Toys (boat) and Class C

[gattorgetter]

Undecided on which way I am going to buy, 5th wheel, 5th TH or now maybe a class c. I think the Class C is worse case option unless your feedback proves otherwise.

So as far as your toys go (boat) when you get to campground/lake and you wanna load boat to water you just unhook everything, everytime you need to either load or unload boat, if no slip is avail? Or hav8ng someone else bring the truck as well?

[Cobra21]

Put a hitch on the front and go for it, that's what I did. There are compromises
for bringing toys.
Brian

[4x4van]

I pull ATVs during the winter months and Jet Skiis during the summer months, but where I go, I can either leave them anchored overnight (small cove, 3 skiis cabled/locked together) or I use a tote to pull them out individually. I would leave the boat anchored in the water (when I had a boat), but of course that may not be an option where you go.

However, I often have friends that come down with a TT; so they unhook and we use their tow vehicle if needed for launching :).

I would never own a TT or a 5er for just that reason; no way to take my toys down without double towing or driving a second vehicle.

[elwood58]

We towed our jetskis with our Class C for 16 years. It was a 26.5 foot Fleetwood Jamboree, with a fair bit of rear overhang. We used ramps all over the west, both lake and ocean. We did have to unhook from power/water/sewer in order to launch,mount it was not that big a deal. We would often leave the RV near the water all day, and move it back to the full hook ups after pulling the jetskis out at the end of the day.

It sure beat sleeping on the ground.

[SolidAxleDurang]

I've towed my toys tandem behind my 5th wheel all over OK and AR.

Toys include:
A pair of jetskis OR an SXS/ATVs on utility trailer.

When bringing the skis to a CORPS park, I would simply pull in to campground after passing check-in guard shack.... Find a nice level/wide section of road where I wouldn't block any driveway and disconnect the skis from 5th wheel.... Take RV to camp spot... Back in... Level it... Go back and get skis and park at camp spot (leaving hooked up to truck - ready for launch).

Did this for a number of years till we sold the skis....

Continue this practice today with the ATVs/SXS when it's a "4 wheeling" type of camping trip. Sometimes I disconnect. But most times I don't have to as the types of campgrounds that having riding areas are generally larger and have 75' long pull throughs.

[Lantley]

If you live in an area wher triple towing is legal a fiver is an option. Otherwise class C, class A or tuck camper are your options.
If the launch areas you frequent can accommodate a front approach consider using a front hitch to launch the boat.

[dewey02]

Or get a different boat (portabote!)

[moebedick]

I've tried launching with a B+ motorhome and,while possible,it can get hairy due to the long overhang behind the rear axle. I currently have a TC with both a front and rear hitch so towing and launching are a breeze. Since I tow a sailboat (ComPac Suncat),it's nice to be able to set-up the mast before I launch,and to be able to check overhead clearnance while I launch. I don't bother unloading the camper since it doesn't overhang too much in any direction (Northstar Freedom) and only requires unplugging to decamp,if I have bothered to plug in at all.

[Bumpyroad]

don't really understand the issue here. unless you can tow both a trailer and a boat behind it you are going to have to decamp to launch, (excluding of course the TC unload issue). the answer is better planning ahead.
bumpy

[hotbyte]

We started tent camping with boat. Moved to a pop-up camper. Wife would tow it and I would to boat. We each would usually have one of our kids and a friend or two in vehicle with us.

Then we moved to a new truck and 5er. Similar situation except I towed 5er and she towed boat.

Kids got older and we found ourselves driving alone :-(. So we next moved to a class C. We either get a slip or lake front site and leave boat tied off to shore using an anchor buddy.

We have greatly minimized our camp site setup to make driving MH easier. No awning lights, small propane tank for grill/stove instead of using on board propane, quick disconnects on water line, keep inside picked up and mostly ready to roll.

[WNYBob]

If you go with the 'C' you might look into a front hitch so that you can see the boat during launching.

[KD4UPL]

Have you considered a truck camper? A boat is the reason I have a TC. I can haul the camper while towing the boat. I can set up camp by taking the camper off the truck. Then, I have the truck free to launch the boat or go sightseeing or whatever.
I've saved money on parking at zoos and amusement parks by leaving the camper at the campground and just driving the truck. It's cheaper to park a truck than an RV apparently.

[tatest]

Texas, Oklahoma, Missouri on Corps of Engineers lakes, someone tows the boat with the truck that will launch it, and the RV gets towed out or motored out separately. In some cases, the park might be so close that the same truck makes two trips, towing out the RV and then the boat. Not unusual for 3-4 vehicles plus RV at each campsite, in the Corps parks here.

This also works at the Oklahoma and Missouri state parks, which tend not to have entry fees and are often as roomy as the Corps parks. Texas parks complicate things a bit more with daily entry fees, which probably influences choices in Michigan and Indiana parks.

[DrewE]

It may depend somewhat where you intend to go camping/boating. If you're staying in Michigan, you can double tow a boat behind a fifth wheel (within certain restrictions and having the appropriate license endorsement), but there are a number of states where double towing is not permitted or has onerous requirements (primarily along the east and west coasts) and having a fifth wheel would require bringing a second vehicle to tow the boat trailer...or making two trips instead of one.

If you have a class C, the options are indeed to unhook the utilities to launch, or to bring another vehicle, or to find a friendly fellow camper who's willing to do it in exchange for some beer or whatever.