Nissan X-Trail and RIB Towing

[DanE]

Hi all,

Sadly my trusty Civic is looking like it's heading towards the great scrapyard in the sky

Does anyone have any experience of using a Nissan X-Trail (Diesel) to tow a RIB. In particular, how do they handle slippy seaweed covered slipways?

Does the electronic 4x4 work as well as a low ratio gearbox?

Any experience of any other of the smaller 4x4s in this area would also be appreciated.

cheers,
dan

[turbanator]

Not had an x-trail, but have towed with a short Frontera, 4x4 Mundano Estate and a 1.8T VW Passat. I have a 5d Shogun Pinin now, but not towed with it yet.
For a biggish RIB (5.5 - 6m, 115HP engine), in this country, it's the low ratios more than the 4x4 that are really useful, we dive at Little Haven and Pothoustock a lot and if you have to stop on the roads out, then you'll use 20,000 miles worth of clutch and probably need pushers to get you going.

Our club tends to use a long, strong rope as opposed to taking 4x4s onto the beach at Porthoustock where the pebbles get a bit loose.

hth
Paul

[nigelH]

Originally Posted by DanE

Does the electronic 4x4 work as well as a low ratio gearbox?

I don't know the Nissan X-Trail but my truck has fully electronic traction control and it pulls on trash surfaces wonderfully. I've never really needed to put into the low ratio side of the box but it does have a big V8....

[DanE]

Just for added info, it's a 5.8m RIB with two 55s on the back (will hopefully get changed to a single, bigger engine one day).

Typical slipways include Westbay and Castletown, although I'm hoping to expand on the areas we use the RIB.

Cheers,
dan.

[chrisch]

For the road section any reasonable motor will tow a rib. Our boat (Beneteau First 18) was bigger and heavier than any rib and towed perfectly behind the old car (Escort 1.8 petrol) and this one (2.0 406 Diesel).

On the slipway the additional traction of any 4 wheel drive will be an advantage. The Nissan should be fine. The thing to bear in mind is to get the nose weight right - leaving the boat too far back on the trailer will "lift" the vehicle's back wheels so loosing traction.

My old fishing boat was similar to a rib and I have launched and recovered it with a wide variety of cars, including a BL Mini van (850cc) and a Subaru which was great. The secret if the slip is slippery (forgive that please) is to use a rope to pull the boat/trailer up the slipway leaving the car on hard standing.

The 4 wheel drive is just a convenience. (That said its a convenience I would go for if you don't do too many miles and so the extra fuel is not an issue). The cost/benefit is road miles covered versus launch convenience. For me, more than 100 miles on-road and I would buy a normal car.

Chris

[Pigpen]

Would have thought if a Civic can cope, any 4x4 should be more than up to the job?

[LittleTechie]

I have a Nissan X-Trail 2.2 diesel. It pulls a 5.3m Ribcraft brilliantly on road. It seems to cope with any slipway i've taken it on, by locking all four wheels. Not so impressive on a beach though so would not recommend it for sand / shingle surfaces. Overall great vehicle and mine has been very reliable after 3 hard years work.

[louigi]

just get a landrover with a big wench/winch pulls down houses, so boats are no bother and once you get used to bashin your right elbow not to bad to drive. oh and it dont go through clutches and tires like my old fiat van did.
Mind you fuel economy is stone age.

[DanE]

Ta for the info, all.

Originally Posted by Geoff Milne

Would have thought if a Civic can cope, any 4x4 should be more than up to the job?

Sorry, should have said. I've never towed with the Civic. It had enough trouble getting out of Porthkerris with two sets of dive equipment in it (I grounded it three times).

Lou - would love a Landy, but I don't want the fuel costs. The X-Trail looks more fuel efficient than my Civic (10 year old coupe).

I'm still hoping that the insurance company won't write it off, though. It only needs a new wing, bonet, grill, bumper, headlight unit and the steering fixed But if I have to buy another car, might as well get a useful one

dan

[chrisch]

Originally Posted by louigi

just get a landrover with a big wench/winch .....

A winch is a real good idea for boats. For example the slip at Gt Yarmouth (near Lou) is so steep I wouldn't trust anything on it short of a tractor. The idea of your car sliding backwards into the sea is not one I fancy....

Dan, sound's like the Nissan is a fair choice for you. The electronic 4 wheel drive thing is well regarded on the VW where it is fitted to the Trainspotter sorry Transporter. I would check out the reliability etc first though (try autotrader's W3) The toy landrover is the same sytem and a friend has had real problems with her petrol version. LR/Ford were tossers and refused to take responsibility and she had to have a second hand power unit at about 800 quid. Since then the engine manufacturers have gone bust (MG Rover). (Diesel is still OK though). At least with Nissan you wouldn't have that problem.

The winch though would be on my wish list...

Chris