How large a boat can I trailer ?

[oleman]

Depends on what you have available to tow it with, and how adept you are at driving. But if you are in the US and require a larger vehicle of over 26,000# GVW you will require a commercial drivers license to operate it unless it is an RV. RV's are licensed as a car, sort of keeps the RV industry alive so old people with money to purchase can also drive. So with a normal drivers license I can operate a Bus Conversion RV with a 30,000# GVW, air brakes and tow anything small enough to go the road.

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by Pat Clarke

Thanks for all you comments. However I am more interested in the trailer rather than the vehicle towing it. By jeep, I mean LWB Landcruiser, but I also have access to a tractor - so towing the trailer will not be the problem. So from what I gather so far I would need a tripple axel trailer (with brakes). The boat would be a power boat (3 ft draft) so keel and mask are not a factor. The boat would be launched from a paved ramp

Firstly no Toyota Land cruiser has a 9 tonne limit

The biggest is the v4.2TD or V8 Amazon which had 3.5 tonnes ( and I believe was never sold in Ireland ) most have 3 tonnes or 2.8 tones rating

https://www.towingcapacity.co.uk/car...-land-cruiser/


You will not be able to create a road legal trailer for a 6 tonne boat and tow it behind anything without a HGV license.

On a standard Eu drivers licence you have B ( upto a trailer of .750tonnes ie 750 kg ) and if you hold a BE option you can tow upto 3.5tonnes assuming the vehicle is approved for that ( BE is a separate test these days )



Beyond that you need a CE or C1E heavy goods license to tow weights over 3.5 tonnes and the trailer to be legal must be approved CE marked blah blah. ( complete with air brakes etc. ) the tractor unit must be licensed and suitable HGV tractor unit

The only alternative is a farm trailer and a W license and a tractor ( and that how it’s done ) There was a friend of mine that did this with his 36 foot Broom, his brother was a farmer , it’s still technically illegal as it’s clearly not farm machinery. !!

The trailer was custom welded up on the farm from old truck parts etc

I would strongly advise you against this route

I have a lot of experience in this as I towed an 8 metre four winns at 3.5 T all up with trailer ( the trailer weight is included by the way ) to France three times ( 1200km each way ) behind a 4 litre V8 diesel Range Rover , many years ago.


What you are attempting ( trailering such a boat ) on the Shannon is extremely rare for a number of reasons. Self Launching and retrieval of a vessel that size is very challenging , most would crane it in and out.

Note technically such a load is likely to be over 2.55 metres that makes it a convoy exceptionell with all the attendant hassle

Shop around and get a cheaper marina.

[garyfdl]

Originally Posted by Pat Clarke

By jeep, I mean LWB Landcruiser, but I also have access to a tractor - so towing the trailer will not be the problem.

Even your Land Cruiser probably isn't up to the task. Besides the overall weight, there is tongue weight (the downforce that the tongue puts on the tow vehicle) to consider. Rule of thumb is at least 10% of the total - trailer weight plus load weight, so in your case over 1,400 lbs. I doubt the suspension on a Land Cruiser will handle that.

Tractor on the other hand? Assuming it's big enough - no problem.

Originally Posted by Pat Clarke

from what I gather so far I would need a tripple axel trailer (with brakes). The boat would be a power boat (3 ft draft) so keel and mask are not a factor. The boat would be launched from a paved ramp

Triple axle would be more likely, but you might find a double that would work. Trailer capacity (in the US anyway) is determined by axle capacity X the number of axles. My trailer has 2 (X) 6000 lb axles = 12,000 lb capacity.

The other thing to be aware of is tires. Auto tires on a heavy load trailer are not a good idea. Even though the axle is rated to a given capacity, the tires may not match. Make sure the tires are rated to at least half the axle capacity. (the load rating of the tire should be molded into the sidewall) example: my axles are rated 6000 lb, each tire is rated 3500 lb. 2 tires (X) 3500 lb each = 7000 lbs total. Note that this is the tire capacity NOT the axle capacity! The actual capacity is always the lesser of the two!

[PineyWoodsPete]

Originally Posted by Pat Clarke

Thanks for all you comments. However I am more interested in the trailer rather than the vehicle towing it. By jeep, I mean LWB Landcruiser, but I also have access to a tractor - so towing the trailer will not be the problem. So from what I gather so far I would need a tripple axel trailer (with brakes). The boat would be a power boat (3 ft draft) so keel and mask are not a factor. The boat would be launched from a paved ramp

That's the problem! You'll need a long trailer tongue extension towing bar to do this, and once you pull the boat up far enough so that the hull is dry, you will have 7-8 tons at an acute angle of maybe 20 degrees you're trying to pull up, and you'd better have something much heavier and more powerful and lower geared than your Landcruiser to do it - like a tow-truck designed for towing broken-down sizable trucks.

This simply is not a safe do-it-yourself job for the un-initiated with much inflated expectations. I can see even a heavy short-wheelbase tractor lifting the front wheels and raring up like a stallion when you put the power to it on the ramp.

Just hire a large tow truck with a crew who have done this before with a vessel your size!

[captlloyd]

Originally Posted by Pat Clarke

Thanks for all you comments. However I am more interested in the trailer rather than the vehicle towing it. By jeep, I mean LWB Landcruiser, but I also have access to a tractor - so towing the trailer will not be the problem. So from what I gather so far I would need a tripple axel trailer (with brakes). The boat would be a power boat (3 ft draft) so keel and mask are not a factor. The boat would be launched from a paved ramp

Given that you are moving less than two miles I would say go for it. The tractor would most likely be your best bet. Yes you can fabricate a trailer, you will save money if you intend to keep the boat for any length of time. Finding a cheaper marina can be very difficult to do.

[goboatingnow]

As I know someone who uses a tractor and a welded up trailer solution

Just be aware.

Such a solution may be practical , but you will not have a road legal solution , hence you will not have insurance cover for the boat or third parties during the lift out , journey and lift in

Irish road law requires third party trailer insurance. The trip on the road will “ technically “ require convoy exceptionel status.

Of course , it’s Ireland , so one or two people “ chance their arm “ but the police are getting less and less tolerant.

The trailer my friend has that his boat towed by his brothers tractor can self launch and recover but needs a long deep slip to do so. The tractor ends up in the water to it’s back axles. ( big John Deere 4 wheel drive tractor ) the journey to the farm is about 10km along quiet country roads and avoids any urban areas. They usually move it very early in the mornings.

Knock yourself out but your idea is applicable to a tiny number of people.

Again your landcruiser WILL NOT handle this boat/trailer combination

From my experience also this is unlikely to reduce your marina fees. Most marinas in your area if you want access to a berth on a annual basis will charge you an annual fee whether or not you keep the boat in it. Part time summer only moorings are difficult to acquire and hold onto as marinas are close to full

3500 a year is top pricing for a 34 footer in that area , Shop around

Disclosure ; while I have sailing boats in other countries over the years I also kept a series of mobos on the Shannon for over 25 years as my then younger kids used it as a kind of holiday home when I went sailing. ( they did 3-6 week residential sailing camps ) Ive been in nearly every marina on that system with the exception of Coolbawn Quay which is an exceptional ripoff.

I sail in Greece now , where the marinas fees are 2x where you are , so be grateful ( I once had a Beneteau 393,yacht in the south of France , I won’t frighten you with the marina costs !!!!)

[PineyWoodsPete]

The other big concern in a "blind" loading of a power vessel on a sunken trailer is damage to the running gear: rudders, props, shafts, struts - more likely with a single screw and a straight-run aft planing hull. If your hull is a displacement or semi-displacement such as mine, less of a worry, but still some vulnerability.

[austinsailor]

Met a guy on the road once who towed his 40’, 12’ beam sloop from Colorado to the east coast and back a couple times a year with a 3/4 ton Ford. Permits? He never messed with them. Didn’t think to ask what he did at weigh stations. Blew past, I would guess.

[rwidman]

If you are concerned about the trailer, get off the computer and go talk to a trailer dealer or manufacturer.

As far as towing a heavy boat on a trailer, the most important concern is not "Can I tow it?, but "Can I stop it?"

If you think keeping the boat in the water for part of the year and at your home for the rest of the year, consider paying someone to transport it back and forth.

[smacksman]

Come on, we're talking Ireland here. Farm tractor + 6 wheel fabricated from ex truck axel trailer. Bung a few bottles of hooch to the local police for turning the other way or an escort. Drive down the ramp at low water with a line attached and wait for the 15 foot tide while sampling afore mentioned bottles. Haul out trailer. When axles get too corroded with salt water after many years, weld on new axels.

[Znightflyer]

In the States the limit is 8.5’ width and 13.5-14.5’ height. Width up to 10’ 3” can be done with oversize permit’s which will dictate what roads and times you can travel. Tow vehicles in pickup properly setup can handle 20,000 lbs and higher. Above these dimensions professional are usually need.

Sometimes it’s cheaper to hire someone to get it done.

[Nepidae]

In the US, I'm not familiar at all with Euro requirements, it isn't so much the length or the weight, it's the width.

I believe, 8' 6" is the max-width without special permits and other requirements.

Above the 8,6 it is considered a wide load.

Check your local regulations.

Good luck.

[skenn_ie]

Even a Land Rover, which I am fairly sure is bigger than any Jeep, has a towing capacity of 3.5tonnes. I doubt there is any private vehicle that is rated to the 7t or so, that the boat plus trailer would be. If it is only a few miles, you might find a local tow-truck or even a farmer with a tractor, that would do the job for you.

[valhalla360]

Originally Posted by Pat Clarke

Thanks for all you comments. However I am more interested in the trailer rather than the vehicle towing it. By jeep, I mean LWB Landcruiser, but I also have access to a tractor - so towing the trailer will not be the problem. So from what I gather so far I would need a tripple axel trailer (with brakes). The boat would be a power boat (3 ft draft) so keel and mask are not a factor. The boat would be launched from a paved ramp

There's legal and there's able to do it.

I'm not familiar with Ireland's laws so I won't comment on that.

If it's hauled out and set on the trailer, you can probably get away with it if the route is pretty level. If you are putting along on a low speed level road, it's viable. You will be way over the tow vehicle ratings but probably not the end of the world for a mile or so.

Trying to pull it up a launch ramp or other big hill...that's likely going to be a problem. If you are lucky, it just won't do it...if not, something will break.

Likewise, if you keep the speeds very low (and the trailer has brakes), probably not a problem with it getting out of control or stopping. Again, if you have a steep grade, that can be a problem.

Keep in mind, the trailer will likely add at least 1 ton to the overall weight. Probably need at least a couple of 3500kg rated axles.

As others have said, width is likely your biggest issue, particularly with some of the narrow lanes in Ireland.

If you have access to a tractor, that's probably a much better option.

We currently have a V10 F250 and pulling a 4 ton trailer. We used to have a 6 ton trailer and while technically within the ratings, you could tell it was at the limits. I can't see any non-commercial truck in Europe that will be anywhere close to a 6 ton rating.

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by smacksman

Come on, we're talking Ireland here. Farm tractor + 6 wheel fabricated from ex truck axel trailer. Bung a few bottles of hooch to the local police for turning the other way or an escort. Drive down the ramp at low water with a line attached and wait for the 15 foot tide while sampling afore mentioned bottles. Haul out trailer. When axles get too corroded with salt water after many years, weld on new axels.

While watching a John Huston movie.

15 foot tides on a non tidal river. That will be impressive.

Bribing The police will not end well either