Advice on transporting the Ranger RIB cross country

[msu1966]

I am planning to take my first R27 cross country trip from MI to the San Juans. I have a 6 ft.+ long truck bed. If I deflate the RIB, will it fit in my truck bed? Any suggestions on storing the RIB for this trip are welcomed.

Thanks,
Ken

 

[cmwahl]

We trailer about 350 miles from Spokane to Anacortes with our Highfield 260 dinghy on the weaver davits and standoffs. We also have a set of ratcheting straps in addition to the standoffs hooked to boat and dinghy. Then we’ve put extra ratcheting straps around the dinghy also. We’ve had no problems with this arrangement. Beats trying to hoist the dinghy from the pickup bed onto the swimstep when we arrive in Anacortes.

 

[msu1966]

I have made only 3 trips with my R27 at 675, 150 and 200 miles with no noticeable problems. However Weaver Industries and a couple of helpers at launch ramps have cautioned/warned me that trailering with the dinghy hanging off the swim platform is not advisable. My davit with stand offs and security lines is similar to what 'cmwahl' describes.

Am I overly cautious or is the Weaver Davit system adequate for the job?

 

[scross]

We use both methods. For really short trips (under 50 miles) we have left the RIB dinghy on the swim platform, removed the standoffs and lashed the dinghy to the transom. I really do not like doing this as it negatively impacts the handling of the boat on trailer, impart due to a lighter tongue weight.
On anything more than 50 miles, we remove the dinghy and put it in the 6’6” truck bed. Dinghy bottom up and transom to the cab with nose of the dinghy pointing aft. The dinghy fits snugly on the truck bed sides and you can store a lot of things underneath it. Properly tied down the dinghy sits rock solid in the truck bed at all speeds.
I can get the dinghy off the davits and into the truck bed by myself. But getting it back on the swim platform at the end of the trip definitely takes two people and some patience and some muscle.

 

[BB marine]

If you have platform rails the method I used may not work for you but I will explain. I installed 4 standoff cleats on the transom. Two are used for standing the boat up at a 90 degree angle to the swim platform and two will position it at 45 degrees. The 45 degree angle is used for trailering or when doing open water cruising.

Close to 45 degrees for trailering. I use a couple of ratchet straps to anchor it down and use cable ties to make sure the stand offs spring loaded pins do not open.
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Close to 90 degrees for use at the dock so I can use the swim platform. When the boat is at a dock I only use one stand off to support the boat.
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I did transport the boat one time in the bed 8'bed the 8'10" inflatable fully deflated just fit in the bed. It took up a lot of room.

I had no issues towing with the dinghy on the platform. I was hesitant at first. Gave it a try and no issue. It is a lot easier this way too. Make sure it is strapped down well and it will be fine.

 

[knotflying]

If you are not Boaterhoming while going cross country put it in the cockpit.

 

[pleeson]

Yes in the cockpit upside down. Easiest done in the water. Flip it over sans motor and take it bow first over the stern with a person on each side on the swim deck. Tie across the pontoons at the rear to secure. We even leave it there if boaterhoming, just slip it back as far as possible and over away from the swim platform door. I then use the truck bed to carry a step ladder for accessing the swim deck.

 

[msu1966]

I measured my RIB 260 incorrectly, it is 8'6" and my truck bed is 6'6". Is it a hassle to deflate the dinghy to be able to store it in the truck bed On long distance trips or OK to leave it on the swim platform with Weaver Davits and stand offs with additional straps for security?

 

[trailertrawlerkismet]

For 10 years, first with our 2011 R27 n then with the 2018 R29 we trailered cross country several times, back n forth to Florida from Michigan n more…..almost always with the dinghy attached to the swim platform. The bed of our truck was usually full with other things. We zip tied the Weaver stanchions at the stern, swim platform as well as tied an extra line from the dinghy to a cleat. We never had a problem.

Jim F