Its time for a change in cars. I'm wondering what the smallest car anyone has had success towing a N12 with. I remember seeing a Mini in 2006 but not sure of the engine size.
I don't want this to happen - http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=lAfZ1N56qjY
Phil
We have towed a N12 behind a 1.1 Punto. Fine once it is up to speed but don't expect to win too many drag races away from standing starts.
Kevin
This link may be useful...
http://www.dft.gov.uk/pgr/roads/vehicles/vssafety/towingwithvehiclesfrequently4577
I just recently changed my rover 25 for a ford fiesta, not the new style but the one before. 1.25 duratec petrol and tows a 12 or a laser 2000 really well for a little car!
Tony :)
Ford Anglia 105e (Harry Potter style) van towed a Nat 12 with no problem - except going up a steep icy hill when the tail heavy trailer tried to lift the rear driving wheels of the ground.
Most small cars should be OK to pull a N12. The trailer weight is unlikely to be above the legal towing limit stated in the handbook. In ancient times I have towed a N12 or similar sized dinghy behind an A35 van and a Triumph Herald with no problem so modern vehicles should easily cope. The only time I produced smoke like shown at the start of the link was towing with a Volvo 244 with leaky seals on the automatic gearbox!
I used to tow my tiger all over the place on a very heavy trailer and all camping gear with a Citeron 2CV that's 0.62l, so I guess there isn't a modern car out there that won't pull it with ease. Yor only talking about the weight of two adults in the back!!
Simon.
I used to pull mine all over the place with my 998cc Minivan and the boats were much heavier then!
Cheers
I have a c2 1.4hdi and even towing a lark i was getting 60 miles to the gallon. I find it is ok for size if there is a max of two of you in the car with the back seats down, because the boot is so small. I towed "BILLY THE HOOVER" back from Chichester last month and that was fine.
I'm looking at the audi a2, either petrol or diesel - towbar a bit steep at £600 fitted mind!
Hmm - that sort of money would have bought my Mini van! It sounds very much like an Audi dealership price. Towbars can normally be had much cheaper by going to an independant specialist.
You should have no trouble pulling the 12 - especially not if you go for the diesel.
Cheers
Like Simon I once owned a 2CV and easily towed a 12. Nobody was going to win drag races towing a 12 with a 600cc engine. I even managed to be stopped by a copper as I was going down a hill with the wind behind me doing 70. The friendly policeman did wonder how the heck I had managed to get the car to go that fast. I was then asked if the boat was mine, "No officer, I have borrowed it from my Dad" was the reply. "Is the trailer yours, or is it your father's" was the nest question. "No I have had to borrow it from a friend." Wearily he then asked if the car was mine no doubt expecting another no, "Yes" I replied, "but in case you are going to ask, I have not got my documents with me....sir."
Oh the perils of being a student :)
On the subject of small cars, I'm sure Rod Andrew (N3109) wouldn't mind me reprinting here his very funny memories of an old Morris 8 he used to own:
In 1966, whilst hop picking in kent, we bought a 1937 Morris 8 for the princely sum of £10. During the (2-day!) journey back to Liverpool we took it to a garage offering instant MOT; I remember they called us in with the car up on a lift and started ramming a large screwdriver through the chassis. We told them to stop damaging our car and the guy told us to 'go away, drive slowly, and don't go over any bumps'.
Back in L'pool we did somehow get an MOT, and painted the car primary red, opening parts like doors bonnet & boot primary blue, and bumpers & wheels bright yellow. It looked like Noddy's car. I recall we wrote a large pink 'Well?' on the inside of the bonnet. The then head of the Liverpool School of Fine Arts was tremendously impressed, and tried to persuade us to enter it in John Moore's modern art exhibition/competition, where given the general looniness of the time & place we might well have won,- but we were hooked on motor transport and felt we couldn't do without it.
There are lots of excellent,- and all true,- stories about this car, but the one I like best was one Nov. evening, when with girlfriends 7 of us were aboard on the way to a party. We were stopped by the police who,- astonishingly,- couldn't find anything wrong with the car, but finally leaned in the window and said, 'don't you think you're a bit overloaded?' Our driver, Andrew Garner, now a leading authority on corrosion in the paper industry, managed to keep a straight face when he said simply, 'It's a Morris 8!'. The wonderful thing about being a student in those days is that one got away with such things.
For some reason later on we had no side windows, but we did have 4 pith helmets of the kind worn by explorers, wore these and drove to the University every day singing Ken Dodd hits at full volume. On one occasion, we think due to our unique variable geometry chassis twisting, we skidded on ice at the end of Princess Avenue, performed a full 360° in the morning traffic whilst rendering a dramatic version of 'Tears for Souvenirs', and were ever so proud of the fact that we didn't miss a note.
Still on the subject of amusing stories and small cars, I remember Howard (he of the many clapped out Minis fame) Steavenson with one of his Minis at Ryton. Way back in the day when people used to sail at Ryton when Tynemouth used the bungalow, surprise surprise it snowed one Winter Open Meeting. Howard set off towards the level crossing (unmanned and ungated) and then on towards the steep hill towing his, or more probably one of Robin's boats. He managed it out of the club and then things began to go wrong. Someone suggested that some burly blokes sat on the bonnet and drive up the hill that way. No chance, try reverse someone said, still no go. It ended up with someone towing Howard's boat up the hill and him driving backwards with three people sitting on the bonnet to get out.
Students eh?
Some years ago good friend of mine took his International Canoe to Holland (I recall) for a European Campionship via ferry. To save money on the Ferry he opted to roof rack the boat rather than trail it and it sat on top of a very weary 20 year old Triumph Herald! The mast overhang was rather interesting too!!
In days gone by I regularly towed boats in my Talbot Sunbeam 1.0 litre which had a Hillman Imp engine and it was fine. I am sure the modern crop of small cars will do just fine!
This looks like a small Daihatsu - seems to be doing a stirling job with this oversized rib. By comparison a modern 12 should be a doddle
I once towed a Wayfarer behind a Hilman Imp. Starting was ok providing I was patient. Stopping however required both feet on the brake peddle. Modern cars will be no problem.
It is not the towing that will be the problem I have never looked at an A2 but I cannt help thinking that you will have problems stowing the whole family camping and sailing gear in it for a weekend away. Just for the record while my hona 1.4 petrol civic had no problems pulling my 12 (It pulled much heavier loads of firewood) the fuel consumption went through the floor. Now with 1.9 desil skoda I notice little difference in consumption. I also think a lot depends on how much towing you intend doing. with a heavier bigger engined car you will probably do a lot less gear changing making it less tiring to drive. Not important if you are just knocking around localy but it can make a big difference when you have a 2-300 mile drive on a friday night.
As for funny car stories I once spent a weekend driving around the west coast in a mini van with vertually no brakes and 2and a half gears (4th was intermitent). One of the missing gears was reverse, quite important on single track roads when your brakes are none existant. Reversing was acheived by us both opening are doors and pushing with one foot. Worked fine on the flat. And I wasn't even a student:o
I have seen an old picture of the Wood family turning up to a Trent Valley open, probably in the 70's towing with a motorcycle, and the wife and kids in the side car. 12's are so light, its just like having an extra passenger. Managed to get from Porter Brothers to Tenby, via the Wilson trophy towing a Lark, with 3 passengers loaded up for a weeks sailing in a 1.1 fiesta in the 90's. Even got pulled for doing 50 through a small Welsh village at midnight, he let us off when I told the copper it took so long to get to that speed we darn't slow down. The Brakes were never quite the same after that trip. A 1.4 should do the trick easily, any extra kit can go in the boat if necesary.
AndyMck
I used to tow my 12 on a very heavy trailer with a 2CV that 0.62L and that had no trouble!
Simon.
Go for a Mini Van !!
Once towed a Fireball with mine whilst having another and both masts on the roof. Went by ferry to France on the trip to Hyers.
Drove for about 2 days, got out the car at the club, tripped and broke my leg.
Had negligible money, no insurance etc etc so had to be strapped up as best as possible and drive back eating asprin . Got to Dover and passed out so some ferry bloke had to unload the car/ boat for me. They didnt bill me which was lucky. As said " Students eh !"
In support of Mini's I did the Whitstable Burton in about 71 in an 850 mini with 4 people in it and no problems except we had to travel at night to help with the overheating. No problem with any modern car I would have thought as long as you can get the gear in.
On the subject of small cars, I've found it a little difficult to tow mine behind my bugatti veyron, tends to get airborne over 160mph, any ideas how to stop this happening?
Chop it in for a Ferrari, the Foolish tows just fine on the back of mine (in my dreams!!!!!)
You could always try reversing, but remember that the steering is back to front with the trailer on doing this.
;D
As I see it the problem with probably most small cars & a 12 is the width, or lack of, in the car. The lack of length will be useful for that shortish gap, but then you will be well used to judging distances, just remember not to claim "starboard" or "water", the chances are the other driver won't respond fast enough !
Watch the mast at the front, traffic wardens don't appreciate the mast passing their heads when you (stop?) infront of them. Best to tow in a convertible, the front of the mast is so low it is about a nasty height & they definitely don't like that.
I use my old convertible TR6 http://www.tr-register.co.uk/tr6.htm (http://www.tr-register.co.uk/tr6.htm) for towing & don't notice the boat until I look in the mirror. But then with a "6" you don't bother with the mirror, you've passed them anyway. As the "6" is only about 4 1/2 feet wide you learn to judge overtaking widths, length isn't important - at that speed distance is all relative (I think that's Einstein). Duncan
Small car or large car.
I have had a 51 plate Rover 75 estate diesel for 4 years. 40mpg no problem towing my old Merlins or Firefly, plenty of length inside for sails all rolled up not folded plus the foils so no problem with stuff bumping about. Great for long journies - I attend the CVRDA events coming from Aberdeen to Thames or Frensham and am as fresh at the end of the trip as at the start. Get the BMW diesel engine (chain timing NOT belt) and mine has 108000 on the clock so good for the same again - I saw one advertised ex taxi with 423000 on the clock for £1500!! pick them up for buttons although beginning to compete with scrap merchants who want to sell the bits. I have had no problems getting spares.