FAQ: TOWING A HOLIDAY 23, COSTS, ETC.

This page last updated 7th January 2010

17th January 2010

Thanks to Derek Robinson for these pictures and information.

The axle and braking system were a complete package from Burquip in Pinetown. The brakes are not hydraulic it mechanical and works with rods and levers and have double brake pads like a car and he is very satisfied with the braking capability.

1) If you are going into Mozambique carry a spare set of inner and outer bearings for all wheels.

2) The only time we have lost a bearing is on the way home.

3) Never launch your boat immediately on arrival, always allow the bearings time to cool off before putting the trailer into the water.

4) I was advised by the ski boat fraternity to use as bigger tyre as possible. I use 215/75R15 tyres and if going to launch off a beach I try and get 245/75R15 tyres.

5) Make sure that you have the correct tools for the job, it makes life so much easier at 18H00 in the middle of the bush. I don’t rely on a scissors jack. The height that the trailer must be lifted, in order for the fitting of an inflated tyre, is beyond the range of most jacks and a small hydraulic jack is far safer.

I hope you can make out the supplier of the axles. If not, please let me know. The specs are per axle and I have 2 axles

Regards.

Derek.

————————————————-All the years I make a habit of checking my bearings before a long (>500km) trip – it takes half an hour per wheel and I use Waterproof grease. My wheels are 14″ 5 hole 110mm PCD on 185R x 14 tyres (every taxi in SA uses this size)Some tips.

• If you put your trailer in water (especially sea water) – immediately go for a drive and break hard a few times so that the brakes on the trailer work hard and boil off any water.
• Make sure your trailer brakes work well.
• Try and remember to carry a spare set of bearings and tools.(never needed it when I have it with me but once had to crawl home because I did not – Murphy’s Law)
• NEVER TRAVEL WITH THE BOLT IN THE KEEL —- THE KEEL MUST BE FREE TO REST ON THE TRAILER CHASSIS.

 Regards
Ray van Rensburg

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7th January 2010

I have attached an excel spreadsheet with fuel consumption stats for the trip. 

It is amazing how little extra it cost to tow Merlot around. 

The trip PMB – Cape Town is about 2.5 hrs longer and only R 400.00 extra each way. 

If you think what accommodation costs, the savings are big, never mind the pleasure of sailing different destinations. 

Makes one wonder why we don’t see more H23’s on the road. 

Regards, 

Sean Lumley

TOWING VEHICLE JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE AUTOMATIC (3 LITER TURBO DIESEL)

Consumption Statistics
			Kms	Litres		Kms/l	L/100km
Date	Station	Kms	Travelled	Used	Cost	Consumption	Consumption	Notes
19/11/2009	Cascades PMB	85653
20/11/2009	Shell Montrose	85853	200	32.74	R    248.80	6.11	16.37	Climb up from PMB over Van Reenens Pass.
	Bloem 1 Stop	86202	349	48.33	R    372.60	7.22	13.85	Van Reenens to Bloem, slight tail wind.
21/11/2009	Shell 3 Sisters	86665	463	71.25	R    545.05	6.50	15.39	Bloem to 3 sisters incl stop at Hannover.
	Shell Paarl	87136	471	75.5	R    555.70	6.24	16.03	3 Sisters to Paarl, Headwind from Lainsburg to Paarl
27/11/2009	MKB Laaiplek	87735	599	75.26	R    539.65	7.96	12.56	Paarl to Port Owen + driving around west coast.
3/12/2009	BP Wine Route	88246	511	74.9	R    570.00	6.82	14.66	Port Owen to GBYC + Driving Around.
3/12/2009	Shell 3 Sisters	88726	480	60.26	R    476.65	7.97	12.55	Return trip no trailer, travel faster.
3/12/2009	Bloem 1 Stop	89187	461	47.35	R    376.90	9.74	10.27	Return trip no trailer, travel faster.
5/12/2009	Cascades PMB	89756	569	74.14	R    570.89	7.67	13.03	Return trip no trailer, travel faster.
Totals			4103	559.73	R 4,256.24	7.33	13.64
Towing Consumption		1483	227.82	R 1,722.15	6.51	15.36	Speed 90km/h to 110km/h with over take up to 140 kmh
Ordinary Consumption		1510	181.75	R 1,424.44	8.31	12.04	Speed 120km/h +
Conclusion	Extra cost to tow Holiday 23 1500kms	R       397.08
		ie +/- 3 litres per 100kms extra.