A few weeks ago I posted a thread asking how to store my porta bote on my Thor Jazz 277 5th Wheel. I got several helpful responses and built a compartment that goes underneath my trailer from the front between the landing gear. It came out great. My boat is the 12' model. The total cost was around $100 in material. It took about 16' of angle iron, one sheet of 24ga sheet metal (10'x4'), bolts, washers, lock washers and nuts. My only screw ups were a couple of hasty measurements and using a grinder with a grinding blade instead of a cutting blade for the angle iron. Also I wore out or broke a few cheap drill bits. I sprayed all the angle iron, expanded metal and the wood lid with truck bed liner spray paint. I hope the pics come through and helps somebody. I used it once already going up and down a mountain and it worked perfect, no rattling. I only fastened the sheet metal at the lid and the rear, sheet metal to expanded metal.It has plenty of clearance. The bottom actually sits higher than the axle. Because of the length of the boat, it would have been resting on my axle. I raised the back end slightly so it sits about 1-2" above the axle. Since the sheet metal only came in 10' sections, I made the last couple feet out of expanded sheet metal I had. I like it because I will be able to rinse it out without debris collecting in it. One bit of advice....work on a hard surface and buy a floor creeper to move around underneath the trailer.I hope this helps someone out.

That's a great job. Happy fishing!

"I raised the back end slightly so it sits about 1-2" above the axle." Very nice job, and quite creative. But what happens when you hit a pot hole or rock? Won't the axle go up more than 1-2"?Jim

TucsonJim wrote:"I raised the back end slightly so it sits about 1-2" above the axle." Very nice job, and quite creative. But what happens when you hit a pot hole or rock? Won't the axle go up more than 1-2"?JimIt doesn't go over the top of the axle. It doesn't even extend past the front axle, maybe about halfway over it. I suppose it may bump it, but the storage portion sits inside the framework. You could push it up with one hand The only place it's bolted down is at the front opening. At the rear, the expanded metal is bolted to the sheet metal but not to the angle iron. You could easily lift it up by pushing on it. It may bump into it and lift it a little but will not harm it. I think the only draw back of not bolting the compartment to the angle iron throughout is if pulling it empty, it may rattle and be noisy but I see no reason to take the boat out of it when not using it.

Sounds like you've solved any potential issues. When I get my new fiver in March, I'm going to see if your method would work for me.

Nice work!! I will probably copy what you've done when I do mine.

Porta Bote Storage Compartment | Good Sam Community

ICamel
Explorer
Feb 20, 2014
Excellent work! You will be very happy with it, and can store your portabote year round in there.
Larryzv7
Explorer
Feb 23, 2014
I have been contemplating buying a boat for a long time, looking around here and there, and this thread has inspired me, so I sent for and just received the product and price info from PORTA-BOTE today.

My question is do you need a license or have to go to a U.S. Coast Guard course before you can legally boat? Are boating requirements different in different States? Another thing is in the information that PORTA-BOTE sent me they have RV Mounts where you can mount the boat or the side, top, etc., of the RV; what do you folks think about that. Do you think it is safe, etc.?

Thanks for your imput.:)
jkbrea
Explorer
Feb 23, 2014
Just register it and enjoy. At least in most states. They are very stable and safe. As far as storing it, I built the underneath compartment because I can't see drilling into the side of my trailer and putting it on the roof and taking it down by myself would be a pain.Their mounts work, just not what I wanted.
kakampers
Explorer
Feb 23, 2014
Very Nice Job! We did something very similar to carry our blueboy...
kakampers
Explorer
Feb 23, 2014
Larryzv7 wrote:
I have been contemplating buying a boat for a long time, looking around here and there, and this thread has inspired me, so I sent for and just received the product and price info from PORTA-BOTE today.

My question is do you need a license or have to go to a U.S. Coast Guard course before you can legally boat? Are boating requirements different in different States? Another thing is in the information that PORTA-BOTE sent me they have RV Mounts where you can mount the boat or the side, top, etc., of the RV; what do you folks think about that. Do you think it is safe, etc.?

Thanks for your imput.:)

We used the mounts when we had a Portabote...we had to use wood on the inside wall to give something to bolt to. Not pretty...thankfully it was behind the couch. If we had it to do over again we would build something like the OP did...
Larryzv7
Explorer
Feb 23, 2014
kakampers wrote:
We used the mounts when we had a Portabote...we had to use wood on the inside wall to give something to bolt to. Not pretty...thankfully it was behind the couch. If we had it to do over again we would build something like the OP did...

Thanks for the response. I never thought of how those mounts on the side of the 5th wheel could effect the backboard and the need to have something there to bolt it to. The under-carriage mounts look a lot better but I am just not that handy with metal work like the OP, and barely competent with wood work. Wonder if I can purchase such and undercarriage mount already made where all I have to do is attach it? And where do you attach it under the 5th wheel, to the frame, etc.?
dewey02
Explorer II
Mar 27, 2014
deleted

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