Hellos, and a dingy question.

Hi Anand and welcome to the forum and 4WDing.
Roof top boats are very much a compromise (as all boats are). I carry a 3.5M Stacer on my Hilux. Although it is rated to carry 3 people (@ 75KG) it is really only a 2 person boat for practical use.

You and 3 mates would need a bigger boat, but you probably can't go much bigger than 3.7M and carry it on you GQ (and more than 3 people would be a crowd). Some people carry 3.9s, but that is pushing it for size and weight. You would need to check, but your GQ is probably rated to carry 100KG on the roof. My 3.5M weighs 76 KG. Allowing for your roof racks, you probably can't go past about 80KG of boat, which would be around 3.7M, depending on boat design.

To push the boat along with 2 or more people, you will need a 15HP motor. Anything smaller won't do the job (on the plane). The Mercury is the lightest of the 15s at 35KG. The Yamaha is next at 36KG.

As for carrying, I suggest you put your rear bar on the roof as far back as possible and mount some rollers on it. This makes loading and unloading much easier. I get my boat on and off the Hilux by myself. Click on my rig profile below and you will see some pics of my set up.

Up to you on the 'case or 3'. Boats, mates and beer don't mix well. But that's your decision.

As for tyre pressure, you might try the web site of the maker of your tyres. As a guide, I run the Cooper STs on my Hilux at 38 PSI all round, but increase the rear when loaded. As high as 48 PSI when fully loaded.

For a roof topper 2 in a boat is enough. Your mates may have to buy a roof topper as well. If not you will need to go to about a 4.2 mtr boat on a trailer to accomadate all on the boat.
38 psi as a std is what i run in my coopers for general driving.

Cheers Tim

I don't know anything on boats apart from kayaks Anand so I won't comment.

I would think Norm's tyre pressures high though. Tripping on bitumen at up to 40 loaded, 28 on dirt and gravel, High Country stones and tracks 24 and lower, sand down to 16 and lower for soft sand. Perhaps the rear 3-4 psi higher if you have a load on the back.

It was interesting that when the National meeting at Birdsville last year were playing up on Big Red, there was a group that had just crossed the Simpson and were getting bogged in many places. We heard them on Channel 10 as you would and asked their pressures. When we suggested they drop them, they retorted they had got so far to then so weren't going to drop them. First to charge Big Red bogged 1/3 the way up and later suggested dropping to 18 psi.

One guy I talked to later didn't get over Big Red and bearing in mind he had been on easy damp sand, had driven on the dealers road reccommendation of 40 psi front and 50 psi rear. They hadn't driven much outside the city previously.

On dirt, sand and gravel the grip is far better for forward and directional control with a longer tyre footprint. You will stay on top of the sand too. Can take it down to 12 psi as long as you don't try to wrench the steering wheel and run a tyre off the wheel. Some have run tyres below that as I have with my fronts.

Newbie,

Get somebody experienced with High Lift jacks to show you how to operate them. They can be quite dangerous if you don't know what your doing.

Finally, grog and small boats don't mix.

Regards

Kim

if you love fishing and more than 2 people buy a tinny with a trailer. time spent taking off the roof, fitting motor, comming home loading tinny, storing motor. PAIN in the A#$@. unless you are a highly organised person with a camper trailer. better to rough it in a swag....take a bigger boat and have more fun doing what you like...fishing in as bigger boat that fists the bill!!!

robin
041204168

Anand,

Hills boy aye, here's trouble!!

It is well worth joining a 4wd club and go on a few trips with guys of all walks of life. You'll get to see more 4wd accessories than you'd know what to do with. Guys with std trucks, others with more money in trucks than in property. Then you can look at your circumstances and what you intend doing with the GQ, based on your experience level, buy what you need. E.g. Hi Lift jack may not be the first thing on your list if you don't know how to use one, don't know when to use one or don't know where to use one. If you were intending on beach driving you'd find an air compressor, tyre gauge and tyre deflates much more valuable.

Good luck and don't be afraid to ask the forum for advise. Everyone here shares a common interest and is only more than happy to help.

Alex

Anand ,
Put the POST 40069 into the search facility above and look at the replies . They say it all very well .
Willie.

4wdnewbie
My 4.2 Explorer with a 1.8 m beam is only rated for 4 . As Norm said water and booze are a dangerous combination. Have a couple at the end of the day . A good option is a large Canadian canoe for rivers and sheltered waters. Myself , wife and our 11 year old fish out of ours
Goodluck Pete