towing speed limit - Page 2

Richy_Rich · 7 Jul 2003, 06:41 (Ref:654426)

I'm about limited to 60 in my diesel Landrover too.

Another trailing caveat: check your insurance and if necessary get separate cover for your race car when being trailered (it's not too expensive given the alternative)

zefarelly · 7 Jul 2003, 09:07 (Ref:654550)

Ive only had a trailer a few months so am new to this . . . .I towed at 65 70 no problem, although nearly all in the dry . . . .our brakes on the trailer need a good service, but the wheels are all wellers with yokohoma tyres ! suffice to say the seller had a mini Marcos with 10" wheels to spare!

woodyracing · 7 Jul 2003, 21:48 (Ref:655288)

thanks for the replies, its all interesting/useful.
I have a couple of other questions about towing.

my car manual says that the nose weight on the trailer should be 75Kg, this sounds a bit light and also how do you know when you've reached that weight ?

Also while towing single seaters, does anyone cover the car or cockpit with anything or does it just fill with water when it rains ?

Richy_Rich · 8 Jul 2003, 06:45 (Ref:655521)

Woody,

I'd recommend covering it if you can, I've seen all sorts of methods of doing this from home made tonneaux to sheets of tarpaulin cable tied in place. Or, buy a car with a roof and windows

Nose weight etc. etc. and general towing law and advice can be found here courtesy of the RAC.

Cheers

Richy

blackx · 8 Jul 2003, 09:09 (Ref:655587)

I have just bought a caravan and use this method for working out the nose-weight.....
A set of bathroom scales and a piece of wood...
Piece of wood inside the tow hitch and rest it on the scales with the nose of the trailer or caravan facing slightly down...
You can buy a proper tool for about £15 to measure the nose weight as well....
With regards to stabilisrs.........
Have had a new hitch fitted to the caravan which has a built in stabiliser....It consists of friction plates inside the hitch which are clamped around the ball and combine to make aneffective stabiliser....
towed quite a heavy caravan down the motorway being passed by coaches and artics and the van did not sway at all.....

Morris 1100 · 8 Jul 2003, 09:44 (Ref:655611)

If the weight is right it will not sway anyway! (who else has done 100mph with a 1300kg car on a trailer?)

blackx · 8 Jul 2003, 10:06 (Ref:655622)

Quote:

If the weight is right it will not sway anyway! (who else has done 100mph with a 1300kg car on a trailer?)

Nobody with any sense I would say..........

jonathanc · 8 Jul 2003, 11:11 (Ref:655676)

I can sit on most dry motorways doing 80 with my covered trailer (made by the well known chaps in Daventry).

**Tim Falce** · 8 Jul 2003, 13:29 (Ref:655821)

Ive done 95mph with 25 tons on a trailer

**Peter Mallett** · 8 Jul 2003, 13:31 (Ref:655826)

Wha? You mean there's a speed limit?

woodyracing · 8 Jul 2003, 14:01 (Ref:655856)

apparently

Warwick · 9 Jul 2003, 07:57 (Ref:656579)

Most we ever saw was about 80mph,it started swaying about 70 but didn't get any worse so we didn't bother slowing down.

Morris 1100 · 9 Jul 2003, 08:25 (Ref:656596)

Quote:

Originally posted by Warwick
Most we ever saw was about 80mph,it started swaying about 70 but didn't get any worse so we didn't bother slowing down.

Being in NZ you wouldn't have far to go then!

BFC · 9 Jul 2003, 10:22 (Ref:656708)

have done 130 kmh up Hume Hwy in NSW towing caravan with trucks all around ..would pass them up hills but they catch and pass going down hills...of course they go REAL fast so had to keep up with them...i think there is some sort of speed limit in NSW towing trailers but who cares ..got to Sydney in no time just in time for morning peak hr

**Peter Mallett** · 9 Jul 2003, 10:27 (Ref:656710)

In all seriousness, I have been known to forget that I'm towing. This has two effects. One my fuel consumption goes through the roof (it's nor good at the best of times) and two, I get a serious fright when I see a six foot high Capri in my rear view mirror!

I guess the point is that when towing the most important thing is concentration. That means watching the speed and being aware of the road conditions.

Like everyone else I don't want to lose my race car.

simon drabble · 9 Jul 2003, 10:39 (Ref:656724)

hahaha my old trailer was the same - I would get a real shock to see a car so close!
The important thing is to have a trailer that can tow safetly and without weaving at a decent speed otherwise longer distances will become a real pain.
I have a Brian James and they are good, so are Batemans which is what I had before. My current one is a double trailer and tows fantastically with two cars, the tow truck does get a bit slow on the hills however!

zefarelly · 9 Jul 2003, 11:33 (Ref:656754)

I know what you mean PEter . . .I was ultra concentrating on the way home from Silverstone . . .with someone elses race car on the back, and our new car towing it . . . .I was exhausted by the time I got home!

all I can see in my rear view mirror is a cortina rad grille . . .every louvre its so close!

JimW · 9 Jul 2003, 16:17 (Ref:657031)

For interesting details about legal licence limits see http://www.dvla.gov.uk/drivers/dl_towing_trailers.htm.

This is particularly important if you passed your test since 1/1/97.

See also:
http://www.rac.co.uk/carcare/advice/...lp/towing_tips
or perhaps most comprehensively: http://www.ntta.co.uk/

Regards

Jim

**ghinzani** · 9 Jul 2003, 16:22 (Ref:657036)

I just towed my latest aquisition back down from Woking to Dorset this afternoon at 70mph no problems - unfortunately my old Golf wont do much more - its my karting team bus and a bit old and smokey! Anyone know if it would damage the trailer tent putting a rotax max on top? Should I build a frame to go on top?
Heres the beauty: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...ory=14256&rd=1

DAVID PATERSON · 10 Jul 2003, 02:54 (Ref:657547)

BFC, with the change to National Road rules the old speed limit for towuing in NSW was abolished. Now, all cars are restricted to the posted limit, regardless of trailers.

I concur with the others about towing and concentration level required. Normal driving, i can do Brisbane to Sydney in a day, easily, but towing i have to make it two days, because I'm exhausted by the sheer mental effort.

Being tailgated by a really tall race car is also a little odd.

Onlooker · 10 Jul 2003, 03:36 (Ref:657552)

Not a scarey as having a ski boat sitting on your @ss

DAVID PATERSON · 10 Jul 2003, 03:52 (Ref:657562)

pointy!

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