Since it is hot and sunny today, I removed the Navigloo shelter system from my Legend 16 Xcalibur Fish & Ski boat. I used it's own winch to bring the boat far enough forward to hook up to the Highlander.

Since the Highlander is new (2 months old) I wanted to find out what size drawbar I should get.
Decided to tow the rig to the nearest flat parking lot to do some measurements.
Just as I was leaving the driveway, this beautiful young lady walks in front of me eyeing the boat.
Then she smiles, looks me in the eye and says "take me".
I instantly felt guilty and almost looked over my shoulder to see if the wife was on the doorstep to watch me go.
All I could do was smile back and then went on my way.

Have to admit, I used justwait's 'secret' procedure with the mirror backing in and it went pretty good.. except for the two people who stepped right behind the boat as they walked down the sidewalk.. the idiots couldn't wait a minute for me to back all the way in. Good thing the wife was standing there directing because they approached from the other side.. not the side I was judging by.

As for the draw bar.. a drop of 1.5" seemed good until I accounted for the tongue weight pushing down the Highlanders rear end.
maybe a 1" rise or bar equal to the hitch would be better.

On Jun 1, 2:35*pm, True North wrote:
Since it is hot and sunny today, I removed the Navigloo shelter system from my Legend 16 Xcalibur Fish & Ski boat. I used it's own winch to bring the boat far enough forward to hook up to the Highlander.

Since the Highlander is new (2 months old) I wanted to find out what size drawbar I should get.
Decided to tow the rig to the nearest flat parking lot to do some measurements.
Just as I was leaving the driveway, this beautiful young lady walks in front of me eyeing the boat.
Then she smiles, looks me in the eye and says "take me".
I instantly felt guilty and almost looked over my shoulder to see if the wife was on the doorstep to watch me go.
All I could do was smile back and then went on my way.

Have to admit, I used justwait's 'secret' procedure with the mirror backing in and it went pretty good.. except for the two people who stepped right behind the boat as they walked down the sidewalk.. the idiots couldn't wait a minute for me to back all the way in. Good thing the wife was standing there directing because they approached from the other side.. not the side I was judging by.

As for the draw bar.. a drop of 1.5" seemed good until I accounted for the tongue weight pushing down the Highlanders rear end.
maybe a 1" rise *or bar equal to the hitch would be better.

When trying to tow with a Ladies SUV...these things are common place.

Stupid is as stupid does.

On 6/1/2013 2:35 PM, True North wrote:
Since it is hot and sunny today, I removed the Navigloo shelter system from my Legend 16 Xcalibur Fish & Ski boat. I used it's own winch to bring the boat far enough forward to hook up to the Highlander.

Since the Highlander is new (2 months old) I wanted to find out what size drawbar I should get.
Decided to tow the rig to the nearest flat parking lot to do some measurements.
Just as I was leaving the driveway, this beautiful young lady walks in front of me eyeing the boat.
Then she smiles, looks me in the eye and says "take me".
I instantly felt guilty and almost looked over my shoulder to see if the wife was on the doorstep to watch me go.
All I could do was smile back and then went on my way.

Have to admit, I used justwait's 'secret' procedure with the mirror backing in and it went pretty good.. except for the two people who stepped right behind the boat as they walked down the sidewalk.. the idiots couldn't wait a minute for me to back all the way in. Good thing the wife was standing there directing because they approached from the other side.. not the side I was judging by.

As for the draw bar.. a drop of 1.5" seemed good until I accounted for the tongue weight pushing down the Highlanders rear end.
maybe a 1" rise or bar equal to the hitch would be better.

What is the tongue weight?

On 6/1/2013 2:35 PM, True North wrote:
Since it is hot and sunny today, I removed the Navigloo shelter system from my Legend 16 Xcalibur Fish & Ski boat. I used it's own winch to bring the boat far enough forward to hook up to the Highlander.

Since the Highlander is new (2 months old) I wanted to find out what size drawbar I should get.
Decided to tow the rig to the nearest flat parking lot to do some measurements.
Just as I was leaving the driveway, this beautiful young lady walks in front of me eyeing the boat.
Then she smiles, looks me in the eye and says "take me".
I instantly felt guilty and almost looked over my shoulder to see if the wife was on the doorstep to watch me go.
All I could do was smile back and then went on my way.

Have to admit, I used justwait's 'secret' procedure with the mirror backing in and it went pretty good.. except for the two people who stepped right behind the boat as they walked down the sidewalk.. the idiots couldn't wait a minute for me to back all the way in. Good thing the wife was standing there directing because they approached from the other side.. not the side I was judging by.

As for the draw bar.. a drop of 1.5" seemed good until I accounted for the tongue weight pushing down the Highlanders rear end.
maybe a 1" rise or bar equal to the hitch would be better.


To be honest, it wasn't a "secret" at all, I have been having some
tunnel carpal probs and just didn't feel like typing it out that night..
Figured someone would ask and I would get into it the next day...

About 185 lbs

On 6/1/2013 4:24 PM, True North wrote:
About 185 lbs

and the trailer/ boat package weighs with fuel and gear?

Didn't I say 2000lbs?
Actually, on the way back from the dealer it was 1930 lbs. according to a highway weigh station

On 6/1/2013 5:43 PM, True North wrote:
Didn't I say 2000lbs?
Actually, on the way back from the dealer it was 1930 lbs. according to a highway weigh station

!0 to 15 % is the accepted ratio. You are a tad low. Where you place
your batteries fuel and gear might change the ratio a bit. If your
vehicle is sagging, you might try helper springs or spring shocks.

On Saturday, 1 June 2013 18:48:14 UTC-3, Hank© wrote:
On 6/1/2013 5:43 PM, True North wrote:

Didn't I say 2000lbs?

Actually, on the way back from the dealer it was 1930 lbs. according to a highway weigh station



!0 to 15 % is the accepted ratio. You are a tad low. Where you place

your batteries fuel and gear might change the ratio a bit. If your

vehicle is sagging, you might try helper springs or spring shocks.

Up here they recommend 8-12%

On 6/1/2013 6:50 PM, True North wrote:
On Saturday, 1 June 2013 18:48:14 UTC-3, Hank© wrote:
On 6/1/2013 5:43 PM, True North wrote:

Didn't I say 2000lbs?

Actually, on the way back from the dealer it was 1930 lbs. according to a highway weigh station



!0 to 15 % is the accepted ratio. You are a tad low. Where you place

your batteries fuel and gear might change the ratio a bit. If your

vehicle is sagging, you might try helper springs or spring shocks.

Up here they recommend 8-12%


I don't care. ;-)