How big is too big? How small is too small?

Cobra21 wrote:
Also a ball on the front bumper works wonders. Brian

I would think this would open opportunity for a wider selection of motor homes to choose from, actually ideal for boat launching regardless of the motor home. This because the axle is real close to the ball. And in most cases with the load on a motor home, the front axle is under-loaded with lots of margin to weigh it with a boat trailer in a boat ramp parking lot. It won't sag much at all.

When considering the dynamics in boat launching, a large rear overhang on the motor home will place the ball way up in the air when backing up to approach the ramp. I wonder with some steeper ramps, the tail of the trailer could make contact or worse.

Too long of a wheel base is another concern. With the rear axle on the ramp and the front axle on flat ground, a long span between them on a steep ramp could get close enough to damage something on the motor home itself.

Look at my signature and picture my rig backing down a boat ramp. My rig has a 158" wheel base and is 23'-8" in over-all length.

So much depends on the boat ramp. If you are traveling around the country with your boat, you will be presented with a flavor of ramp conditions.

I have a 21' which works well for us at boat ramps (shorter is better here). Also a ball on the front bumper works wonders. These short rigs are good for two people for short stays as Path 1 states above.
Brian

My biggest concern would be backing up the trailer. With my 32 ft I don't have much luck backing trailers with it. The other concern would be parking at the boat ramp with trailer attached

I used to think that 30 ft was a b@stard length. too long to be small, too short to be big. perhaps that makes it ideal?
bumpy

RoyB wrote:
Too big is when it isn't fun anymore driving it and too small is when the wife wakes you up in the middle of the night that there is something outside and when you get up to check out what it is you find a dude snoring in his tent bed two tents down...

Roy Ken

X2

It depends on you. We have lots of fun in 22 foot class C. Lots of traveling and lot to see and fits most anywhere. But spend a 2 weeks in it at a campground with it raining 1/2 the time. You'll wish you had bigger. Maybe rent one that size to see if that's what you want. Ours was great before retirement for vacations, 3 day weekends etc. Post retirement, still have lots of fun traveling. But not to good for snow birding and spending lots of time in it. But every one is different.

To large would be a gas class C over 30' long with a slide. It will be so heavy, it will barely leave any cargo capacity.

To small - well if you are constantly stepping over each other, that is to small...

Bigfoot has started making their class C line on both the F-550 and Dodge 5500 series truck chassis. So if you really wanted 4 wheel drive, you might want to look into the Bigfoot. They have some models in the 31' range, with a 19,500 GVWR should have plenty of cargo capacity, and enough overhang that you will not get the rear axle underwater while launching your boat.

You might also want to consider a 18" long hitch extension, so that you will not need to back the RV so far into the water while on the launch ramp. I would only put it on while going from the campground to the launch ramp and back, not drive anywhere with it.

Have fun shopping and camping!

Fred.

I think of more consideration is the weight of the boat you are towing and the tongue weight. With a gas unit, the max tongue weight is 500 lbs and the max hitch rating is 5000 lbs. Make sure you do t max out the GCWR.

Too big is when it isn't fun anymore driving it and too small is when the wife wakes you up in the middle of the night that there is something outside and when you get up to check out what it is you find a dude snoring in his tent bed two tents down...

Roy Ken

Ideal wheel base to length is 55%. The lower that number the worse the handling. Stock Ford Chassis is 176 inches.