4X4 - Advice for towing a boat.

[MoNk]

Thanks for the help everyone. Great forum here.
Kinda looks like my little farm bike idea is out the window Could have been so much fun on the roads out there.
Will see what we can find on the Coast in the way of a tractor I think.

[desmo dave]

There is allways the cheap subaru or lada option for bugger all $$$$$

[cooneyr]

I use to tow up to 5 dead sheep on a slead made out of two posts and boards behind a Suzuki 250 2wd. The lack of diff and low ratio made it possible but was rough on the bike. Would seriously stuggle up any hill or in the mud due to lack of traction.

Even if you could climb the ramp or gravel driveway (which a 4x4 version might) I would be worried about it buggering off into the drink during launching. I think the problem is that they have such low ground pressure - good for soft paddocks that on a hard loose surface they just dont grip.

A Fergison TEA with a vangard petrol motor would be perfect - nice and small etc. There are other small Jap or Chinese 4x4 tractors that are not much bigger than a four wheeler that might work? These are probably more expensive than an old TEA or Fergison 35 though. Heaps of options on Tardme.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Business-fa...p-37713895.htm

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Business-fa...p-38154249.htm

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Business-fa...p-34193875.htm
Cheers R

[MoNk]

Your first line nearly put me off :P
Launching wouldnt really be a problem as I drive the boat off the trailer rather than submerge the car when I launch it. But the driveway is a big issue, especially when it's dry.
Quite expensive those links...I think i'll just have to wait until the right tractor comes along, or find one at an auction.
Thanks cooneyr.

[Macktheknife]

Go with a small tractor, so much better for the job.

[cooneyr]

Your first line nearly put me off :P...

Well this will put you off then - legs pulling out of sheep while trying to get them onto the sled, make you want to vomit smells from bloated due to decomposing intestines when they got squashed by another sheep and maggots for Africa.

All when I was between 10 and 13! Good training for rugger though as the sheep were about half my weight.

Have a nice day

Cheers R

[xxblackbirdxx]

First of all I have 0 knowledge when it comes to ATV/4x4's.
I have only ever ridden one once on a trek in the Nelson region (heaps of fun).

The main reason we need it is for is to tow a boat (12-13 footer I think, 90hp Mercury outboard) on a trailer up and down a driveway that is - at a guess - 30 degrees angle, gravel (kinda slippery when dry) for about 6-8m. The rest of the drive to the water is tarmac, and launching the boat is done on a nice sealed launch ramp. So the only issue is the driveway.
It will be left at our bach and used every fortnight maximum.

It might be used by my dad/uncle for fishing and hunting as well, so maybe a bit of storage could be needed, as well of fuel capacity.

Anybody got some suggestions for some forums or websites with advice on this topic? Not having much luck searching through google and trademe.
Some trademe examples would be nice
I think i'll be buying secondhand, and sub 4k, hopefully.

If I don't get a 4x4 I might end up with a tractor Which can't be much fun.

edit: When I say ATV/4x4 I mean farm bike type things.

What you need is a 4WD ATV(Farm. Check the kawasaki website for 4WD farm Quads. These things are grunty and the 4WD makes a huge difference when you need to tow stuff. These things are grunty enough to tow your Mother in law if needed

[xxblackbirdxx]

What you need is a 4WD ATV(Farm. Check the kawasaki website for 4WD farm Quads. These things are grunty and the 4WD makes a huge difference when you need to tow stuff. These things are grunty enough to tow your Mother in law if needed

No Offence Mate