Getting ready

[Geoff]

Or at least thinking about it. Not quite sure if this thread should be here or in Humour section. I am rubbish at reversing the car with a trailer (I avoid doing it). In the past I have  fitted a 50mm tow ball directly onto the front bumper of my 4wd tow cars - Dihatsu, Land Rover and ARO (Auto Dacia Romania, over here now known as Dacia). As I am reasonably - optimistically? confident that I shall float my "Fenliner" this year, this morning I ordered a "pushbar" from Watling engineers for my RR sport. I have ordered it to be made with a central rather than an offcentre removable ball fitting. It should be here in about 7 days. Geoff.

[Saintly Fish]

4 minutes ago, Geoff said:

Or at least thinking about it. Not quite sure if this thread should be here or in Humour section. I am rubbish at reversing the car with a trailer (I avoid doing it). In the past I have  fitted a 50mm tow ball directly onto the front bumper of my 4wd tow cars - Dihatsu, Land Rover and ARO (Auto Dacia Romania, over here now known as Dacia). As I am reasonably - optimistically? confident that I shall float my "Fenliner" this year, this morning I ordered a "pushbar" from Watling engineers for my RR sport. I have ordered it to be made with a central rather than an offcentre removable ball fitting. It should be here in about 7 days. Geoff.

Excellent news Geoff. So we will see you at the boat meet ?? 👍🏻

@captin slows old outlaw had better get his finger out now. 

[Geoff]

23 minutes ago, Saintly Fish said:

Excellent news Geoff. So we will see you at the boat meet ?

 

Fingers crossed. Geoff. ☺️

[GPSguru]

1 hour ago, Geoff said:

Or at least thinking about it. Not quite sure if this thread should be here or in Humour section. I am rubbish at reversing the car with a trailer (I avoid doing it). In the past I have  fitted a 50mm tow ball directly onto the front bumper of my 4wd tow cars - Dihatsu, Land Rover and ARO (Auto Dacia Romania, over here now known as Dacia). As I am reasonably - optimistically? confident that I shall float my "Fenliner" this year, this morning I ordered a "pushbar" from Watling engineers for my RR sport. I have ordered it to be made with a central rather than an offcentre removable ball fitting. It should be here in about 7 days. Geoff.

 

I have driven with trailers nearly all my life so, I have no issue reversing, but I know that a lot of folk do ....... the best advice I can give is reverse only on your mirrors and slow is the key. My son, (kyles dad) is also good with trailers, but he also has a licence that allows him to drive fuel tankers and some very specialist  other stuff. These days he doesn't use that much as he is a government HGV vehicle inspector.

I really hope you get Fenliner in the water this year, I am looking forward to that, which I guess will be the final chapter of a long journey ..........👍

 

 

 

[Geoff]

1 hour ago, GPSguru said:

 

I have driven with trailers nearly all my life so, I have no issue reversing, but I know that a lot of folk do ....... the best advice I can give is reverse only on your mirrors and slow is the key. My son, (kyles dad) is also good with trailers, but he also has a licence that allows him to drive fuel tankers and some very specialist  other stuff. These days he doesn't use that much as he is a government HGV vehicle inspector.

I really hope you get Fenliner in the water this year, I am looking forward to that, which I guess will be the final chapter of a long journey ..........👍

 

 

 

Thanks GPS. The real reason that my journey has been so slow is basically down to my own lack of commitment. I think the same thing applies to my inability to reverse with the trailer - with the pushbar it it so easy and I can see everything that is going on - that's me - the easy way out. I will also admit that I quite simply have just tooooooo many projects and not enough time!!! I may later in the year make an effort to at least try to master the basics of trailer reversing, but for launching and retrieving I will stick to the pushbar. I am truly in awe of the way some of the HGV drivers can handle their rigs, but I love hearing the "give me 40 acres" truckers song. much more my style.  Geoff. ☺️

[suzook12]

1 hour ago, Geoff said:

Thanks GPS. The real reason that my journey has been so slow is basically down to my own lack of commitment. I think the same thing applies to my inability to reverse with the trailer - with the pushbar it it so easy and I can see everything that is going on - that's me - the easy way out. I will also admit that I quite simply have just tooooooo many projects and not enough time!!! I may later in the year make an effort to at least try to master the basics of trailer reversing, but for launching and retrieving I will stick to the pushbar. I am truly in awe of the way some of the HGV drivers can handle their rigs, but I love hearing the "give me 40 acres" truckers song. much more my style.  Geoff. ☺️

I found reversing artics quite easy in comparison, it all happens so much slower with a 40ft tri-axle trailer, back when we were allowed to drive yard shunters without a licence...... I have far more trouble reversing empty trailers down the slipway than loaded ones, and when ready, will consider a ball hitch up front.... I've always used vans up til now as well, but find van handbrakes are a bit limp when it comes to holding a boat on the slipway

[GPSguru]

20 minutes ago, suzook12 said:

but find van handbrakes are a bit limp when it comes to holding a boat on the slipway

 

🤣 I know the feeling, the Jeep handbrake is shocking, tiny drums within the rear disc's, it struggles to get 20% on the MOT !

On tidal slips we always leave the engine running and choc the rear wheels ..............

 

[suzook12]

1 hour ago, GPSguru said:

 

🤣 I know the feeling, the Jeep handbrake is shocking, tiny drums within the rear disc's, it struggles to get 20% on the MOT !

On tidal slips we always leave the engine running and choc the rear wheels ..............

 

After getting wet feet, I had to leave my Dad in the drivers seat, engine running, foot hard down on footbrake..... Winching back up was worse, live n learn

[Geoff]

19 hours ago, GPSguru said:

 

 

I really hope you get Fenliner in the water this year, I am looking forward to that, which I guess will be the final chapter of a long journey ..........👍

 

 

 

Or the start of some new adventures. Geoff. ☺️

[Geoff]

Pushbar has now arrived, but we still have about 5" of snow on our uncleared drive/garden so fitting will have to wait untill that clears and weather gets a bit warmer. Geoff.