www.iFourWinns.com

Dont freak out guys!. The Aussie CX9 towing capacity is rated at 2000kg (4400 pounds) and my boat and trailer have been weighed at 1970kg (4334 pounds) DRY, so yes. with a full tank of fuel and some gear, it is going a little over , but most of my trips to the ramp are only 1 km each way.
However, I did go to Grafton in October and that was 280km each way but I left the boat empty and all our gear was taken by a friend with a big trailer, the CX9 towed up and down hills with absolute ease, in fact on the highway I was sitting on 130kmh which is over 80 mph!

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H210SS - Mercruiser 5.7 - 300hp
Mazda CX9

Thanks for the tip on the Plasticote Clarke.

Re shifting the boat back a few inches, I was thinking of making a bolt-on type bracket for the front roller on mine rather than welding it. This way you could have a couple of shots at it to get it right. I think the bunks will be OK and not need any changes for just a couple of inches.

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Alec

2006 Horizon 190
VP 4.3GL/SX, Sunsport

Hey Clarko,
Thats old school dude, 130km/hr towing keep up the good work.... , all i can say is if the CX9 (truck of the year in the USA last year) cant handle the H210 then it is not TRUCK of the year hey!!

Awesome Boat 2.. and now i can trade in the Jag for a CX9 without worrying who's car we take. I am so sick of my Nissan Patrol.

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2008, H210, Volvo Penta 5.7ltr, 300hp, SX Drive

I checked and your absolutelly right, my Canadian CX9 , which is only rated for 3,500 pounds (with otherwise exactly the same specs as the Aussie CX9), would seemingly gain 900 pounds of towing capacity by moving to Australia. It probably has something to do with gravity working differently when the car is upside down.

I now have a choice; change my car or move to Australia.

Joking aside, you could probably also look a a ball mount with more rise this will give you more clearance at the boat ramp and prevent your spare from hitting speed bumps. Depending on how you hitch receiver is installed you can probably get up to 7" of rise and still be able to open your rear hatch.

Ball Height on the car seems fine, but when the FW trailers come to Australia they have to be modified by an Australian trailer company (Swiftco) and have an Aussie compliance plate put on them before they are legal here!
I'm told that they even have to cut and weld the axles to pull the wheels in narrower to be legal, but the tow hitch is taken off an modified to suit our type tow ball, as pictures below will show it is a pretty dodgy looking set up.
Straight away it loses a fair bit of height and in my opinion looks very weak as far as the thin metel brackets used.

I'm thinking seriously about getting this redone to my satisfaction in away that will be stronger and lift the drawbar higher at the same time.

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H210SS - Mercruiser 5.7 - 300hp
Mazda CX9

I know you dont really have any say in the matter since its the laws that make you change it like that, but that HARDLY looks as safe as it came from the factory....and to top it off...it looks like crap! Sorry man...dont want to piss in your cereal, but that sucks!

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Current Boat:
2004 Sea Ray 320 Sundancer "Nauti Luvin'"

Previous Boats:
1999 298 Vista "Seas The Day"
2008 H200SS "Nauti Luv"
2006 Tahoe Q4

Gidday Clarke
That looks a bit suss to me , I am not sure how the brakes on the trailer would work with that set up. The only thing that they changed on the trailer for my H180 was the lights and the way the brake lines were attached (I think). They didn't need to cut the axle but my set up is within acceptable width, yours may differ being a bigger craft.

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Ardy
Adelaide South Australia
Red H180 3.0 Merc

Trailer has great brakes, they are the electric/hydraulic 4 wheel discs.

But the more I look at this tow hitch, the more I realise I have to change it

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H210SS - Mercruiser 5.7 - 300hp
Mazda CX9

Apart from the fact that it would level the trailer better the hitch setup ( although somewhat agricultural) certainly looks strong enough

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Ardy
Adelaide South Australia
Red H180 3.0 Merc

Trailer laws in Oz are "interesting" to say the least.

* Once the total weight exceeds 2000kg, then override hydraulic brakes are unacceptable and have to be replaced with electric or similar.
* Maximum trailer width is 2.5 metres (8ft). Wider than this and you need a permit to tow it. Wider than 3 metres and you need an escort vehicle.

Three ways around this -

* the boat dealer turns a 'blind eye' to the problem and registers the trailer as it comes from FW (some do!)
* they 'kludge' the trailer as yours has been done
* you buy a boat that just fits within the regulations like my H190... A method in my madness - weighs in at 1995kg and 2.45m wide.

I've got to admit Clarko the rework of the coupling is a bit agricultural and certainly not how I would have done it, but then again you have to do what you need to do to get it registered in each state... obviously that is what needs to be done where you are in Queensland.

Seems like you need to change your Hayman Reece coupling to one that gives an additional 4" of lift by the looks of it. Lots of different types available - go to the Hayman Reece website http://www.haymanreese.com.au and have a look at their weight distrubtion hitches under 'Products'. I have used these for years towing racecars around the country with no problems whatsoever. They work great.

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Alec

2006 Horizon 190
VP 4.3GL/SX, Sunsport

My boat is 2.59m wide and I have it and the trailer registered in NSW as my home is at Tweed Heads, just south of the Border. However, the trailer was altered by Swiftco in QLD, and yes it looks crapp at the hitch, so I WILL be changing it to gain some height, appearance and strength.

My SUV towball is 530mm high, which should be heaps, so trailer first and then see what happens.

Thanks for your input, Cheers Clarke!

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H210SS - Mercruiser 5.7 - 300hp
Mazda CX9

Hmmm, My H210 is registered in QLD, due to the weight the hydraulic brakes are fine.

I agree the width is 2590mm which is 90mm over the limit of 2500.

This can legally be registered. the "Prime Mover" is required to carry a permit to tow an "oversize load" The police permit for the "Prime Mover" will state the requirements This permit is free from your local traffic department and if the local issuing officer is a good guy he will make it for the duration that you own the vehicle.

I have to display oversize signs front & rear, i also have to have a rotating orange warning light. "this is not a problem for me due to my work requirements i am required to have a flashing light anyway..."

All of that aside, i don't do it....

I am so sorry that a dealer butchered your trailer and they should be shot for doing that!!!

Any how... lets talk about your boat dude, your trailer and CX9 have been through enough..

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2008, H210, Volvo Penta 5.7ltr, 300hp, SX Drive

That sounds like a good idea

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Ardy
Adelaide South Australia
Red H180 3.0 Merc

I'll have to take some fresh photo's of my boat, as I received some tower racks for Xmas.

I have "Monster " racks on both sides of my tower with a Wakeboard rack on one side and a ski rack on the other.

I find the Monster racks really good as the ski rack is one of not many that actually fits 2 slalom skis on it, and both racks have a quick release which I need, so I can remove them when I fold my wake arch down to get in the carport (boatport rather).

Check em out here>http://www.monstertower.com.au/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=77

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H210SS - Mercruiser 5.7 - 300hp
Mazda CX9

Clarko,
What type of tower is that? I have been looking for a collapsible one angled forward.

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Brian
2006 Horizon 220
350mpi Mercruiser
Jeep Grand Cherokee V8