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Launching with an RV |
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Orlando76 
Grand Poobah 
Joined: May-21-2013 Location: Mount Dora, FL Status: Offline Points: 3108 |
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 Topic: Launching with an RVPosted: January-18-2016 at 11:18pm |
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I've seen it done. Never paid much attention. Now it's my turn to do it with a 2016 gas 22' Class C with aerial camera and my Nautique. Good maintained wide open ramp, medium slope. Going to have to do it daily for about 5 days. Who's done it? Thoughts? Being a shorter RV should I get a hitch extension for launching?
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1976 Ski Nautique 351 Escort 1993 Ski Nautique purple and black 351 HO PCM |
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baitkiller
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Joined: October-11-2011 Location: SW Florida Status: Offline Points: 1693 |
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Posted: January-18-2016 at 11:41pm |
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Front hitch.
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Jesus was a bare-footer.............
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Air206
Grand Poobah
Joined: September-28-2008 Location: Roanoke, VA Status: Offline Points: 3000 |
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Posted: January-18-2016 at 11:46pm |
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Done it. Class C and Truck Camper. A person on the dock or on the side with the most dangerous obstacle at water's edge Trusting your camera or mirrors are tough. Dealing with the rig on the ramp tends to make you (or me) forget about the boat, ramp and depth...... that's the spotter's job (and keeping you away from the dangerous obstacle).
Very doable - If your boat needs a good amount of depth to launch and you DON"T have much overhang, an extension might be useful.... but, an untrussed or non-laterally supported extension will diminish your towing capacity (and stability). You probably have some overhang but not a ton on a 22 footer.... |
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Air206
Grand Poobah
Joined: September-28-2008 Location: Roanoke, VA Status: Offline Points: 3000 |
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Posted: January-18-2016 at 11:49pm |
Done that - scary as heck......... backing the RV up the ramp and the parking area. 
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Orlando76
Grand Poobah
Joined: May-21-2013 Location: Mount Dora, FL Status: Offline Points: 3108 |
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Posted: January-18-2016 at 11:54pm |
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Steve, the ramp I'm using is at SML state park. from what I recall that ramp is decent, correct? Thinking you might be more familiar with it.
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Please support The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
1976 Ski Nautique 351 Escort 1993 Ski Nautique purple and black 351 HO PCM |
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Air206
Grand Poobah
Joined: September-28-2008 Location: Roanoke, VA Status: Offline Points: 3000 |
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Posted: January-19-2016 at 12:05am |
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Yes- Ramp is great - not a North Carolina ramp but great for Virginia. The best on the lake. Easy for ya.
Gonna visit me?  call, text or email me, what's your plan...............
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jbear
Grand Poobah
Joined: January-21-2005 Location: Lake Wales FL. Status: Offline Points: 8193 |
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Posted: January-19-2016 at 12:41am |
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used our Honey Motorhome for many a year at Sonny's Beach on the Bay. Just go slow..be careful..use a spotter. You'll be fine.
Ms. Patti could back the boat in with the Honey just fine...so get your wife to help. john |
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"Loud pipes save lives"
AdamT sez "I'm Canadian and a beaver lover myself"... |
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DrCC
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Joined: April-12-2004 Location: at home Status: Offline Points: 2868 |
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Posted: January-19-2016 at 12:55am |
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Used a cargo van with no back windows for years.
Stay calm, learn to luv your mirrors, slow and steady. Pre-think your set-up before you grab reverse. after 5 to 10 launches, you'll be a pro. |
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Air206
Grand Poobah
Joined: September-28-2008 Location: Roanoke, VA Status: Offline Points: 3000 |
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Posted: January-19-2016 at 1:03am |
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81nautique
Grand Poobah
Joined: September-03-2005 Location: Big Rock, Il Status: Offline Points: 5781 |
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Posted: January-19-2016 at 10:39am |
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We've done it for years in a 31 and now a 26 footer. I've been on some really long steep ramps on the Mississippi too, they can take your breath away sometimes but my advice is similar to above.
Take your time, don't let anyone else at the ramp rush you in fact ignore everyone except your partner. Take direction from no one except your partner. Once on the ramp I never leave the drivers seat. Don't rely on your park brake alone.....ever! If your Rv has a backup camera it probably has audio so although you can't talk TO the person in the boat you can see and hear what they want you to do. We don't use them anymore but at one point we had a cheap set of walkie talkies so we could communicate, Your cell phones on speaker work just as well. As long as your partner knows how to load and hook up the boat your job is to back down straight and wait for their commands. One thing I have never had a problem with was pulling out of any ramp, the Rv is so heavy I have never had a traction issue even on slick ramps so just use a nice easy foot on the throttle and once moving keep it going. Your 22 footer which I'll assume will be on a Ford E350 chassis will be geared pretty low and will pull out just fine. Relax and you'll be fine. |
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desertskier
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Joined: December-19-2006 Location: Az Status: Offline Points: 1115 |
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Posted: January-19-2016 at 11:38am |
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It's not that bad. I've been launching with my 29ft class C exclusively for years. Depending on the ramp it can be a little tight making the initial turn but with a 22 it shouldn't be a problem. Just go slowly and plan ahead. Take a walk down to the ramp and check it out if you haven't been there before. I have never had a spotter or helper. My wife stays in the boat. I turn the engine off, leave it in park with the e-brake on and the door open. So if it decides to go for a swim I can hopefully jump in when it goes rolling by
 . Although if the ramp is unusually steep I would get some help. I doubt you would need an extension. RV's typically have a greater distance from the rear tires to the hitch than SUV's and pickups. Just check where the generator is mounted so it doesn't get dunked otherwise there isn't much in the backend that can't get wet. And as already stated they get great traction and have plenty of power. In Arizona lots of people beach launch with them.
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baitkiller wrote: