Loading the TT for a Trip.............

[CarpFishermanAn]

Vacation trip is on for the end of next week, 6hr trip to the RV campground.
What is the best way to load TT, would it be to start putting weight over the two axels first, then spread the weight to front and back as equal as possible, 10ft porte-bote,3.5hp motor (approx. weight 54lbs for motor) fishing gear ect. This will be our first long distance trip. Ideas please.............

Thanks.....................

[PAThwacker]

The canoe has 900 CCC, I have two different drop in seats, and can have my two daughters sit in front of the yoke on the OT bench drop in. I had that canoe out for 6 hour days with lunch, minnows, large coffee, tackle box, and net. Easy setup, quick launch, fish on!

6lb largemouth, and 6lb chain pickerel by slowly drifting crème scoundrels.

[PAThwacker]

I just use a canoe as the do it all boat when camping. Easy portage, and some are true barges that accept gas outboards.


That photo was 8000lbs sub loaded to the gills/3800lbs hybrid axles.


Solid little family buggy to swamp bass assassin, and easily converted for canoe camping.

[CarpFishermanAn]

gmw photos wrote:
It never hurts to make a pass through the local CAT scale to get the actual numbers. That way you'll have some hard data to help you understand the finer points of how it all works in tow.

Just located a CAT Scale about 20miles away, will try that after our trip.

[CarpFishermanAn]

JordanH wrote:
I just load everything to its rightful place; food is cabinets/fridge, towels/clothes in closet, and bed made

Yes I think we have that covered, just a bit worried about making the bed, it might throw the weight distribution out to much.

[CarpFishermanAn]

loulou57 wrote:
Just curious... What do you put in the back of your TV? What is your TV? Can you not put boat and motor in TV?

I was not sure what you meant by load up your TT as everything that we take has a permanent spot in ours. The 2 bikes and baby weber go in the TV. Nothing is left out, on floors or furniture.

Now mind you, our fishing gear is in the boat we tow behind our TT.

For me taking the boat was a last minute choice, I tried the boat in the TT yesterday, the TT swallows the boat with no problems, actually the boat looks small in the TT,. the perfect choice in a few months will be a roof rack for my truck cap and the boat can go on that, the bed of the truck will be used for pre-baiting material, as you would say "chum". TV is a 05 F150 5.4 Flareside with truck cap.

[wmoses]

The proper way to load the trailer can only be determined after the actual load distribution is known. Can't rely on brochure weights. I suggest going to the scales and getting it weighed, then after that you will know where the added payload items should go. My 2 cents ... 🙂

[fla-gypsy]

You are loading the boat and motor inside the TT? Some of these things are not up to that kind of rugged cargo. What if the motor leaks oil or fuel in it? Just saying you need to think this through carefully.

[JordanH]

I just load everything to its rightful place; food is cabinets/fridge, towels/clothes in closet, and bed made

[loulou57]

Just curious... What do you put in the back of your TV? What is your TV? Can you not put boat and motor in TV?

I was not sure what you meant by load up your TT as everything that we take has a permanent spot in ours. The 2 bikes and baby weber go in the TV. Nothing is left out, on floors or furniture.

Now mind you, our fishing gear is in the boat we tow behind our TT.

[loulou57]

Sorry!

[dewey02]

Wow, getting the portabote inside the TT is quite a feat. I've got a 12 footer and mounted it on the side of the TT with the brackets.
Enjoy your bote and your fishing and camping!

[gmw_photos]

It never hurts to make a pass through the local CAT scale to get the actual numbers. That way you'll have some hard data to help you understand the finer points of how it all works in tow.

[CarpFishermanAn]

I have WDH and sway bar, Like one of you said: you have to get to know your TT, I suppose its the "DO,s & Don'ts and find out where to place things within your TT. My F/W and grey water tanks will be empty, my black water tank will have maybe 5 gallons in, for a, on the road clean. When the slide out is in for traveling I will put the fold up boat in-between the kitchen area and the seating area, the engine will go in a tub in the bathroom between toilet and shower unit, the heaviest gear will be my fishing tackle, believe or not!!, so distributing that gear, should be more of an art form rather than a weight issue. Thank you for the information, that will give me more of a plan of distribution.

Thanks...................

[kknowlton]

Just make sure to stay within the trailer's listec CCC (cargo carrying capacity). I've always been more concerned with putting things where they should go, and/or where I'll remember they are. If you are carrying the portabote on one side or one end, you may then want to skew some of the inside gear toward the opposite side or end, but with a 54-lb motor, it doesn't sound like a lot of weight to counterbalance.