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Should I buy a hybrid RV/boat or just tow a boat

evagoblog
Explorer II
Explorer II
on a trailer?

If anyone reads a lot of different RV forums you will see this posted many places, as I want as many opinions or expertise advice as possible, the subject is so unusual wasn't quite sure where to put it. I was going to purchase an ordinary Class B van when I who have a weakness (I used the word fetish and was told it was NOT the correct word :)) for unusual house TV shows, was watching a show about houses on the water, and there was an episode on the Caraboat. A couple found it on ebay for $800 and then restored I think the show said for 200K (if you want to see the episode it's on the FYI channel website, season 2 episode 11, not sure if I can post links here) so then I became intrigued with that concept (there are very few of those made in the 70's left, at the first press conference for it, the boats started sinking and the reporters had to be rescued and the designer destroyed all the plans) but coincidentally there are TWO companies that just started making these with both very similar designs, though they are not related. I contacted both, and even though they don't sell in the U.S. now both said they will soon, but don't know when and I want to start RVing NOW. If anyone is curious about them, here are their names which you can google as again, not sure if this site will let me post links, some don't, Caravanboats for the German and Caraboat for the Australian, surprise they used the name of the failed company unless they want it to come up when someone is googling the other!) There is a company called Sealander where the trailers are lighter and they are cheaper (like a Happier Camper LOL) but I have been in contact them for almost TWO years and although the said they would distribute in North America and were having a tour here, they never did and their link to US sales is down. There IS an American made product the Terra Wind,on sale in the U.S. but like many American products (moderator if you take umbrage I will remove the last sentence) it's too big, expensive and over the top!

A friend of mine suggested that I just buy a truck or van and PULL a regular boat that you can live in (can be cheaper as of now, in USD the German boat is 70K range and the Australian in the 90K range) and so now, finally the question, after this long winded introduction, can that be done, will RV campsites or the county.state, federal parks allow it-actually living on the boat on land (only problem is can't stealth camp). I also wanted to do this and not have it towed by a RV because the weight would be too heavy and use too much gas.

Don't know if anyone ever thought or tried it, hope so as don't want to contact every campsite. I know people will have their jokes etc.but I am serious about it, so even if people haven't tried it but can think of the pros and cons, I'd like their opinions also.
50 REPLIES 50

yr2017
Explorer
Explorer
proxim2020 wrote:
yr2017 wrote:

An empty 20,000-lb horse trailer. That V10 is 505 cid, Lambo-Viper engine producing 625-lbs of torque. Burned out two clutches in ten years.
We even put one of those engines into a M35A1 and a Mack COE. Never had a bit of trouble. And, they pull considerably more weight than the SRT.


That makes more sense. 20k would be a very big ask for a SRT-10. The concern wasn't the engine, but the rest of the truck.


Nothing is stock. Not the 48RE tranny, but an Allison.
Big AL
DOD - 02 APR 2020 - CANCER

Community Alumni
Not applicable
yr2017 wrote:

An empty 20,000-lb horse trailer. That V10 is 505 cid, Lambo-Viper engine producing 625-lbs of torque. Burned out two clutches in ten years.
We even put one of those engines into a M35A1 and a Mack COE. Never had a bit of trouble. And, they pull considerably more weight than the SRT.


That makes more sense. 20k would be a very big ask for a SRT-10. The concern wasn't the engine, but the rest of the truck.

eend
Explorer
Explorer
The only hybrid That I can think of is the Macgregor 26M power sailor, you can camp with it in campgrounds, sail and pull water skiers behind it. 3 toys in one.


http://www.macgregor26.com/BROCHURES%20FOR%20ALL%20BOATS/MACGREGOR%2026X/26X.html
2019 VW Tiguan
2015 F150 ecoboost
2013 Arctic Fox 22G
1971 Boler 1300

dodge_guy
Explorer II
Explorer II
I believe the OP is talking about a trailerable house boat! If not they should be because thatโ€™s exactly what they want!
Wife Kim
Son Brandon 17yrs
Daughter Marissa 16yrs
Dog Bailey

12 Forest River Georgetown 350TS Hellwig sway bars, BlueOx TrueCenter stabilizer

13 Ford Explorer Roadmaster Stowmaster 5000, VIP Tow>
A bad day camping is
better than a good day at work!

RobertRyan
Explorer
Explorer
evagoblog wrote:
on a trailer?

If anyone reads a lot of different RV forums you will see this posted many places, as I want as many opinions or expertise advice as possible, the subject is so unusual wasn't quite sure where to put it. I was going to purchase an ordinary Class B van when I who have a weakness (I used the word fetish and was told it was NOT the correct word :)) for unusual house TV shows, was watching a show about houses on the water, and there was an episode on the Caraboat. A couple found it on ebay for $800 and then restored I think the show said for 200K (if you want to see the episode it's on the FYI channel website, season 2 episode 11, not sure if I can post links here) so then I became intrigued with that concept (there are very few of those made in the 70's left, at the first press conference for it, the boats started sinking and the reporters had to be rescued and the designer destroyed all the plans) but coincidentally there are TWO companies that just started making these with both very similar designs, though they are not related. I contacted both, and even though they don't sell in the U.S. now both said they will soon, but don't know when and I want to start RVing NOW. If anyone is curious about them, here are their names which you can google as again, not sure if this site will let me post links, some don't, Caravanboats for the German and Caraboat for the Australian, surprise they used the name of the failed company unless they want it to come up when someone is googling the other!) There is a company called Sealander where the trailers are lighter and they are cheaper (like a Happier Camper LOL) but I have been in contact them for almost TWO years and although the said they would distribute in North America and were having a tour here, they never did and their link to US sales is down. There IS an American made product the Terra Wind,on sale in the U.S. but like many American products (moderator if you take umbrage I will remove the last sentence) it's too big, expensive and over the top!

A friend of mine suggested that I just buy a truck or van and PULL a regular boat that you can live in (can be cheaper as of now, in USD the German boat is 70K range and the Australian in the 90K range) and so now, finally the question, after this long winded introduction, can that be done, will RV campsites or the county.state, federal parks allow it-actually living on the boat on land (only problem is can't stealth camp). I also wanted to do this and not have it towed by a RV because the weight would be too heavy and use too much gas.

Don't know if anyone ever thought or tried it, hope so as don't want to contact every campsite. I know people will have their jokes etc.but I am serious about it, so even if people haven't tried it but can think of the pros and cons, I'd like their opinions also.

Been several attempts at a Caravan Boat but they have never taken off

westernrvparkow
Explorer
Explorer
yr2017 wrote:
westernrvparkowner wrote:
My parks are RVs only. Know many other park owners who operate the same way. We don't allow schoolies or homebuilts and we don't allow semis even though they have sleepers. A boat being used as an RV is something else that would not be allowed.


So, I'm guessing my old vintage Bluebird or my Sundowner LQ horse trailers wouldn't be allowed? I've seen a few in the KOA's in MT - so I'm guessing you don't own one of those campgrounds.
If the Bluebird was a Wanderlodge RV, not a school bus and isn't shedding parts as it drives the roads, almost assuredly not a problem. We do not allow horse trailers, Sundowner LQ or not.
Somewhere close to 90 percent of our guests make reservations prior to arrival. Part of the reservation process is obtaining information regarding the RV (type, size, make and model, year, tow vehicle, additional vehicles etc.). If we don't recognize the make and model, we look it up. If it turns out to be something other than a professionally manufactured RV we stop the reservation at that point. Nobody thinks they have a place to stay and are surprised at the last minute that they are being turned away.

westernrvparkow
Explorer
Explorer
Jay Coe wrote:
westernrvparkowner wrote:
My parks are RVs only. Know many other park owners who operate the same way. We don't allow schoolies or homebuilts and we don't allow semis even though they have sleepers. A boat being used as an RV is something else that would not be allowed.


Well that's arrogant. If someone pays the fee, they should be able to camp in whatever they have. I've seen some **** creative school buses and homebuilts. If I put a ton of effort into fixing one up and got turned away at a campground, I'd be pissed! And I'd tear you a new one on Yelp.

What the f*ck? This site gave me 4 asterisks for d a m n but I can say pissed? Stupid site!
Perfect example of why we turn away schoolies and homebuilts. BTW, since we don't let them in they haven't paid any fees.

Lantley
Nomad
Nomad
Jay Coe wrote:
westernrvparkowner wrote:
My parks are RVs only. Know many other park owners who operate the same way. We don't allow schoolies or homebuilts and we don't allow semis even though they have sleepers. A boat being used as an RV is something else that would not be allowed.


Well that's arrogant. If someone pays the fee, they should be able to camp in whatever they have. I've seen some **** creative school buses and homebuilts. If I put a ton of effort into fixing one up and got turned away at a campground, I'd be pissed! And I'd tear you a new one on Yelp.

What the f*ck? This site gave me 4 asterisks for d a m n but I can say pissed? Stupid site!

Sort of off topic, but another way our society has degraded itself is the need for people to express themselves using 4 letter words.
It's not just the post above, but it seems to have become acceptable to use the F-word in general printed/public conversation. As a society we continue to lower the bar on civil discourse.
We all have a point to make but do we really need to use the F bomb to express ourselves to strangers at large?
19'Duramax w/hips, 2022 Alliance Paradigm 390MP >BD3,r,22" Blackstone
r,RV760 w/BC20,Glow Steps, Enduraplas25,Pedego
BakFlip,RVLock,Prog.50A surge ,Hughes autoformer
Porta Bote 8.0 Nissan, Sailun S637

yr2017
Explorer
Explorer
clayway wrote:
This is a little off topic, I live on the intracoastal waterway in Daytona Beach, this past week I saw a probably 40 ft landing craft going by with a Jeep & small travel trailer on it.


Well, that's what they are built for....
Big AL
DOD - 02 APR 2020 - CANCER

yr2017
Explorer
Explorer
westernrvparkowner wrote:
My parks are RVs only. Know many other park owners who operate the same way. We don't allow schoolies or homebuilts and we don't allow semis even though they have sleepers. A boat being used as an RV is something else that would not be allowed.


So, I'm guessing my old vintage Bluebird or my Sundowner LQ horse trailers wouldn't be allowed? I've seen a few in the KOA's in MT - so I'm guessing you don't own one of those campgrounds.
Big AL
DOD - 02 APR 2020 - CANCER

yr2017
Explorer
Explorer
proxim2020 wrote:
yr2017 wrote:


Most gas trucks when hauling don't get really good mileage. My SRT-10 got 9.5mpg with a 20,000 trailer.


Am I reading this right? You pulled a 20,000 lbs trailer with a SRT-10? Weren't those things were just 1500s with a viper engine in it. I thought they were only rated to tow less than 8K.


An empty 20,000-lb horse trailer. That V10 is 505 cid, Lambo-Viper engine producing 625-lbs of torque. Burned out two clutches in ten years.
We even put one of those engines into a M35A1 and a Mack COE. Never had a bit of trouble. And, they pull considerably more weight than the SRT.
Big AL
DOD - 02 APR 2020 - CANCER

drsteve
Explorer
Explorer
Jay Coe wrote:
westernrvparkowner wrote:
My parks are RVs only. Know many other park owners who operate the same way. We don't allow schoolies or homebuilts and we don't allow semis even though they have sleepers. A boat being used as an RV is something else that would not be allowed.


Well that's arrogant. If someone pays the fee, they should be able to camp in whatever they have. I've seen some **** creative school buses and homebuilts. If I put a ton of effort into fixing one up and got turned away at a campground, I'd be pissed! And I'd tear you a new one on Yelp.

What the f*ck? This site gave me 4 asterisks for d a m n but I can say pissed? Stupid site!


Yeah, except the great majority of schoolies and homebuilts look like Jed Clampett's RV. And if your park is a resort type operation, all that does is downgrade your facility in the eyes of other customers, who may decide to take their business elsewhere.
2006 Silverado 1500HD Crew Cab 2WD 6.0L 3.73 8600 GVWR
2018 Coachmen Catalina Legacy Edition 223RBS
1991 Palomino Filly PUP

Jay_Coe
Explorer
Explorer
westernrvparkowner wrote:
My parks are RVs only. Know many other park owners who operate the same way. We don't allow schoolies or homebuilts and we don't allow semis even though they have sleepers. A boat being used as an RV is something else that would not be allowed.


Well that's arrogant. If someone pays the fee, they should be able to camp in whatever they have. I've seen some **** creative school buses and homebuilts. If I put a ton of effort into fixing one up and got turned away at a campground, I'd be pissed! And I'd tear you a new one on Yelp.

What the f*ck? This site gave me 4 asterisks for d a m n but I can say pissed? Stupid site!
Legal disclaimer: Trust me, I know everything!

clayway
Explorer
Explorer
This is a little off topic, I live on the intracoastal waterway in Daytona Beach, this past week I saw a probably 40 ft landing craft going by with a Jeep & small travel trailer on it.

shastagary
Explorer
Explorer
i think he needs the boaterhome youtube boaterhome