Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
 
Old 04 August 2015, 07:40   #1
Member
 
Country: France
Town: Ile de Re
Boat name: Re lax
Make: Piranha 6m
Length: 6m +
Engine: Evinrude 90 hp ETEC
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 149
RIBase
What Tow Vehicle

Readers advice please. Need a good load lugger for 300 mile trips to France. Also must be able to launch a 6m RIB on a steepish slipway without grounding. Previously had a 2005 Merc E320 diesel estate with the right carrying capacity but rear end grounded on the ferry and slipways.

Then tried a Freelander2 for 18 months which was pretty good but not enough carrying capacity with back seats down. Actually maybe we should have stayed with this and added a roof box!

Now on a 2011 Range Rover Sport which seems a complicated over expensive option, although a lovely drive and tows anything.

Looking for something that does the following:

- load lugger
- tow RIB up steep slipways without rear end grounding.
- reliable
- long distance cruiser
- better than 30 mpg
__________________
nigel52 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04 August 2015, 07:42   #2
Member
 
A1an's Avatar
 
Country: UK - Scotland
Town: Fort William
Make: Ribcraft 585
Length: 5m +
Engine: Yamaha F115
Join Date: Mar 2012
Posts: 2,919
RIBase
Be ready for 101 answers
__________________
There is a place on this planet for all of Gods creatures.........right next to my tatties and gravy.
A1an is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04 August 2015, 07:51   #3
RIBnet supporter
 
bedajim's Avatar
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Rutland
Length: no boat
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 2,500
Quote:
Originally Posted by A1an View Post
Be ready for 101 answers
Only 101

The 30 mpg would possibly be a sticking point with a lot of bigger tow vehicles

I've had Nissan Navara's and just got a Ford Ranger can't fault the auto's and with a back on loads of room to carry gear. mpg in the high 20's (30 if you drive like a girl)
Go for a high spec and it's not to far from driving a car, Fords a lot firmer ride
__________________
bedajim is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04 August 2015, 09:03   #4
RIBnet admin team
 
willk's Avatar
 
Country: Ireland
Length: 4m +
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 14,893
Quote:
Originally Posted by A1an View Post
Be ready for 101 answers
Possibly overkill, but good for beach launches!

__________________
.
willk is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04 August 2015, 09:10   #5
RIBnet admin team
 
willk's Avatar
 
Country: Ireland
Length: 4m +
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 14,893
More seriously, if you take more than two people on long trips and don't tow the RIB all the time, maybe an A6 Allroad would do all those jobs better?

Audi A6 Allroad Review | Top Gear
__________________
.
willk is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04 August 2015, 09:18   #6
Member
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Southampton
Boat name: Joka-Tu
Make: Monterey
Length: 6m +
Engine: Inboard
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 107
Quote:
Originally Posted by willk View Post
Possibly overkill, but good for beach launches!

He said 30mpg not 3
__________________
jokaboat is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04 August 2015, 09:24   #7
Member
 
Country: France
Town: Ile de Re
Boat name: Re lax
Make: Piranha 6m
Length: 6m +
Engine: Evinrude 90 hp ETEC
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 149
RIBase
Quote:
Originally Posted by willk View Post
More seriously, if you take more than two people on long trips and don't tow the RIB all the time, maybe an A6 Allroad would do all those jobs better?

Audi A6 Allroad Review | Top Gear
Not one I had considered but worth a look.

Re the 30 mpg if a vehicle actually managed 29 mpg I would not dismiss.
__________________
nigel52 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04 August 2015, 14:30   #8
Member
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Sandy
Make: Zodiac Cadet 285 FR
Length: under 3m
Engine: Mercury 6HP
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 23
There's something to be said for sticking with your RRS.

On the other hand, I've got a Defender 110 Station wagon. My SIB is only a little one, but I often tow one of our rowing club's 34 foot trailers loaded with Ł100,000 worth of delicate carbon fibre, aided by half a dozen giggling rowers in the passenger seats. The outfit can negotiate narrow conty lanes, and on arrival be greeted by a car park marshal who invites me to reverse the zigzag course between two other badly parked outfits. The defender's straight sides and huge mirrors make the process effortless.

It does 28 rather than 30mpg solo, and surprisingly about the same towing- Its large form punches a nice hole in the air, and slower towing speeds seem to offset the extra weight.

For slipways it not only has the traction, but has axles that are actually designed for wading- the axles breathe via tubes that go right to the front of the vehicle and open high under the bonnet.

Pete
__________________
Peter2673 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04 August 2015, 16:04   #9
Member
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Poole
Boat name: Blue Ocean
Make: Ribeye 600
Length: 6m +
Engine: Yam 115
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 144
How about a van. I had a VW transporter (2.5tdi) version and it pulled my 6m Ribeye easily. Don't bother with any of the lower powered ones though. It was fine pulling my RIB up a medium steep concrete slipway too.

A high spec one would be very comfortable for long distances and I averaged 40mpg. There are loads of mods you can do to the suspension if needed to.
__________________
andyjcox1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04 August 2015, 17:47   #10
Member
 
Country: France
Town: Ile de Re
Boat name: Re lax
Make: Piranha 6m
Length: 6m +
Engine: Evinrude 90 hp ETEC
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 149
RIBase
Quote:
Originally Posted by Peter2673 View Post
There's something to be said for sticking with your RRS.

On the other hand, I've got a Defender 110 Station wagon. My SIB is only a little one, but I often tow one of our rowing club's 34 foot trailers loaded with Ł100,000 worth of delicate carbon fibre, aided by half a dozen giggling rowers in the passenger seats. The outfit can negotiate narrow conty lanes, and on arrival be greeted by a car park marshal who invites me to reverse the zigzag course between two other badly parked outfits. The defender's straight sides and huge mirrors make the process effortless.

It does 28 rather than 30mpg solo, and surprisingly about the same towing- Its large form punches a nice hole in the air, and slower towing speeds seem to offset the extra weight.

For slipways it not only has the traction, but has axles that are actually designed for wading- the axles breathe via tubes that go right to the front of the vehicle and open high under the bonnet.

Pete
Pete - maybe I will stick with the RRS. It is a lovely go anywhere drive and one would not know the RIB is on the back when towing; I just wonder if a RRS is just too complicated/sophisticated for its own good. The Freelander was far less complicated, cheaper to run and other than less room pretty competent. I had considered the Merc ML 350 Bluetec but not sure there is anything to gain over the RRS. Any of the considerations would be no newer than 2 yrs old as new 4x4s are silly money. At one stage I had considered the Santa Fe over the Freelander but it did not drive as well although it meets the criteria for luggage space. I agree the Defender is a real work horse and certainly not as complicated as the RRS. Would not touch the new Discovery Sport as it as lots of early life issues.
__________________
nigel52 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04 August 2015, 18:20   #11
Member
 
Country: UK - England
Length: 3m +
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,767
What pulling weight...? Are you looking new or 2nd hand? How flashy?

I'm about to test drive a Ssangyong Korando can pull 2T. 46mpg (EU Test data). Not the highest spec on market but not 2 bad... Highly rated as a tow car in the metal tent community...
__________________
ShinyShoe is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04 August 2015, 18:49   #12
Member
 
Maximus's Avatar
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Wild West
Boat name: No Boat
Make: No Boat
Length: under 3m
Join Date: Jan 2008
Posts: 5,306
Send a message via AIM to Maximus
If it's cheap and cheerful you want and something to do the Job a Nissan Terrano takes some beating.
Towed me and the loaded RC 6.8 the lenghth of the country 3 times......and cost it less than my friend paid for a service on his Four yr old Range Rover!
__________________
A clever Man learns by his mistakes..
A Wise Man learns by other people's!

The Road to HELL ..is Paved with "Good inventions!"
Maximus is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04 August 2015, 19:08   #13
Member
 
Country: France
Town: Ile de Re
Boat name: Re lax
Make: Piranha 6m
Length: 6m +
Engine: Evinrude 90 hp ETEC
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 149
RIBase
Quote:
Originally Posted by ShinyShoe View Post
What pulling weight...? Are you looking new or 2nd hand? How flashy?

I'm about to test drive a Ssangyong Korando can pull 2T. 46mpg (EU Test data). Not the highest spec on market but not 2 bad... Highly rated as a tow car in the metal tent community...
Repair and breakdown support in France is important so Ssangtyong although good has a fairly small dealer network.
__________________
nigel52 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04 August 2015, 19:10   #14
Member
 
Country: France
Town: Ile de Re
Boat name: Re lax
Make: Piranha 6m
Length: 6m +
Engine: Evinrude 90 hp ETEC
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 149
RIBase
Quote:
Originally Posted by Maximus View Post
If it's cheap and cheerful you want and something to do the Job a Nissan Terrano takes some beating.
Towed me and the loaded RC 6.8 the lenghth of the country 3 times......and cost it less than my friend paid for a service on his Four yr old Range Rover!
I don't doubt the cost of a RRS service particularly with a main dealer. They are not cheap to run but are a hell of a vehicle 'if' running without issues.
__________________
nigel52 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04 August 2015, 19:27   #15
Member
 
Country: UK - England
Length: 3m +
Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 2,767
Quote:
Originally Posted by nigel52 View Post
Repair and breakdown support in France is important so Ssangtyong although good has a fairly small dealer network.
In that case you need to look at French Cars ;-) the French don't know anyone other than CitreonPeugeotRenault make cars...!

I've broken down once properly (limp home mode) with a car in the last 13 years (260,000miles). Couple of times I've had engine management lights but no limp and twice I limped but engine off and on fixed it temporary till I got a wiring harness fault fixed. Prior to that with much older cars (also petrol incidentally) I broke a fair few times. I'm not expecting my next car to be any worse. 300 miles in UK is a day trip for me.

With good breakdown cover I've never been concerned. Haven't had the 'pleasure' of European Breakdown though...
__________________
ShinyShoe is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 04 August 2015, 19:33   #16
Member
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Southampton
Boat name: SMH Rib / War Shot
Make: Ribtec / Scorpion
Length: 4m +
Engine: 100hp Yam/150hp opt
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 2,069
RIBase
XC70

Or

XC90 if you need more space.

Have had both and either towed the 6.5m fine as well as being great everyday cars.
Not fast though!
__________________
Searider is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05 August 2015, 09:05   #17
Member
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Ringwood
Boat name: 4boyz
Make: Cobra
Length: 9m +
Engine: 350 outboard
Join Date: Jul 2006
Posts: 14
Stick with the RRS is my advice. Had one for three years and apart from one suspension issue, quickly fixed and not too expensive, it did everything asked of it. The benefit of having such a high tow weight means loading and weight distribution is never really an issue.
__________________
Moneypit is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05 August 2015, 09:25   #18
Member
 
Country: France
Town: Ile de Re
Boat name: Re lax
Make: Piranha 6m
Length: 6m +
Engine: Evinrude 90 hp ETEC
Join Date: Oct 2012
Posts: 149
RIBase
Quote:
Originally Posted by Moneypit View Post
Stick with the RRS is my advice. Had one for three years and apart from one suspension issue, quickly fixed and not too expensive, it did everything asked of it. The benefit of having such a high tow weight means loading and weight distribution is never really an issue.
Difficult to argue - thanks
__________________
nigel52 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05 August 2015, 13:52   #19
RIBnet supporter
 
bedajim's Avatar
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Rutland
Length: no boat
Join Date: May 2006
Posts: 2,500
Quote:
Originally Posted by Moneypit View Post
Stick with the RRS is my advice. Had one for three years and apart from one suspension issue, quickly fixed and not too expensive, it did everything asked of it. The benefit of having such a high tow weight means loading and weight distribution is never really an issue.
The ranger has a 3.5t trailer limit and 245kg nose weight
__________________
bedajim is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05 August 2015, 15:18   #20
Member
 
lakelandterrier's Avatar
 
Country: UK - England
Town: Gloucester
Boat name: Lunasea
Make: Ribcraft
Length: 5m +
Engine: Suzi 140
MMSI: 232005050
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 1,999
X-Trail would probably tick all your boxes.

Mine's great for towing and day to day use and get 39 mpg not towing, 28 with the boat behind at 60mph.
__________________
Member of the Macmillan Round the Isle of Wight Club
lakelandterrier is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off




All times are GMT. The time now is 03:11.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.