Any of you full-timers also bring a separate car along?

[jim1521]

Hello all,

1st post here. My wife and I are in our early/mid 60's. We've always been in love with boating and have had plans to go full-time liveaboard on a trawler within the next 4 years, and to try it for 3 years. If after 3 years we still feel healthy enough, we continue.
If not, we come back to Terra Firma. Neither one of us likes planting roots; we love to travel, and CAN'T WAIT until I hit retirement (4 years). We're avid boaters, both SCUBA dive, and she has her own jet ski. We can't imagine not living near the water, or not playing on/in it. The problem is, we can't take it all with us. We're also starting to be concerned about knees, shoulders, etc. - all the aches and pains that come with our ages. I haven't really brought up the idea to her that we may not be able to physically do the trawler in 4 years (she'll be 71, I'll be 66). So I'm working on Plan B, which would involve a travel trailer.

We have two new vehicles: I have a 2016 Nissan Titan XD diesel, and she has a 2017 Jeep Cherokee. She also has a 2016 Sea Doo GTi 155 SE PWC, that we're going to want to bring along with us.

So there are a few ways to skin this cat, none of which are really easy.

OPTION ONE
The most comfortable one (I think) would be to get a nice TT or 5W, hook it on to the back of the Nissan, and she hooks the PWC to the back of her Jeep. This way we can have a smaller trailer (i.e. 28') to live very comfortably with. The problem there is obvious - double the miles driven, more maintenance on the PWC trailer, additional cost for wherever we stay (two vehicles, etc.).

OPTION TWO
Option Two is to get a toy hauler, and stick the PWC in the back of it and away we go. Get rid of the Jeep. The problem (as I see it) is that we now have a 38'-40' trailer behind us. I think I'd rather have Option One, but I have no real-world experience to base that on.

OPTION THREE
We get a toy hauler, stick the PWC in it to travel from point-to-point, drive the Jeep along with us, then use the Jeep to launch/recover the PWC, run around town, etc.

Does anybody here do Option One or Three? Is there an option that I'm not considering? Thanks.

[jim1521]

valhalla360 wrote:

jim1521 wrote:


Toy hauler will probably push me too far on the weight, same as the 5th.

I think in the end, we'll go with the TT & POV/PWC config.

They make TT toy haulers.

Still gonna bust my tow limits though with a toy hauler, even a TT.

I've pretty much decided to go with a Grand Design trailer, and their Toy Hauler blows my weight right out the window. They're 16k UVW LOL!

Most I can do with the Titan XD is 12k.

[valhalla360]

jim1521 wrote:


Toy hauler will probably push me too far on the weight, same as the 5th.

I think in the end, we'll go with the TT & POV/PWC config.

They make TT toy haulers.

[valhalla360]

jim1521 wrote:
Following up to my original question...

How does it work when you pull into a campsite with both a TT, a TV, AND a car (POV) towing a PWC? Do I have to purchase two campsites (one for TT, 2nd for POV/PWC), or do they have "overflow parking" where I could park the POV/PWC?

The answer will be all over the place.
- Very strict places may not even allow a 2nd car.
- Easy going places may let you bring anything that will fit plus have an overflow lot.

[TechWriter]

jim1521 wrote:
Following up to my original question...

How does it work when you pull into a campsite with both a TT, a TV, AND a car (POV) towing a PWC? Do I have to purchase two campsites (one for TT, 2nd for POV/PWC), or do they have "overflow parking" where I could park the POV/PWC?

At the campground where I worked, if you could fit in the site, then you're good to go. If not, you would have to rent another site.

[doxiemom11]

I follow behind our class A with our Jeep. Have been doing this for 5 years. The fuel cost for the Jeep isn't very much and when we stop it's convenient for me to do grocery shopping or whatever I want to do. My husband has a trailer with motorcycles and toolboxes that he pulls with the Class A.

[ependydad]

We are a family of 4 who fulltimes. We've talked a couple of times about a second vehicle (more economical and easier for site-seeing). But each time it comes down to not wanting to be separate from my wife on travel days. We look forward to that time together and often spend it talking.

Her in another vehicle = no way for us.

As for the campsite parking... it really comes down to the campground. You'll see all 3 options:
1) you can park it all at your site
2) you can park for free at overflow parking
3) you will have to pay a fee (either 2 sites or for storage)

[jim1521]

valhalla360 wrote:
Rules vary by state but you can double tow with a 5th wheel.

Of course, the Nissan is marginal for most 5th wheels. (pin wieght typicaly controls not tow rating). Full time, you will likely have a lot of stuff, so you realy have to watch the weight.

I would lean toward a toy hauler for simplicity.

Another option is a travel trailer and jet ski in the pickup bed (they make ramps). This assumes it's not a giant jet ski that sticks 4' out the tailgate.

Toy hauler will probably push me too far on the weight, same as the 5th.

I think in the end, we'll go with the TT & POV/PWC config.

[jim1521]

Following up to my original question...

How does it work when you pull into a campsite with both a TT, a TV, AND a car (POV) towing a PWC? Do I have to purchase two campsites (one for TT, 2nd for POV/PWC), or do they have "overflow parking" where I could park the POV/PWC?

[valhalla360]

Rules vary by state but you can double tow with a 5th wheel.

Of course, the Nissan is marginal for most 5th wheels. (pin wieght typicaly controls not tow rating). Full time, you will likely have a lot of stuff, so you realy have to watch the weight.

I would lean toward a toy hauler for simplicity.

Another option is a travel trailer and jet ski in the pickup bed (they make ramps). This assumes it's not a giant jet ski that sticks 4' out the tailgate.

[stickdog]

We have a Ford Focus wife follows when we travel. We've been doing it that way for 7 years. We did leave it in storage when we went to Alaska.
An added bonus is when in heavy traffic I'll put on the blinker she'll make the lane shift and open up a space for me.
We're thinking of getting a replacement for it as repairs will soon outrun its value.

[jim1521]

Rob,
Thanks for that input. I'm glad to hear that. Knowing that pedigree (owners of RV-Dream.com do it as well as others like you) makes me feel better about doing it that way.

[Second_Chance]

We - and a number of other full-timers we know - live and travel full-time in a fifth wheel (towed by a large truck, of course) and the wife follows along on travel days in a small car (in our case, a Toyota Corolla). It has worked out wonderfully for us. Since actual travel with the rig comprises such a small percentage of our time, the impact of driving the Toyota on travel days is very small we have an economical, small vehicle in which to sight-see, shop, and get into inner cities. Howard and Linda Payne, the owners of RV-Dreams.com, do it the same way. Both Howard and Linda and my wife and I have inflatable kayaks to get out on the water.

Rob

[BarbaraOK]

jim1521 wrote:

arhayes wrote:
The other option not mentioned is to get a Class A DP and tow a larger trailer (24') that you could get the PWC and another vehicle in. We have friends that have a motorcycle trike and carry it and a Nissan Rogue in the trailer behind their MH. I don't believe you'd need a keep to tow a pwc, so maybe a change in vehicles needs to be considered?

I hadn't really considered getting rid of the Titan. I love it, and it's served as a great tow vehicle for our boat (6,000 lbs). The other thing is I'm not sure we're ready to commit beyond 3 years for the RV lifestyle.

Have you looked at weights for the trailers you might consider?

You also forgot that not all states allow double/triple towing.

[old_guy]

you can always rent a car once you get to you location. we've done that