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Baja_Man's avatar
Baja_Man
Explorer
Apr 08, 2016

Do you launch a boat with your Class C?

Thinking about selling our small 5th wheel and purchasing a used 28'-31' Class C. We are a family of 4. Reason for change: So I can tow my 17' fishing boat!!

Do any of you launch a boat with your Class C?

If so, a few questions....

1. Does the back of your coach touch/enter water when launching?

2. Do you back in reverse from top of ramp all the way down to bottom of launch ramp? Some lake ramps can be very long especially in times of California drought times.

3. With the long chassis/body behind the rear wheels, has this been a problem when launching (ex. entering water, scraping at top of ramp when ramp begins to drop/angle down, etc).

Thanks
  • we had a 26ft bornfree class C never had one problem , I also mounted a front hitch ,used it a few times in tight spots , now have a 25ft sprinter and its still easy. IF you can,t see your boat mount a flag on the drivers side fender ,and use that as a guide.
  • I can certainly recommend a backup camera. I have backed up my 8' motorcycle utility trailer with the class C. I have younger friend who can make all this look effortless. At my age, probably would go for sparsely used ramp or get someone to launch it and rent a slip in some of our typical heavy use areas.

    I could back it all the way down if I had to..if it wasn't a zoo. Some of them are wide enough I could whip a u turn near the bottom. You're probably familiar with the ramps..probably best to start with the calm ones at calm times.
  • I haven't done it but.

    While I was looking for my recent motor home I found one just like the one that I bought,see signature,and it had a front mounted hitch.

    I asked the owner why. He was an avid fisherman and being retired he would go 2 or 3 times a week. He saw others that did it with P/U trucks and liked the idea. He had a hard time seeing the boat when backing and had to get out and see if it was deep enough to float and once he did submerge the rear of the RV to get it launched,filling the
    rear compartment with water,tires were wet and spun when leaving,giving him a sinking feeling.

    With the front mounted hitch and a 2 FT extension he could see where the boat was going and could put it in where he wanted,never getting the front submerged, and keeping the rear tires on dryer land with better traction,he said that some of the ramps that he used were very steep.

    He did say it took a bit of learning so he practiced in a shopping mall parking lot,said he got a lot of funny looks but could,after a little practice,do S patterns and put it anywhere he wanted,a plus on a crowded boat ramp.

    He did say a few times he got applause after a successful launch and a lot of questions.
  • No , but launched a bass boat with my class A . MH never got into the water.