 November 2008, 20:26

The lanes don't come much smaller than in St Davids - and the Quinquaris they tow down there are huge. Talk about in at the deep end when I borrowed the triple axle trailer off them - it was a bank holiday as well...........