Towing Trailers

[sibeymai]

I've seen very few cars towing trailers of any description in Thailand. I'm thinking of towing a small boat but i have a concern regading Thai driving habits.

Most Thais will not have experienced a car towing a trailer and I'm worried that someone may try to cut across behind me without expecting a trailer to be there (hard to see as they are quite low)......scratch one boat and trailer.

Is my fear about this justified ? I just feel that someone taking the trailer out is inevitable so should I just forget about doing this ?

[Berty]

I've got a bike trailer for my bike/s, keep a few reds handy for the Boys in Brown. Drive slow and you should be ok.

[steveromagnino]

I've seen very few cars towing trailers of any description in Thailand. I'm thinking of towing a small boat but i have a concern regading Thai driving habits.

Most Thais will not have experienced a car towing a trailer and I'm worried that someone may try to cut across behind me without expecting a trailer to be there (hard to see as they are quite low)......scratch one boat and trailer.

Is my fear about this justified ? I just feel that someone taking the trailer out is inevitable so should I just forget about doing this ?

I just drove my boat from Pattaya to Phuket and then back to BKK.

For this one trip, Thai drivers were as good as/better than New Zealanders regarding trailer manners as far as I could tell; gave me lots of room and didn't try stupid things (we've already trashed a boat before after being cut off towing a boat in NZ).

You should theoretically register the trailer; however in practise if the trailer wasn't built here and the load is less than 1000kg then the motor vehicle registration dept will tell you not to bother. It will definitely need lights but brakes below 1000kg are probably overkill except in monsoon/rainy season.

Cops were fine, but I used some personal connections to ensure that I had a name to refer them to when stopped, and I was stopped probably 5 times each way same same as the trucks. Also having some sort of paperwork including: insurance for the contents on the trailer; car registration; and in my case a letter from the race committee of the yacht race I was going to, asking for passage.

No money paid anywhere; if you have your paperwork, it isn't an issue. note that my trailer was not registered as I imported the boat and trailer from overseas. If locally built, then the trailer would have had to be registered when built. An odd loophole; come next year when i drive down again, it will be on a locally built trailer.

PM me if you want to know where to do the tow bar etc.

[jumnien]

stevero,

I'd love to know where you got the towbar setup installed. I am thinking of importing a 20 - 24' deckboat or cuddy cabin motorboat and appreciate your experience with trailering in Thailand. What kind of sailboat do you have? How long? How heavy? Beam?

Thanks.

[steveromagnino]

stevero,

I'd love to know where you got the towbar setup installed. I am thinking of importing a 20 - 24' deckboat or cuddy cabin motorboat and appreciate your experience with trailering in Thailand. What kind of sailboat do you have? How long? How heavy? Beam?

Thanks.

ah yes, you will be bringing over a boat VERY similar to someone who has just brought over a yacht in that length; he bought it over trailer and all.

My boat is a pretty full on sport boat:

6.5m long, and 2.45m wide

350kg displacement all up including 120kg bulb keel.

Upwind sail area of about 28sq m; downwind gennaker of 60m2 (!)

No winches, 2HP outboard on the back; 1.75m draft with a liftable keel; trailer no brakes

I bought a towbar from a guy out in Ram Intra, right near where the motorway passes over the top just before you get to Central Fashion Island. It is one of the last sois on the left hand side as you drive out but before you reach the various bridges and stuff above. I think it was about 5000b for a bumper with the tow bar built into it and my brother wired the towbar up for me. Thaitrailer.com quoted me 8000b for a custom made towbar including wiring for the trailer.

Because I imported my boat with the trailer, I actually don't have registration for it, but not to worry as one of my crew is the son of someone associated with sailing plus I know some policemen who were able to issue me with paperwork to make temporary trips. The boat is insured with the car. The trailer is in a legal 'grey area' as the ministry don't want to deal with such a tiny trailer; typically this type of trailer would not be registered and just used for small distance (similar to the tiny motorcycles).

For importing a boat, expect to incur the following costs:

- container and shipping fee (much cheaper than a flatbed freight)

- freight forwarding

- 7% VAT + 1% duty

- a charge of similar magnitude to the VAT/duty to cover inspection charges, overtime, etc

- a delivery fee for the container to somewhere you can unload it, and possibly some forklift charge to put the container on the ground

Where are you bringing the boat in from? I need to import a new carbon mast or two, might be willing to share the container and some of the cost (plus can supply advice :-)

[jumnien]

I am looking at a new or slightly used Sea Ray or Crownline or ? I am returning for the holidays to Los Angeles and will look in the Newport Beach area.