Boats, trailers and towing. and some fun

[Black_Rat]

:D http://www.ausfish.com.au/vforum/images/misc/_postbitspacer.gif

Wasn't sure wear to post this because it's a bit of everything at this stage ::) boating, 4wd, camping and going fishing. However my main query is in relation to towing up the beach at this stage.

I have always thought about fishing the Toyota fishing competiton for quite a few years now and it is on my list of "Things to do". I had a call on Thursday night from a mate to say he has a crew heading up with four 4wds, two of which will be towing 5m boats and has asked if I wanted to tow my 5.2m Formosa up and fish the comp?

After thinking about it for a couple of days and watching ET today and some footage from last years comp i'm keen as mustard to do it !

My main query after all that is what mods I might need to make to the trailer to tow on the sand easier? It is a stock Dunbier trailer that came with the boat.

It has stock 13inch wheels/tyres and was wondering will wider tyres make a difference? I know tyre pressure is important but with wider tyres will it make it easier to tow on sand?

I have read that the "underhang" from the roller and skid post supports should be cut off were they hang below the trailer because they are likey to drag through the sand and might get snagged on tree roots on inland tracks. Given the trailer will be heading over rough terrain i'm also looking at welding the adjustable supports to the trailer frame?

Any advise would be appreciated on what to do and not ? :-/

I know JB did a post a year or so ago about the same thing but I havn't been able to find the thread :(
Damo
http://www.ausfish.com.au/vforum/images/statusicon/user_online.gif http://www.ausfish.com.au/vforum/images/buttons/report.gif (http://www.ausfish.com.au/vforum/report.php?p=578422) http://www.ausfish.com.au/vforum/images/misc/progress.gif

[nigelr]

Definitely wider tyres with low air pressure will help, can you fit larger and wider rims to your trailer? Some beach launch trailers use 4wd rims, makes the job much easier. Perhaps you can borrow a set.
These larger rims and tyres will also improve the ground clearance of your trailer.
Have you driven on soft, as opposed to hard, sand before? It's not difficult, just remember not to spin your wheels under any circumstances, or you will almost certainly get bogged!
Kind of the reverse procedure for driving in mud, only use enough power to keep your momentum up. If you lose traction, there is only one way you will go, ie down. Make sure the tyre pressures on the tow vehicle and trailer are correct for the conditions, in soft sand for example, between 12 and 20 lb depending on vehicle and boat/trailer weights. A portable compressor is a good companion!
Not sure on this, but perhaps the organisers have tractors available to launch with? These make very easy work of beach launching!
Cheers.

[John_R]

Damo,

I thought entries to the Toyota event were unobtainium. Would love to do it too, but doubt I ever could make it.

Wider bigger tyres are definitely the go. Would not go too hard on the roller supports. That is would leave an inch or two underhang - mine are about 6 inches and I would take off tha last 4 if I was going to tow on the sand. As Nigel said the bigger wheels will increase the ground clearance.

Did you get an EPIRB? With the 121.5s at about $160 and 406's at around $400 it is a tough choice considering there is only 2 years (Feb 2009) before the 121.5s are defunct.

I have not towed the boat on the sand but have been up Teewah and Fraser in the Navara with the tyres (Cooper ATR) set to 20psi no problems.

Regards


John

[Black_Rat]

Nigler,

I'll need to check whether wider tyres will fit under the guards if not a gentle persuader ie: sledge hammer should fix it. ;D
I've driven on sand quite a few times before only in Hi 4wd, the Navara dosen't need low in the soft stuff :P but with towing a boat i suspect i'll need to go down a cog to low 4wd.
Tyre pressure will be a trial and error exercise ::) and will invest in a compressor, it'll make pumping up the air matteress a lot easier ;D

Already looking at a swing around draw bar for the trailer

John_R,



I thought entries to the Toyota event were unobtainium.
My latin is a little rusty from the old school days. unobtainable ? you can download an entry form off the net :-/

Will be investing in a 406mz EPIRB or burrow one from a mate and send him photos of the awsome fish it alowed me to catch ;D

[John_R]

Damo,

I was referring to the rumor that entries get filled very early and they may not take further entries. Probably would not hurt to give them a call.

Unobtainium from the old latin means unobtainable.

You may have issues borrowing a 406 since they are registered to a particular vessel.

Otherwise that Formosa should be the ducks guts up there.

Regards


John

[Any_Weather]

Gents, generally entry to the comp is not filled early and some years there are still places left even when it starts, but yes get in early to make sure. This will be my 3rd year in a row and it is by far an experience I wont be missing. As for towing a 5 metre aluminium behind a Navara, mate you will be fine. An extended draw bar is definately worth the effort but make sure you also extend you trailer lights cable as the cops were very hard on this in 2005. Larger wheels are the go if you can but you will still be ok with 13's. When you see the size of some of the boats that get up there you will be amazed. I take a 6.5m platey and it is only average or even smaller than average. There are some BIG boats up there and it is interesting to say the least to watch the gutter at retrieval time. So far we have not had any dramas and I sure hope this year is the same. In saying that there is always alot of very experienced guys willing to lend a hand if it is needed. Mate I sure recommend you make every effort to get there if you can and can assure you you will do it again, Might see you up there.

Lee

[Black_Rat]

Gents, generally entry to the comp is not filled early and some years there are still places left even when it starts, but yes get in early to make sure. This will be my 3rd year in a row and it is by far an experience I wont be missing. As for towing a 5 metre aluminium behind a Navara, mate you will be fine. An extended draw bar is definately worth the effort but make sure you also extend you trailer lights cable as the cops were very hard on this in 2005. Larger wheels are the go if you can but you will still be ok with 13's. When you see the size of some of the boats that get up there you will be amazed. I take a 6.5m platey and it is only average or even smaller than average. There are some BIG boats up there and it is interesting to say the least to watch the gutter at retrieval time. So far we have not had any dramas and I sure hope this year is the same. In saying that there is always alot of very experienced guys willing to lend a hand if it is needed. Mate I sure recommend you make every effort to get there if you can and can assure you you will do it again, Might see you up there.

Lee

SOLD ;D

It is somthing i've always wanted to do !

I was wondering about the trailer lights when you have the extended draw bar hooked up. Surley the cops wouldn't ping you when launching and retrieving the boat ? :-/

[Cloud_9]

you dont tow for exstended distance with the long draw bar but cops thioreticly could ping you for it.
it is a highway.
just get a extention cord for the trailer lights.
your lucky Dunbier sell a extention draw bar for their trailers.
Cheers Cloud 9

[Any_Weather]

Damo, mate the cops expect you to extend your draw bar at the waters edge, launch, and then retract it as soon as you have retrieved the boat. And yes they expect you to have lights operating at all times. The majority of people leave the extended drawbar extended out and tow the short distance from where the boats are stored every day. This is about 600m from the waters edge so alot of care is required because one can only imagine the dramas if an accident occured whilst doing this. Last year the cops were pretty good about this but I am sure if people were running amuck they would certainly crack down. Mate ensure you know all the rules (i am sure you do) about legal sizes and bag limits as there is fisheries boys doing checks very regularly. We were checked a few times last year as we were pulling the boat out.
This comp is extremely well organised and the safety factor is huge as there is so many boats to assist if there was any dramas and with the remoteness of the area this is always handy to keep in the back of your mind.
Also the fishing is second to none. Large Red throats are common, coronation trout are common, Large red emporor are caught by the good fishermen and plenty of other species to keep the adrenalin flowing. Mate I can guarantee you will have one of the best 10 days or so of your fishing life. If you are camping I recommend you get there by about the Thursday before if you want a decent campsite.

See you up there
Lee

[Black_Rat]

Cloud_9,

Thanks for for the reply. I have looked at the Dunbier site on the net and they don't sell to the public :'( so i'll be in contact with one of my subbies (structual steel mob) to install the extended draw bar. :) must be Gal ;)

Does anyone know if there is a legal requirement for this modification to go through Queensland Transport ?

To extend the lights on the trailer would mean I would have to re-wire it ? :-/

Any_Weather,

Cheers ! Will look at re-wiring the trailer to comlpy :'( Rules are rules Macca. Fraser beach is still classified a gazetted road so all road rules must aply and correct me if i'm wrong an 80 klm limit is standard. I'd hate to be pulling over and a truck hit me from behind >:( and with no lights the insurance mob might wave a claim ?

[Any_Weather]

Damo, yes mate the speed limit is 80km/hr but with the bar extended the travel is only about 20-30km/hr. I am not sure if there is a regulation to go by to make it legal as I dont think you are legally allowed to use them at all. Generally up at Waddy you are pretty safe from other vehicles because most of the people in the area at the times of launching and retrieval are doing the same thing. To make the extension can you just simply make another length of cable with a female plug on one end and a male plug on the other, similar to an extension lead????? This is all I neede to do and it works a treat.

Lee

[Black_Rat]

Damo, yes mate the speed limit is 80km/hr but with the bar extended the travel is only about 20-30km/hr. I am not sure if there is a regulation to go by to make it legal as I dont think you are legally allowed to use them at all. Generally up at Waddy you are pretty safe from other vehicles because most of the people in the area at the times of launching and retrieval are doing the same thing. To make the extension can you just simply make another length of cable with a female plug on one end and a male plug on the other, similar to an extension lead????? This is all I neede to do and it works a treat.

Lee

Thanks Lee.

An extended wiring cable would make sense ;D I'll have to get in conatact with a few sparkies I know ;) it may well be a simple process of cutting and wiring cables but i'm a chippy by trade and a hammer/chissel is not the ideal tool for the job ::)