What do you pull?!?

Farls

Just out of interest I'm wondering what sort of loads/weights people pull behind their 4x4's?

Normally my tow bar would get very little use. Most I've used it for is little over 3 ton of sand on a 12*8 tri-axle, behind a 2.5litre L200. Had no problems at all with this once I kept the speed low.

foxhunter

Farls wrote: »

Just out of interest I'm wondering what sort of loads/weights people pull behind their 4x4's?

Normally my tow bar would get very little use. Most I've used it for is little over 3 ton of sand on a 12*8 tri-axle, behind a 2.5litre L200. Had no problems at all with this once I kept the speed low.

The heaviest I've done is 1.5 tonne mini digger and 1 tonne of sand in one load with my l200 .
I found the same with the speed thing keep it low and no problem.

reilig

Farls wrote: »

Just out of interest I'm wondering what sort of loads/weights people pull behind their 4x4's?

Normally my tow bar would get very little use. Most I've used it for is little over 3 ton of sand on a 12*8 tri-axle, behind a 2.5litre L200. Had no problems at all with this once I kept the speed low.

I pull an Ifor Williams 12x6 cattle trailer behind my 2.5 L200. It has no problem with up to 3 ton. It actually pulls better with a small bit of weight in the trailer rather than pulling empty. I'd be pulling a few times per week with it.

peasant

Other than stuck Hiace vans up my steep driveway, nothing really

MrFoxman360

For me and my brother, our jeeps would be useless without a tow bar, they get used so often. Normall I'd be just towing an 8x4 builders trailer, but would often have heavy loads, like mini diggeres vintage tractors and cars, along with other stuff... concrete pipes for instance :rolleyes:







keeping the speed down and taking your time is whats its all about. I think you need to be aware of what your doing though, as 2 and a half tons could get out of contol easier than you think :eek: I see alot of people on the road towing, horse boxes especially, that do not seem to be concious that they are towing anything and just drive as normal, but thats another story

I keep the weight on the legal side of things, but with a couple of tons behind me, a 2.5 LWB pajero seems a little under powered :mad:

Think I started a thread like this before whn the 4x4 forum opened, some interesting stories came to light so there must be more.
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055285555

Farls

Aha! Didn't see that thread before, fantastic to see what is possible though! Must remember to take pics of any big loads I have. I have the ralliart chip in my L200, adds another 30 or so horsies.

RobbieMc

Jap Vehicles that got stuck in the recent snow we had.

Slig

Boat trailers and occasionally a digger behind a Nisan Terrano.

Farls

Slig wrote: »

Boat trailers and occasionally a digger behind a Nisan Terrano.

What size digger?

me_right_one

MrFoxman360 wrote: »

For me and my brother, our jeeps would be useless without a tow bar, they get used so often. Normall I'd be just towing an 8x4 builders trailer, but would often have heavy loads, like mini diggeres vintage tractors and cars, along with other stuff... concrete pipes for instance :rolleyes:







keeping the speed down and taking your time is whats its all about. I think you need to be aware of what your doing though, as 2 and a half tons could get out of contol easier than you think :eek: I see alot of people on the road towing, horse boxes especially, that do not seem to be concious that they are towing anything and just drive as normal, but thats another story

I keep the weight on the legal side of things, but with a couple of tons behind me, a 2.5 LWB pajero seems a little under powered :mad:

Think I started a thread like this before whn the 4x4 forum opened, some interesting stories came to light so there must be more.
http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055285555

Whats the tractor with the orange beacon you have there?

Most I pulled was 3 tonne mini-digger with 3litre-turbo landcruiser

MrFoxman360

me_right_one wrote: »

Whats the tractor with the orange beacon you have there?

Thats my 1963 MF 35x, bought that when I was 13 years old. Handyist machine I've ever owned, even to this day it outperforms heavier more powerful machines, in the bog during the summer, not bad going for something built 46 years ago. Its got a MF 240 cab for added comfort!!!

Tractors are one of my many passions

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg35/MrFoxman360/MF352-1.jpg

AlmightyCushion

My plum.

MrFoxman360

MrFoxman360 wrote: »

Thats my 1963 MF 35x, bought that when I was 13 years old. Handyist machine I've ever owned, even to this day it outperforms heavier more powerful machines, in the bog during the summer, not bad going for something built 46 years ago. Its got a MF 240 cab for added comfort!!!

Tractors are one of my many passions

http://i244.photobucket.com/albums/gg35/MrFoxman360/MF352-1.jpg

Thats not the 35 in the first picture though is it?

me_right_one

Does anyone know a way of calculating how much you can pull? Like x litre or horsepower can pull x ton? I read the story below about the big sized tractor on the M50 pulling a 50 ton digger. TBH I would've thought that would be fine!!!! You see it all the time!!! (Thats another post robbed from another thread)




Not strictly the sort of 4x4 this forum is for, but it does involve a four wheel drive vehicle and it fits this thread perfectly, so here goes-

A 'source' of mine (who is very well connected and who I trust to tell the truth) in the farm machinery trade told me the following:
A contractor working on the M-50 upgrade purchased a large and sophisticated agricultural tractor (think '6 figure sum') for use on the project, but he got endless trouble with the transmission.
The tractor was constantly back at the main dealer getting stuff fixed under warranty: clutch packs, ECUs, pumps, seals, etc.
The manufacturer saw this particular tractor appearing on the warranty list a lot more than would be considered normal, so they send a spectacularly qualified technician with a heap of test and diagnostic equipment over to have a look at it.
The technician presented himself at the owner's yard early one morning and told the young lad who let him in who he was and that he wanted to see the faulty tractor.
"That's it over there" said the young lad, pointing at the tractor, which was hitched up to an enormous low-loader trailer with a 40 tonne digger on it, total load on the high side of 50 tonnes.
"Is that what it usually tows?" asked the technician.
"Yes" said the young lad, "it does nothing else."
"Thank you very much" said the technician, as he took out a camera, took a load of photographs of the outfit, and left.

All further warranty claims on the tractor were denied.

Rovi

Moonbaby wrote: »

Thats not the 35 in the first picture though is it?

That's a pre 1940 Fordson Model N, I'm pretty sure.

Melted M&M

AlmightyCushion wrote: »

My plum.

LoL:D

fastrac

Heres mine

MrFoxman360

Rovi wrote: »

That's a pre 1940 Fordson Model N, I'm pretty sure.

Yea, it sure is, its a heavy little machine for its size. Nuffield 10/60 is the biggest of the tractors I'd put behind my pajero, normally drive the others anywhere, although a friend did have a MF 185 on that tri-axel before :rolleyes:

Farls

Big weights there, I'd say a lot of ye know the smell of a clutch only too well!!

On a smaller note I pulled a Fiat Bravo out of a ditch yesterday :pac: was going to take a pic of two but the driver was in bad humour to say the least!

Rovi

Farls wrote: »

Big weights there...

Agreed!

No-one seems to be too bothered over here, but we wouldn't get away with a lot of this sort of thing over in the U.K.

We got pulled over by representatives of Her Majesty's Vehicle Inspectorate in North Wales a couple of years ago, while towing the off-roaders home from an event.
They asked awkward questions about Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) and Gross Train Weight (GTW), about which we were more than somewhat ignorant.
Off we went to a weigh-station for an hour or so while they had a good look at the towing vehicles and trailers and weighed each axle individually and each outfit complete.

By complete and utter dumb luck, we were under all the maximum weights and we were sent on our way with a cheery wave and a recommendation to change one particular tyre at our soonest convenience.

All very pleasant and polite and professional of course, but these people were very serious about overloading, licences, and all the rest.

Slidey

I saw a clown with a mini teleporter on a tri-axle trailer behind a passenger 05 Landcruiser.

Although a small teleporter, lunacy to the point of being reckless.

Something along the lines of this

MrFoxman360

Farls wrote: »

Big weights there, I'd say a lot of ye know the smell of a clutch only too well!!

If you know what your doing you shouldn't really be letting the clutch slip at all, thats provided you have a good clutch in the first place Most jeeps have a low enough first gear to take off in and once your moving there should be no problem, just keep her moving and try to avoid stopping on any hills, which I suppose is easier said than done.

If it is slipping so much that you can smell it :eek: .... then you should take another look at what you are trying to pull or how you trying to pull it :rolleyes:

fastrac

Slow and steady wins the race.

peasant

Lads, pulling a heavy load isn't the issue really ...keeping it under control and braking is where it gets critical.

Some of the combinations I see out there are absolutely hair raising in that regard.

BrianD3

Boat trailers mainly. I only have a "B" category licence so am limited to towing relatively light loads such as boats.

IMO the situation with drivers exceeding towing weights and towing without having the correct licence is a big can of worms.....

peasant

BrianD3 wrote: »

IMO the situation with drivers exceeding towing weights and towing without having the correct licence is a big can of worms.....

Indeed. And so is the whole suitability issue of the trailer itself.
Two prize bulls in a home made trailer on an old car axle, no brakes, no lights, no mudguards, no number plate, wonky wheels half of them semi-flat ...don't get me started.

Farls

BrianD3 wrote: »

Boat trailers mainly. I only have a "B" category licence so am limited to towing relatively light loads such as boats.

IMO the situation with drivers exceeding towing weights and towing without having the correct licence is a big can of worms.....

I agree completely with this, I was hoping that the thread wouldn't get involved in the legal side of things and what is right/wrong, but just let people put forward what they have towed/pulled with their 4x4 or what they have seen. The pictures are fantastic!

gofaster_s13

We had an RSA roadside inspector in the garage today, he was saying that they pulled a pajero and tandem axle ifor williams trailer with a small tractor loaded this morning, they brought it to a weigh bridge on two recovery trucks weighed it, it was found to be over the GCW of the vehicle and impounded on the spot, the driver is being charged with overloading, invalid insurance, incorrect license and possibly dangerous driving(as well as the cost of two recovery wagons.

Slidey

gofaster_s13 wrote: »

We had an RSA roadside inspector in the garage today, he was saying that they pulled a pajero and tandem axle ifor williams trailer with a small tractor loaded this morning, they brought it to a weigh bridge on two recovery trucks weighed it, it was found to be over the GCW of the vehicle and impounded on the spot, the driver is being charged with overloading, invalid insurance, incorrect license and possibly dangerous driving(as well as the cost of two recovery wagons.

Its only right.

As bad as the (non)testing of artic trailers is, at least they have a set of standards to conform to, despite the vast majority of them being un-tested.

Its not too long ago that a jeep lost its trailer in Sligo and it ended up going through the railing of the new bridge. Linky

SAABMAN

fastrac wrote: »

Heres mine

Much cleaner than my 133, but where is the roll bar?
Then again, my 133 is usually the one doing the pulling.

Slig

Farls wrote: »

What size digger?

3 tonne, I know, I know. It was wrong

aravan

Two things that seems to be ignored all the time are
1. Noseload.
2. The weight of the trailer.

The noseload is the vertical load on the towbar when the trailer is loaded. You may only be towing 500kg but if it is loaded to the front it will be overloaded. The noseload is different for every vehicle and is stated in the owners manual.

The weight of a trailer is included in the max towing capacity for a vehicle.
A 12x6 cattle trailer can weigh 1200kg. This means if you tow this with a Toyota landcruiser for instance which has a 2800kg tow capacity you can only legally have 1600kg in it.

All is fine till the day something goes wrong.

Slidey

Not to forget the train weight (which is the 2nd weight on the vin plate) includes the weight of the vehicle, trailer and load.

This is one from a transit which had a tacho fitted for when it was pulling a trailer

JohnBoy

me_right_one wrote: »

Does anyone know a way of calculating how much you can pull? Like x litre or horsepower can pull x ton?

There's no magic formula, you need to check it out with your dealer, or owners manual. varies according to vehicle.

Farls wrote: »

Big weights there, I'd say a lot of ye know the smell of a clutch only too well!!

Oh god, dont talk to me.

A few years ago I bought a swb landrover up north and headed up in the rangerover I had at the time. I had recently put a 200tdi engine and box into it with a new clutch.....

Arrived back down onto the M50 on a saturday afternoon to gridlock. the roadworks were in full swing at the time <snip>.

rumbling along, got as far as the finglas exit when I brought up the clutch pedal and it went floppy. I had almost no drive, clutch slipping like bejaysus.

I pulled into the hard shoulder with a lovely smell and waited a bit to see if the clutch might somehow cool off and magically fix itself.

Sadly it didnt, but it didnt seem to be getting any worse. I knew there was free recovery ahead and I was able to stay moving so I decided to just bate on.

once I was moving it wasnt so bad and the stop start picked up a bit to a pace I could cope with (around 10mph)

eventually I got to the end of the works and found a safe spot to pull in for a bit and take a looksee. I got out and the sky opened, torrential downpour and me in a t shirt. I was tempted to go back and get the free recovery number that I had somehow ignored the whole way along but it would have been suicide as the motorway was picking up speed.

I decided to just drive on, it hadnt gotten any worse and I figured the clutch was just shagged now anyway.

I worked my way up to the lights on the red cow and sat there, expectantly waiting on the line for them to go green, praying the artic behind me would just give the trailer a small nudge off the line.

It took the complete change of the lights to get moving but thankfully the lights/traffic stayed with me from then the whole way as far as abbeyleix where I was forced to grind back down into second.

Once I was moving i was fairly ok, just some clutchless gearchanging. did newlands to abbeleix in fifth.


I parked up the rangey for a few weeks while cashflow recovered and then brought it to my mechanic to see how badly I'd f*cked up.





ughhhhhh

O.A.P

Hello guys this is my first post here I hope its in the right place. I have a 110 defender and tow a 12x6 twin axle builders trailer. The vehicle is rated to pull 3500 kg but I have not got near that so far. I have a full H.G.V (ridged) liscense, anyone know if this covers me? Thanks in advance

hiluxman

nothing pulls like a hilux with a lift of blocks on the back! scroll down 2 see what i mean!

BrianD3

O.A.P wrote: »

Hello guys this is my first post here I hope its in the right place. I have a 110 defender and tow a 12x6 twin axle builders trailer. The vehicle is rated to pull 3500 kg but I have not got near that so far. I have a full H.G.V (ridged) liscense, anyone know if this covers me? Thanks in advance

The type of licence you need depends on the design gross vehicle weight of the car and trailer and the kerb weight of the car.

Condition 1: If d.g.v.w of the car + trailer is >3.5 tonnes and d.g.v.w of the trailer is >750 kg, an EB licence is required
Condition 2: If d.g.v.w of the trailer is >kerb weight of the car, an EB licence is required

In your case, lets say the kerb weight of the Landrover is 1.8 tonnes, the d.g.v.w of the Landrover is 2.5 tonnes and the d.g.v.w of the trailer is 1.5 tonnes. You need an EB licence in that case according to condition 1. Obviously yoiu should find out the exact weights yourself.

If you did your car driving test years ago, EB may have been awarded automatically. However in recent years the only way to get EB added is to do an EB test (car + trailer) or an EC test (artic truck) You don't get EB when you do your C (rigid truck) test.

O.A.P

BrianD3 wrote: »

The type of licence you need depends on the design gross vehicle weight of the car and trailer and the kerb weight of the car.

Condition 1: If d.g.v.w of the car + trailer is >3.5 tonnes and d.g.v.w of the trailer is >750 kg, an EB licence is required
Condition 2: If d.g.v.w of the trailer is >kerb weight of the car, an EB licence is required

In your case, lets say the kerb weight of the Landrover is 1.8 tonnes, the d.g.v.w of the Landrover is 2.5 tonnes and the d.g.v.w of the trailer is 1.5 tonnes. You need an EB licence in that case according to condition 1. Obviously yoiu should find out the exact weights yourself.

If you did your car driving test years ago, EB may have been awarded automatically. However in recent years the only way to get EB added is to do an EB test (car + trailer) or an EC test (artic truck) You don't get EB when you do your C (rigid truck) test.

Thanks for that Im not covered so . Is the same rule applied to tractors? Ive had some huge loads behind them when I only had a provisional licence and at the time was sure that I was road legal

BrianD3

There are different (much less restrictive) rules for tractors. You were probably legal with your prov licence and tractor + heavy trailer.

If you are worried about not having the right licence to tow a trailer with your Landrover perhaps you could get a provisonal EB licence, at least then you know your insurance will be OK. IMO there is little point doing the EB test when you already have a C licence - you should do the EC (artic test) instead which will automatically give you EB.

O.A.P

Yeah I know that. Last time I looked it was 140 euros to do the test and thats a while back, I would also need to hire a truck and hope I passed first time. Seems like a lot of money but I like to have things right!