shaneallenhenderson wrote: I have a 32'class A, but cant see out the back window. I will be pulling a 20' Bayliner to the lake with us. Not sure how this is going to work out. Maybe just pay someone $5 at the lake to launch for me. I dont think I have ever seen anyone launch with a big motorhome.Don't want to have to take my truck as well and pay for gas for 2 vehicles.Any words of wisdom?
Simple, Carry a trailer dolly with you.
This one is rated for 600lbs and I have moved 'well over' the lbs rated with it. They make higher rated dolly's but they are bulkier and weigh more. The smaller ones can be carried inside your boat.
This dolly won't pull a boat over rough terrain, but the parking lots and the boat ramps are flat and the launch is slanted which works in your favor and this dolly works just fine for launching from a flat parking lot to the launch and into the water.
"We must be willing to get rid of the life we've planned,
so as to have the life that is waiting for us".
harold1946 wrote: That would solve the issue of not being able to see the boat and trailer, but may make it difficult to see the boat ramp or the lake.
I have launched a boat with a mh hundreds of times, and many of those time was by myself. It is almost as easy launching a boat with a mh as it is with a pickup, But you have to learn to use your mirrors exclusively. A few pointers. First at the top of the ramp align the boat and mh in a straight line before starting to back down the ramp. If you have to make a turn backing try to position the rig so you can see the boat out of the drivers side mirror. Once you start backing down the ramp, put the mh in neutral and let the boat roll down the ramp and just follow it with the mh using the brake to contol the speed. Trust me it will roll straight, but if you try to push it with the mh in reverse it will have a tendancy to veer one way or the other.
Glen
2010 Bounder Classic 30T with a
2011 Ford F53 Chassis.
2011 Honda CRV
Buy two 4' 3/4' wooden dowels, two tennis balls and a couple of big clamps. Stick the tennis balls on the end of the dowels and clamp the dowels to the trailer so you can see the balls in the mirrors. Cheap and works.
shaneallenhenderson wrote: I have a 32'class A, but cant see out the back window. I will be pulling a 20' Bayliner to the lake with us. Not sure how this is going to work out. Maybe just pay someone $5 at the lake to launch for me. I dont think I have ever seen anyone launch with a big motorhome.Don't want to have to take my truck as well and pay for gas for 2 vehicles.Any words of wisdom?
Simple, Carry a trailer dolly with you.
This one is rated for 600lbs and I have moved 'well over' the lbs rated with it. They make higher rated dolly's but they are bulkier and weigh more. The smaller ones can be carried inside your boat.
This dolly won't pull a boat over rough terrain, but the parking lots and the boat ramps are flat and the launch is slanted which works in your favor and this dolly works just fine for launching from a flat parking lot to the launch and into the water.
Please do not attempt this with anything larger than a canoe.
Harold and Linda
2009 CT Coachworks siena 35V
W-22 Workhorse 8.1L
Explorer toad
Over a timespan of several decades, I have towed and launched a boat many times (4 different motorhomes). It's easy to learn, but ends up being a hassle. I even tried a front hitch a couple of times (definitely not the way to go). Then, we retired and tried fulltiming. My love of fishing from my own bassboat is one reason we quit fulltiming. Whenever we decide to go camping and fishing, the best all-around method is for us is to tow the boat with the motorhome, and for DW to follow in the 4x4 Envoy. We set up camp, and we have the perfect vehicle for launching, and the perfect vehicle for running around. And, whenever I have to launch by myself, I back it up to just the right depth, and I go out the back of the Envoy and get in the boat. Then, I 'beach' the boat and walk to the Envoy and drive it to the parking lot. For loading the boat, I reverse the procedure.
Willie & Betty Sue
Miko & Sparky
2003 41 ft Dutch Star Diesel Pusher/Spartan
Floorplan 4010
Blazer toad & Ranger bassboat
If you are somewhat skilled at backing up trailers in general then you will have no problem. We launch our boat every other weekend all summer long wtih our Class A at various landings. I have used a front hitch on a Class C once and personally I find driving to the ramp and backing up the trailer is FAR easier then the front hitch idea. With the overhang of the motorhome you won't have any problems with the rear wheels being in or near the water.
Dan & Tracy
2 kids ages 9 and 11
2003 HR Neptune 36PBD
300 ISB Cummins/5-Speed
My question regarding the front hitch is: dont you still have to back the MH back up the ramp to get the trailer out of the water after launching, thus bringing you back to the original problem of not being able to see out of the back window? Offer the kid at the dock some $ to launch it w/his truck, he probably gets asked all the time if there's a campgroung at the lake.
2005 Ford F-250 Power Stroke Diesel
Crew Cab FX4
2001 Layton Road Runner
HTT
shaneallenhenderson wrote: I have a 32'class A, but cant see out the back window. I will be pulling a 20' Bayliner to the lake with us. Not sure how this is going to work out. Maybe just pay someone $5 at the lake to launch for me. I dont think I have ever seen anyone launch with a big motorhome.
Don't want to have to take my truck as well and pay for gas for 2 vehicles.
Any words of wisdom?
The front hitch is a viable option. It does work, I have seen it at many fresh water lakes, and on Puget Sound.
harold1946 wrote:
If you cant see the boat in the mirrors, it has to be directly behind the motorhome.
This is exactly how I used to launch and recover my 17 foot fiberglass boat with my Tioga. It doesn't HAVE a rear window!
* This post was
edited 04/23/12 11:06am by an administrator/moderator *
CM1, USN (RET)
2002 Fleetwood Southwind 32V, Ford V10
Toad: 2006 Jeep Rubicon LJ
Other toad: '06 PT Cruiser, Kar Kaddy dolly
Toy: 1977 Dodge W100 CC SWB, 3/4 ton axles & springs
"When seconds count, help is only minutes away!"
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