www.iFourWinns.com

Just a little update...

I put the boat & trailer on a weight bridge this evening and came up with the follwing weights:

Boat + trailer - detatched from tow vehicle (boat/ trailer only) = 1680kg
Boat + trailer - attached to tow vehicle (tow vehicle not on weigh bridge) = 1560kg.

Given my Four Winns (Sure Load) trailer is only rated to 1696kg (ATM), this really limits what gear I can safely carry on board!
Can one of my USA mates please tell me what it written on their Sure Load trailer's rating plate, from a similar vintage Horizon RS 180?

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2011 Four Winns H180 SS.
Aussie built Mustang 2800.
SOLD - 1997 Four Winns Horizon RS

Can't help on the trailer but the way you can tell is pretty simple:
Look at the tires (Max load capacity in lbs, just convert to kg)
Look at the hub; 5 lugs=3500 lb capacity axle, 6 lugs=5200 lb capacity. Springs, 4 leafs=3500 total lbs, 5 leafs=5000lbs. If I had to guess, you probably have 5 lug hubs, 4 leaf springs and a 3500 lb axle. ST 215/75-14 tires each rated at 1870 lbs. So yes you are just under the weight limit if all this is right. Tell us what you have.

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88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II

Here is what my owners manual states for my 2001 FW180, 4.3. Boat - 2480kg, trailer 360kg. The trailer has the 5200 lb. axle. I suspect that the boat weight is dry so you would need to add for fuel. With a 32 gallon tank, full fuel would add 192 lb. of additional weight alone. Given that most people tow with various water toys, lifejackets etc. in the boat as well it adds more weight. I agree that it depends a lot on where you plan to tow the boat. My hauls frequently involve towing through the Rocky Mountains so I prefer to err on the side of overkill. Transmissions tend to be a more important consideration. Generally, with lighter vehicles the tow ratings are higher for automatic transmissions. This is because the weak link in these vehicles is the clutch. With that said, automatics tend to run hotter as they work harder. That is why a larger transmission cooler is recommended. My tow vehicle is equipped with a tow package which also provides a transmission temperature reading on the DIC, and is rated well in excess of the FW boat/trailer weight. It is amazing how much transmission temps change between level, uphill and downhill situations. IMO, overkill is never wasted when it comes to towing - from time to time I might have to pass another vehicle when going uphill. The concern seems to be whether there is enough horsepower to tow the trailer (fact is you can tow the boat/trailer combo on a flat surface with a golf cart). Depends on how fast you want to go and whether you can do it safely. My biggest concern would be the transmission (which can cost as much as an engine) when towing.

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2001 Horizon 180LE 4.3 VP SX
2008 GMC 1500 6.0L Z71

Regardless of the minutia...

1) Towing close to or at the limit is OK but definitely not recommended for long term health of the vehicle or your own comfort while towing.

2) Towing over the capacity (regardless of what at least one post in this thread says) is terrible for your vehicle, deadly to others on the road, and if anything bad happens and it's determined you were towing over the capacity, one good lawyer can sink you for life.

Those who know, try not to exceed about 75% of their vehicle's rated capacity - for good reason.

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Mike
2005 Four Winns 230/240
VP 5.7GXi/DP
1998 F-150 XLT
Boat Pic