Safe to tow?
Printed From: The Fishing Website
Category: Saltwater Fishing
Forum Name: Newbies Corner
Forum Description: If you're new to fishing this is the place to ask any questions about getting started ...
URL: https://www.fishing.net.nz/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=128051
Printed Date: 02 Feb 2026 at 3:31am
Topic: Safe to tow?
Posted By: Swintsnz
Subject: Safe to tow?
Date Posted: 23 May 2018 at 9:50am
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Hi there, I'm heading away to Tairua from Auckland. There is a posibility of towing a boat across that is weighted as 1250kg on a braked trailer. I would be towing it with a 2L 1999 Honda Torneo 2wd. I couldn't find the exact tow rating for the Honda Torneo of that year. Previous honda accords, were rated at 1200kg while some of the later models were rated at 1500kg. The curb weight of the car is 1320Kg. Anyway, without being able to find the rated towing weights, would people say this is a safe possibility? Many thanks, Simon
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Replies:
Posted By: Otto
Date Posted: 23 May 2018 at 10:42am
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Possible it would scrape either the car or trailer depending on the weight on the tow bar Long way with a steep hill that often has cars stopped before the top with overheating problems. |
Posted By: Steps
Date Posted: 23 May 2018 at 12:42pm
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Braked trailer , should be ok even thu at of just above manfactures limits. The legal limit is being able to brake at a given speed in a given distance.. cant rem off hand .. its in older threads When load up, put a 3x2 under the trailer hitch, vertically.. with he hitch the same height as if hitched to the car, sitting on the bathroom scales load up so you have around 70/85 kg in the car hitch when towing. As Otto says re overheating... get a full radiator/ engine flush before going... and if auto, look seriously at a aux trans cooler.. doesnt have to be big. Hook it in so the hot oil comes out of the trans.. into the aux cooler THEN radiator cooler... Trans oil is designed to operate at withing a fixed temp range.. it put the cooler after you can run the oil on the cold side.. Also check your brake shoes/ pads, and the disks/ drums are above correct min thickness... rem it is an older car In sayng all that And If going too , take it easy.. if can get a larger tow vehicle do so.
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Posted By: Grunta
Date Posted: 23 May 2018 at 3:49pm
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The LTSA info is worth a read so here it is.... How much can your vehicle tow safely? Most vehicles have tow ratings given to them by the manufacturer specifying the gross trailer weight braked, unbraked, or both, that the vehicle can safely tow. Although the law does not require these tow ratings to be followed, the NZ Transport Agency recommends that they be taken into account. In addition to the requirements above, the law requires that every light vehicle and trailer combination must be capable of stopping within a distance of seven metres from a speed of 30km/h. In effect, this means that the maximum allowable weight of an unbraked trailer is limited by the weight and braking ability of the vehicle being used to tow it. The Transport Agency recommends, as a guide, that the laden weight of an unbraked trailer should not exceed three quarters of the unladen weight of the towing vehicle and then only if the towing vehicle's brakes and tyres are in excellent condition. A trailer heavier than this may prevent the vehicle combination from meeting the seven metre from 30km/h brake performance requirement. To illustrate the increase in stopping distance when towing an unbraked trailer, consider a trailer with a laden weight equal to the weight of the towing vehicle. This combination can be expected to have double the stopping distance of the towing vehicle alone, and even a towing vehicle with good brakes is likely to fail the legal brake performance requirement of seven metres from 30km/h. If the trailer is equipped with brakes, it may be possible to safely tow a trailer heavier than three quarters of the unladen weight of the towing vehicle, but the seven metres from 30km/h brake performance requirement still applies. |
Posted By: feeder
Date Posted: 23 May 2018 at 5:38pm
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Sensible advise there Grunta, most people don't consider the complications of a crash stop on a wet road at 30 km/hr let alone 90 km/hr. Thankfully Swintsnz your trailer has brakes, that's a good start. Cheers ------------- The only bar to frequent is the Kawhia Bar |
Posted By: pjc
Date Posted: 23 May 2018 at 5:39pm
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If anyone bothered to read the label on a tow bar.the majority of us towing are exceeding the limits,never mind vehicle rating it is the towbar/coupling rating.
toyota camry 3.0lt v6 1991 unbraked is 500kg braked is 1500kg so it does not take much to exceed these limits ,quiet possibly on a bad day traffic department would have a field day. 500kg trailer 200kg? 6 bags cement on weight limit
------------- Sex at 58.Lucky I live at 56 |
Posted By: The Tamure Kid
Date Posted: 23 May 2018 at 8:14pm
First of all, good on you for asking the experienced forum members  of which a number have provided advice. the forum in action.Second, I think that given you're on the margins of legality and recommendations, and travelling on one of the most dangerous highways in the country (through Maramarua), and then on winding, hilly narrow roads beyond Kopu, I would listen to your gut - even if you're legally entitled, are you doing what's right for you? I think you'd be quite surprised to feel the weight behind you the first time you brake on the open road, especially if you need to stop in a hurry due to some other idiot doing something wrong (which is a strong likelihood on that road). You may have the base weight of the boat, but as Steps says with his advice re boats and the motors for them, what is the weight with all your gear in the boat (fuel, bins, rods), the car loaded up for a holiday, passengers etc. If you do go ahead, please change down and use engine braking techniques etc on the downhills - that's where I'd be worried, not the uphills.
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Posted By: Clifftastic
Date Posted: 24 May 2018 at 9:12am
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You might be better to hire a Ute/SUV for a couple of days if it was just going to be for a one off trip. Should be able to find something for about $200 that covers a weekend ------------- http://www.legasea.co.nz" rel="nofollow"> 
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Posted By: Steps
Date Posted: 24 May 2018 at 9:31am
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Yep watch the down hills espec going into cnrs and traffic. Traffic keep those distances in front 'generous' something happen up front, happen to be looking at something in a feild, still have enough time just to lift off accelerator, and slow down without braking... thats a good distance towing or not. Close following doesnt get u there any faster. Braking down hills and not enough or far too much weight vertically on the hitch will cause disastrous results under far less extreme conditions than you think. load up and take for a drive before actually going. An acquaintance recently towed, on a regular basis a 6m fully loaded lotus ( a heavy boat to start with) behind a camry Auckland to top of the coros...in experienced at towing , just thought the feel of the load and lack steering ( vertical weight on hitch) was "normal" reconed was safe could not go too fast as the trailer would sway  Happened to see the set up on one trip when he got home.. could not believe how got away with it, getting a ticket, most probably taken off the road.... I wrote up a post while back about balancing a boat (load) Essentially get the hitch weight in spec. Fully loaded, maybe a trip to ramp, via a few hills open road. Take a few pre made timber/ ply shims that fir between the rubber the boat bow fits into and the post. If get any sign of sway, stop, and swap out the shims till no sway under any speed (legal or not)/ circumstances. Shims will be a 3x2" block down 1/2" ply. A little care and effort makes even frequent short trips to the ramp so much more comfortable , stress free, long trips even more so... and the side benefit of safety.  Do not skip the trans and brake services in above post...espec older car... and no a simple WoF compliance is not enough. |