pre-buying help for a newbie please

Hello all!

As a ‘yet to take the plunge’ newbie to the Jimny world I was wondering if you could clear up an element of confusion I have?

I am looking to purchase a Jimny to tow my other half’s jet-ski which she bought and realised we didn’t have anything to tow and launch it with (“I thought your car had a tow bar… ”). She and I are now quite keen on getting a Jimny and it’ll only be used as a tow vehicle and as an occasional winter hack. Well that’s the plan for now anyway!

My question, I am sure you can guess it already, is surrounding towing with the Jimny.

The jet-ski weighs the best part of 350kg’s and the trailer, which is unbraked, is around the 140kg mark. Add 30kg of fuel that might be on board and we are looking at the best part of 520kg. I have done some research which states that the Jimny is more than capable of towing much heavier loads than this but I have also found information that states that the maximum unbraked towing capacity is 350kg. I also note that in one of the topics on this forum users remark that they tow small caravans and a member stated that the those weights are the maximum recommended by Suzuki. I’ve also read that if the trailer has no brakes it can weigh up to a maximum of 750kg gross trailer weight or half the towing vehicle's kerb weight (so 710kg in a Jimny’s case according to Autotrader weights) - whichever is less. I’ve also seen a copy of someone’s V5 (online) which states 350kg unbraked (not sure of relevance). So I am now right royally confused and here comes the question… If I buy one and am merrily towing the jet-ski along a public road and get pulled over and escorted to a weigh-bridge, do I fall foul of the law (or void my insurance should the worst happen) for towing a 520kg unbraked trailer with a Jimny?

Thanks in advance for any help

Hand book say 350Kg un-braked
1300Kb braked
So its get a Jimny and change your trailer to a braked one or find another tow truck.

jimkyx wrote: Hand book say 350Kg un-braked
1300Kb braked
So its get a Jimny and change your trailer to a braked one or find another tow truck.

+1



Mine can hardly pull itself so apart from a weeny trailer to go to the tip with I wouldn't tow anything.

Thanks both for your replies.

Just to clarify, the 350kg un-braked handbook stated weight, is that then also the legal limit for the Jimny too?

thanks,
P

I know where your coming from! A compact Jimny towing a jet-ski would really compliment each other and look the biz.

I don't think the legal issue is anything to do with it. It is about the weight of the tow truck, the wheel base and axle width and finally and most important the brake effectiveness and setup.

I was talking to a guy with a pre ABS Jimny and trailer and he said he had to watch out for the back end of the Jimny stepping out under braking in the wet. His answer was to shove it into four wheel drive when towing in the wet !!!!!!

For what its worth I would keep my Jimny and get braked hubs fitted to the trailer all painted in matching colours of course.

Yes if the vehicle is booked at 350kg unbracked then that is all it can legally tow evan tho it will propbely pull much more I would say get a bracked trailer then there is no issues with the old bill

Thanks very much for all your help and information; it's greatly appreciated! Bit scary to read of the tail wagging the dog phenomenon you talk about jimkyx.

I still want to pursue the Jimny option so I'm off to find out some info on braked hubs for the trailer. If I can get it all sorted for an economical cost, I'll post some pictures up of the 'mini-rig'!

Could make for an interesting logistical challenge to change the hubs on a jetski trailer… if I could put the jetski in the water to reduce the weight of the trailer and lower C.O.G then the task would be a whole lot easier. Now, how do I get it to the water?

Thanks again and all the best,
P

If you watched Top Gear this week, you now know that the best towing vehicle is a Mazda CX-5.

The 175PS 4wd version does 55mpg, costs £125 to tax and will tow 2tons braked, so should cope nicely with the jetski.

You may have to wait for one as all the Caravanists will now be getting one.

I've been towing my Swordfish around behind my Jimny, on trips as long as 5,000 kilometres, for many years. Your Jimny will tow a Jetski without any hassles at all.

Click on Pic to enlarge.

Thanks for the further replies.

ZookFastback wrote: I've been towing my Swordfish around behind my Jimny, on trips as long as 5,000 kilometres, for many years. Your Jimny will tow a Jetski without any hassles at all.

I notice that you aren't in the UK though and whilst I don't deny that the Jimny is capable of towing the jetski, my question was whether it is legal to do it here or not (with an unbraked trailer). Your Swordfish looks a lot of fun though. What sort of weight is it and have you encountered any problems towing it?

facade wrote: If you watched Top Gear this week, you now know that the best towing vehicle is a Mazda CX-5.

The 175PS 4wd version does 55mpg, costs £125 to tax and will tow 2tons braked, so should cope nicely with the jetski.

You may have to wait for one as all the Caravanists will now be getting one.

Haha, fantastic! Unfortunately it is ruled out for about 20,000 reasons; my budget just won’t stretch that far. And besides, I don't want to wait in line for one

As a side note, braked hubs aren't cheap are they!

I thought the best thing for towing a caravan is a breakers claw.

Hi Pickle. In Australia, towing is subject to the conditions of ADR 1989 (Towing) which states the weights are as described in the Owners handbook or, where not specified, 1.5 times the vehicles mass. The Jimny Manual here says 350kgs unbraked, 550 braked.

www.campertrailers.org/towing_regulations.htm

My Swordfish with 25 hp Suzuki 2stroke outboard and trailer weigh 265 kgs with 16 hours fuel on board. I always use a "Levelrider/anti-sway bar" and have never experienced any problems.