Family of 4 wants to go land and sea cruising

[dan1000]

Hi Folks

I wonder if any TugNut could help me understand what it's like to tow an R29 on a regular basis? It's more than 8 1/2 feet wide, so towing permits would be required. But more than just having the permits, what's it like to actually tow something that wide? We have plenty of Motorhome experience in an 8 1/2 foot wide, 45 foot long motorhome (plus the length of the towed car behind it), and of course the wing mirrors on the MH bring the width to about 10 feet. Still, could someone who's done it let me know what it's like to tow an R29 (or something similar size) on a regular basis through towns, sightseeing along the route to the next water destination?

Another similar question is whether anyone has had any success sleeping in the R25 or R29 on land on a regular basis? We'd like to explore both land and water, and it seems wasteful to have a truck camper that just duplicates the amenities available in the boat. Any issues with "camping" in the boat on its trailer at campgrounds? If we can use the boat/trailer as a sort of "Noah's Ark" that we sleep in and live in even when on land, then we won't need to spend money on the truck camper, and will carry several thousand pounds less load as a result.

The irony is that for our family of 4 (my wife, my 8 year old son, my 6 year old daughter, and me), the R25 seems like it might be "only just" big enough to be comfortable for a few weeks (we home-school our kids, so don't pay too much attention to the school term schedule). But the R29, while definitely big enough to be comfortable, might be problematic to be towing on a daily basis.

What we'd like to achieve: Be able to explore the PNW (both the US and Canadian parts), the inside passage, parts of the NE and Eastern Canada, various lakes including Lake Powell, Lake Okanagan, and others). But also, we'd like to visit places like Yellowstone, Zion National Park, and go through the US and Canadian rockies.

We've lived in a motorhome for months on end (I think 4 1/2 months was our longest stint), but that was in a 45' MH with a 12 foot "beam" (with the slideouts extended). I'd love to learn that the R29 was "no problem" to tow and camp in on an everyday basis, but if there are problems, I'd prefer to learn about them now rather than "on the job".

Perhaps we're just asking for too much. Perhaps we should consider getting a slightly older, but somewhat larger, non-trailerable boat, and not worry too much about re-locating it. Certainly there are older, larger trawler boats available for substantially less money. But the allure of the towable trawler is calling, and although both my wife and myself are fairly handy, having something new or at least "newish" will bring some mental comforts to us newbie boaters. Any light you can shed on our slightly wacky goals and what kind of vehicle combinations might make sense for it would be much appreciated.

Thanks

Dan, Cecilia, Jasper (8), and Jonquil (6)

 

[rt11002003]

Towing anything is made easier when one has the right equipment and the training/experience. At one time, years ago, I towed a 40 foot flatbed trailer loaded with a missile that extended past the ends and the sides of the rig. No problem, the equipment was good and I was trained.

In recent years, I towed my J 80, a 26 plus footer, with a 4Runner and a very good trailer without any problem. I'm pretty sure my R-21 EC with the trailer is in excess of thirty feet, combined with my tow vehicle, a LandCruiser, the package exceeds 50 feet. I towed it to FL and back, over 400 miles each way, without a problem.

With the right trailer and tow vehicle I wouldn't hestitate a second to take off towing a R-29. However, permitting and restrictions can be a whole different matter. I have friends who tow 33 and 35 foot sailboats with much more weight and beam than the R-29 and most (if any) don't bother with permits. I'm not sure I'd do that.

Gene

 

[Andrew Custis]

I have towed an R29 many times. In my opinion you need at least a 3/4 ton pickup. I tow with a 3/4 ton dodge diesel. Tows like a dream. We had our production manager and his wife take one from here (Seattle) to Augdon, Utah. The wife drove it half of the way with no issues. We have also trailered it from here to southern Florida. I wont comment on permits.

 

[dan1000]

Gene and Andrew

Thanks very much for your replies. Just to clarify, like you I am not too concerned with the length, or with the truck's ability to pull the heavy load (as long as it is the right truck). My concern is really about the width when going down the road.

Partly, I'm concerned because we don't anticipate just towing the boat from one launch point to another, where the primary focus is on finding a safe, workable path from A to B. Instead, we hope to be able to explore many interesting inland sites, using the boat as if it were a fifth wheel camper trailer, staying at campgrounds, and enjoying the discovery of all our wonderful American and Canadian national parks. Mixed in with this, we of course anticipate launching the boat for significant explorations of waterways and coast lines. In many respects, pulling an R29 with a truck sounds like it gives us everything we want -- ability to comfortably explore both water and land for a few weeks or months at a time. However, the dream doesn't work if the beam of the boat on its trailer causes problems (whether they be permit-related problems or just plain drivability problems).

I'd love to hear from someone who has "camped" in their 10 foot wide boat while exploring the countryside, and to learn from their experiences. I know a 10 foot boat can be moved on the interstates from A to B with little problem, but when the boat becomes a constant companion down the highway for a few weeks at a time, does that work out or is it a pain in the neck?

We can always fall back to an R25, but as a family of 4, I think we'd be happier in the R29 -- if it doesn't become a driving problem for us. I think my concerns are borne mostly out of inexperience. But because we've had so much fun as a 70 foot long, 8.5 foot wide, 13 foot high vehicle (our old 45 foot motorhome, towing our Chrysler minivan), the length/height/weight don't really bother me all that much. In fact, driving a boat/trailer combo is likely much easier than driving a motorhome towing a 4-wheels-down car which can never be backed up. But the width is the open question.

Here's a specific question too: If the beam of the boat is 10 feet, will the boat on the trailer also be 10 feet wide, or will there be parts of the trailer that stick out beyond 10 feet (I know some trailers have some sort of guide poles on them -- not sure if they are needed while driving down the road -- perhaps they are removable to prevent the beam from growing even further).

Here's another question: Does it make any kind of sense to tilt the boat at all in an attempt to reduce the beam? I've seen this done with catamarans. It doesn't seem like a good idea to me, but as a newbie, what do I know 🙂

Thanks

Dan

 

[captain's cat]

I think the overall width of the tow will be at its least with the boat in a fully upright position. There are many C-Dory owners that tow/use their boats for sleeping while traveling. Go over to that site and do a search on some key words.

Charlie

 

[Sam Walker]

Hi Dan, I think that the complications that you will encounter with the 29 Ranger have been understated. Here in beautiful Kahlifornia, CALTRANS and the CHP are trying to get fire agencies to provide pilot cars for bulldozers that are being transported to and from fires. They are obviously trying to be more stringent on oversized loads.

I just checked the CA Penal Code and found out that a conviction for a wide load violation is a Misdemeanor. I don't think that I would want too many of those on my record.

Here is another angle for you to ponder. Here in CA, towing a non 5th wheel trailer that weighs greater than 10,000 lbs. requires a Class A license, which requires a physical examination every two years. At a dry boat weight of 9250 lbs., your 29 tug would most certainly exceed the 10,000 lb limit.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but it is better to be armed w/ the facts before pulling the trigger on the purchase only to find out later that you cannot do what you want. It sounds like the 25 might be the better part of valor for the road parts of your odyssey. I think that it is really cool that you and your family are able to be out on the road teaching your kids what America is really about. I hope that you are able to keep doing it.

 

[captd]

Dan,
We have spent months living in a 22 c-dory Now spend that time in a 25 Ranger. Just the two of us. We now use a 450 Ford diesel with a slide in camper. That combination would allow comfort for 4 when traveling. It gives a workable shower and toilet on the highway and camp ground. Sometimes it is nice to escape the heat with the airconditioning in the camper. Meaning you may run the genset in the camper. It allows for a little privacy for the young and old. We just ordered a canopy for the pickup to travel from Montana to Florida. It could be used to sleep two, or haul things not needed on the water.

My thinking on the 29 ft'er with lots of traveling on the byways and the highways, Meandering around the hard would be more problems than it is worth. But if you stayed on the west coast for a whole season it wouldnot be to much to tow from point A to point B for the next season. Staying on the freeways keeps it simple. You would certainly stay off the back roads. It would be great doing your exploring on the water. I like staying on the boat when traveling on the highways my wife does not. The diesel stove works good in or out of the water. Toilet does not, you need to pour water in by hand.

Solar panels allows us to have frig going all the time. If not for that you would need to hook the charge system from tow rig to boat if days were spent on the road. We hardly ever stay in camp ground when traveling. I like truck stops and so does Dee. Good for diner in the evenings and breakfast in the morning.

If tilting the boat on the trailer cuts down the width ( which it would not) It would make live aboard a little tough. Unless one leg was shorter than the other, and it runs in your family. Here in Montana we have a lot of that,There are right and left handed ones. It determine which way they go around the mountain.

Good luck what ever you decide.
captd

 

[dan1000]

Charlie, Sam, and Captd

This is great input. The sense that I'm getting is that while towing a R29 is an excellent means of moving the boat from one boating venue to another, it is likely not a good way to explore the country between boating venues. In other words, towing an R29 would be a good way to move the boat from the PNW to Florida or the Great Lakes, but not a good way to explore everything interesting between the PNW and Florida or the Great Lakes. By "everything interesting" I mean spending a couple of months doing the trip, exploring small towns, mountain villages, etc., along the way.

For that kind of on-land exploration, I'm getting the impression that an R25 plus a large-ish truck camper would give us less problems, but would still be very live-able.

Once again, thanks for the ongoing input. I look forward to becoming a tug-nut and being able to give back to the community at some point when my experience grows a little.

Dan

 

[j&lgray]

We took the Laurie Ann from Seattle to Iowa in 7 days and camped in it at Forest Service campgrounds, KOA's and private trailer parks. We took it back from the Gulf of Mexico to Seattle over 14 days. We used the water system, electrical and the diesel stove and heater. We did not use the head or the shower and used the park facilities instead. The only inconvenience was using a six foot ladder to climb onto the swim step.

What we learned: Trailering is easy on the Interstates and major highways. I would not probably not take it into a Rocky Mountain Park because the probable damage to the gel coat caused by foliage. If I were buying a tow vehicle for the Ranger 25 today, I would get the Toyota Tundra with four wheel drive. My main boating partner pulls his heavier Rosborough 246 very easily with this. The Ranger 25 is great for two people for the longer term but even then you have to be real cozy, with more people you will be more comfortable in the Ranger 29 but I agree with you about the Ranger 29's purpose: it is a movable boat not constant trailering boat.