Towing 26ft Boat to top of Fraser with 2 Vehicles

[cormorant]

Hi Lucky Phill and any others

I have towed on Fraser with a disco so it was constant 4wd. You suggest towing in 2wd . What's the reasoning apart fom saving fron't CV especially with a really heavy tow and steering a bit better? .
I assumed that spreading the drive and stress on 4 wheels would be a easier tow?


If he is changing tyres anyway is it worth fitting some internal beadlocks so you can run lower pressures more safely and not roll a tyre off and get so much sand in the beads?

Never did find out if internal beadlocks are roadworthy for onroad and don't currently have them.

Thanks


Edit spelling

[CT]

Was looking as a week This side and including easter.




Cheers

One thing that hasn't been mentioned to date is the possibility of all that effort to be screwed over by bad weather. We gave up on single weeks years ago and now go for at least 2 weeks to be assured of at least some good weather. I know you said that your locked in to only going for a week, but keep a good eye on the weather and be prepared to bail out and leave the boat at home to save a pile of money. You wouldn't be the first bloke to tow all that way and have the boat sit on the trailer for a week. Always take the surf rods to be sure!

Cheers
Craig

[mustang5]

One thing that hasn't been mentioned to date is the possibility of all that effort to be screwed over by bad weather. We gave up on single weeks years ago and now go for at least 2 weeks to be assured of at least some good weather. I know you said that your locked in to only going for a week, but keep a good eye on the weather and be prepared to bail out and leave the boat at home to save a pile of money. You wouldn't be the first bloke to tow all that way and have the boat sit on the trailer for a week. Always take the surf rods to be sure!

Cheers
Craig

Its a good point and will definitely keep an eye on it.

[Schulzy]

If the wind was ok and you work your tides you can launch on the beach and drive around waddy saves the hassle of towing it over the hill but depends on the track conditions

[Smithy]

Yep I reckon weather has a very high chance of screwing you over until late May/June which is when the Toyota Expo was held. Some years it copped big lows in NSW throwing big swells up here. I don't think I have had a good Easter weatherwise in the 5 years I have been full time chartering. Think of all the wet Easters and Anzac Days the last few years. Easter is usually near the full moon and full moons this time of year can tend to whip up big weather systems. With a boat your size I'd be coming around from Hervey Bay or up from Wide Bay Bar to fish those grounds anytime on good weather forecasts and for Easter I would just make it a boys weekend of 4WDing and surf fishing etc. You can fill in a week driving up to Sandy Cape, another day over to Wathumba and then a fair few trips to Champagne Pools backpacker watching! The mega trailerboats on the beach at the Expo usually had 4WD tyres on the trailers and were well setup for it. Most we big plateys. I spose John Gooding had his HH760 up there the last couple of times but then John always made the nightly video for one reason or another, even back in the years when he had his Sailfish Cat then his Patriot days!

[mustang5]

Thanks Smithy!

I will wait till a few days before departure and look at the forecasts.

[manta man]

Hey Mustang5, First of all wondering which day your planning on going, theres a moon on the 27th march which is great(Good low tides after lunchtime).You should be making your way around Hook point 2 hours before low tide. I will try and help you with advice, also you can make arrangments with the barge company (You need to make sure you get on the Manta Ray 2 thats there big barge) just remember Easter time at Fraser is very busy . Smithy"s right about the weather very important. Even getting on to the Barge might create problems depending on nature of tracks going to the barge, no of cars waiting you certainly want nobody in your way (Just remember momentum is everything especially towing a boat of that size. Take no chances and use both cars. I"ve done a few trips up there in my time and the biggest boat i"ve ever seen is a 28ft Shark Cat.The trip is quite an eye opener especially with the size of your boat, I will try and help with more info in the next few days. Cheers Manta Man

[manta man]

Hey Smithy that Patriot your speaking of, was certainly a monster. But even Mother Nature sorted that out.

[mustang5]

Hey Mustang5, First of all wondering which day your planning on going, theres a moon on the 27th march which is great(Good low tides after lunchtime).You should be making your way around Hook point 2 hours before low tide. I will try and help you with advice, also you can make arrangments with the barge company (You need to make sure you get on the Manta Ray 2 thats there big barge) just remember Easter time at Fraser is very busy . Smithy"s right about the weather very important. Even getting on to the Barge might create problems depending on nature of tracks going to the barge, no of cars waiting you certainly want nobody in your way (Just remember momentum is everything especially towing a boat of that size. Take no chances and use both cars. I"ve done a few trips up there in my time and the biggest boat i"ve ever seen is a 28ft Shark Cat.The trip is quite an eye opener especially with the size of your boat, I will try and help with more info in the next few days. Cheers Manta Man

Im aiming for the morning of the 27th at the moment. Was hoping to beat a bit of the easter rush.

[murf]

with regards to tyre pressure its not just about letting them down to a set PSI, all tyres are diff and are carrying diff weights and need diff pressures to get a tread length

a great read here

http://www.direct4wd.com.au/tours/TYRE%20PRESSURE.htm

with regards to the load leveler systems watch the Gall boys DVD on towing a big van to Fraser, they broke the back end out of their car with it on I seem to remember (just saying)

cheers Murf

[mustang5]

Thanks Murf!

I will see how she sits with the Airbags installed.

Just looking up tyres and rims now!!! WHY ON EARTH DID TOYOTA SWITCH FROM 6 to 5 Wheel nuts! :$

[Captain Seaweed]

so you only had 3 mags to choose from.....!!!

[CT]

Thanks Murf!

I will see how she sits with the Airbags installed.

Just looking up tyres and rims now!!! WHY ON EARTH DID TOYOTA SWITCH FROM 6 to 5 Wheel nuts! :$

Once you get airbags you will wonder how you ever coped without them!

[solaris]

Hi Mustang,

I have towed my c/c 685 up 3 times and a mates 6m Vindicator up once, let my tyres dow to 19 PSI up to Indian and then down to 16 for the rest of the trip, never has any tyre issues. Same pressure both car & Trailer,

I had the most trouble with the Vindicator as the trailor was a real sand Plough, Th C/C trailer has straight axels and the chassis sits a lot higher with less bits hanging down getting caught in the soft sand. Have been through Indian at its best (no additional vehicles required) and at it worst taken 4 hours to get 4 boats through.

Hopefully you get a day or 2 of rain a couple of days befor you head up. You are always better to hook another Tow vehicle or 2 on for safety, vrs getting stuck as you can loose hours, and break a lot of gear extracting a boat and car. We used 3 additional vechiles on year and need every bit of it.

I was aprehensive the first time, but you are headed in the right direction with additional vehicles, It can be a challange, but their is no better feeling than pulling you boat out of the water at Waddy, having a beer after a great days fishing, Enjoy your Trip
Attachment 88867

[mustang5]

Hi Mustang,

I have towed my c/c 685 up 3 times and a mates 6m Vindicator up once, let my tyres dow to 19 PSI up to Indian and then down to 16 for the rest of the trip, never has any tyre issues. Same pressure both car & Trailer,

I had the most trouble with the Vindicator as the trailor was a real sand Plough, Th C/C trailer has straight axels and the chassis sits a lot higher with less bits hanging down getting caught in the soft sand. Have been through Indian at its best (no additional vehicles required) and at it worst taken 4 hours to get 4 boats through.

Hopefully you get a day or 2 of rain a couple of days befor you head up. You are always better to hook another Tow vehicle or 2 on for safety, vrs getting stuck as you can loose hours, and break a lot of gear extracting a boat and car. We used 3 additional vechiles on year and need every bit of it.

I was aprehensive the first time, but you are headed in the right direction with additional vehicles, It can be a challange, but their is no better feeling than pulling you boat out of the water at Waddy, having a beer after a great days fishing, Enjoy your Trip
Attachment 88867

Thank you for your advice

I think the Seaswirls trailer has a good bit of clearance, especially with the 4wd tyres. The only issue I have is the low point on the back of the cruiser to which hopefully the airbags will fix

Can you please possibly give me some tips on the approach to Indian Head? For example, what Speed/gear? Length of snatch connecting vehicles?

I am also guessing I will need someone on the ground to uhf when a clear run is available.