Towing a dinghy for the first time?

Forumites, I could use some advice on choosing a car to tow
an RS Vareo. I quite fancy doing some open meetings however I’ve never done any
towing before. I’ve done a little research and found that my current car ( a
Honda Jazz 1.2) has an ‘un-braked’ towing capacity of 450kg. I don’t suppose
that the Vareo on its combi would weigh more than 250kg so I guess that it
would be feasible to use the Jazz if I were to get it fitted with a tow-bar. I
am looking to change my car anyway and I was considering something with 1.4
litre engine, can I get away with such a small car ?…….any advice would be
appreciated 

Many thanks in advance 

Nigel
P.S. By way of entertainment, what is the most ridiculous vehicle that you've seen used to tow a dinghy (please don't say a Honda Jazz towing a Vareo !)

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Webmuppet Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 11 Mar 06 Location: Suffolk Online Status: Offline Posts: 534	Post Options Post Reply Quote Webmuppet Report Post Quote Reply Topic: Towing a dinghy for the first time? Posted: 11 Jan 07 at 11:45am
	Forumites, I could use some advice on choosing a car to tow an RS Vareo. I quite fancy doing some open meetings however I’ve never done any towing before. I’ve done a little research and found that my current car ( a Honda Jazz 1.2) has an ‘un-braked’ towing capacity of 450kg. I don’t suppose that the Vareo on its combi would weigh more than 250kg so I guess that it would be feasible to use the Jazz if I were to get it fitted with a tow-bar. I am looking to change my car anyway and I was considering something with 1.4 litre engine, can I get away with such a small car ?…….any advice would be appreciated Many thanks in advance Nigel P.S. By way of entertainment, what is the most ridiculous vehicle that you've seen used to tow a dinghy (please don't say a Honda Jazz towing a Vareo !)
	I am the milkman of human kindness, I will leave an extra pint (Billy Bragg) Graduate 2530 'Galaxy'

tornado435 Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Posting king Joined: 05 May 06 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 196	Post Options Post Reply Quote tornado435 Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 11 Jan 07 at 12:19pm
	I used to tow my hurricane 5.9 behind a 1.1 litre fiesta. getting it going wasn't the problem it was stopping it!!!!

gary Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Groupie Joined: 02 Nov 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 55	Post Options Post Reply Quote gary Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 11 Jan 07 at 12:24pm
	Virtually whatever car you have you won't notice it on there!! Take care on those roundabouts

jeffers Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 29 Mar 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 3048	Post Options Post Reply Quote jeffers Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 11 Jan 07 at 12:24pm
	Hi Webmuppet, I have towed both a scorpion and a Fireball (not at the same time) with a 206 SW 1.4 petrol. I was ok as long as there were not any long hills. The only thing to remember about towing something as light as a dinghy is that you can often forget it is there. Do make sure you do all the usual checks on the trailer before you set off though: 1) Check bearings run smoothly 2) Check tyres on the road trailer are inflated and the tyres have not perished 3) Check your safety wire on the trailer is still firmly secured 4) Check the hitch is not seized 5) Check the boat is tied down securely and cannot move independantly of the trolley/road base (ratchet straps are good but dont over tighten them) 6) Check all the lights are working on your trailer board and do make sure you have the correct number plate, they boys in blue get very anal about this! Just my 2p.... I am sure you will get other words of wisdom. I would reckon the Jazz will be fine if a little lightweight for towing the Vareo but it should be well withing the weight limit. Paul Edited by jeffers
	Paul ---------------------- D-Zero GBR 74

JimC Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 17 May 04 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 6564	Post Options Post Reply Quote JimC Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 11 Jan 07 at 12:26pm
	I've heard of a National 12 being towed behind motorcycle and side car back in the 1950s...

Merlinboy Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 03 Jul 06 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 3169	Post Options Post Reply Quote Merlinboy Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 11 Jan 07 at 2:16pm
	as a car salesman i spose i'm qualified to answer this, and the answer is that as long as you dont break the towing weight unbraked you should be fine, even 1.1's are powerfull enough to pull a dinghy my brother has towed 2 albacores on a double stacker in his 306 1.4, i wouldnt recomend it to be honest that was a little sketchy.

English Dave Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 10 Aug 06 Location: Northern Ireland Online Status: Offline Posts: 682	Post Options Post Reply Quote English Dave Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 11 Jan 07 at 2:28pm
	Stolen from another thread. I think the photo's the right way up!
	English Dave Ballyholme Yacht Club (You'd think I'd be better at it by now) Hurricane 5.9 SX RS700

Isis Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Visit Member's Homepage Really should get out more Joined: 01 Sep 05 Online Status: Offline Posts: 2753	Post Options Post Reply Quote Isis Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 11 Jan 07 at 3:24pm
	Looks impressive but its only 36kg so no wayfarer..

Canvey Pirate Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Newbie Joined: 01 Nov 06 Location: Algeria Online Status: Offline Posts: 13	Post Options Post Reply Quote Canvey Pirate Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 11 Jan 07 at 4:05pm
	Towed 2 Hurricanes stacked from Canvey to a many an open meeting in a Audi A4. Had to sell the car in the end, as I was getting oil into the water which was the result from racing up the hill on the A3 to Stokes bay open meeting some years ago.

Merlinboy Send Private Message Find Member's Posts Really should get out more Joined: 03 Jul 06 Location: United Kingdom Online Status: Offline Posts: 3169	Post Options Post Reply Quote Merlinboy Report Post Quote Reply Posted: 11 Jan 07 at 4:50pm