pulling a l900 pro v with a small motor home

[sambo@wyoming.com]

Can anyone advise me on this subject. I have a chance to purchase a very small(21') motorhome with a 400cc auto set up. Would this tow okan and partricularly can a guy launch okay on most ramps?

[Muleskinner]

You can do it buddy! We Pulled a 19 foot rinker glass boat with a motor home with a 360 in it just fine and launched in Pathfinder and seminoe all the time. Just make sure you keep the brakes in good shape. If you don't you might have a ice hut for next year with a 400 in it. I pull my new 1900 with a f350 crew diesel but thats my problem. Happy Catching.

[REW]

This will actually work pretty well.
The only real problem, is that you might need to shift down now and then.

The only real time that you notice the boat behind, is starting, stopping, and passing. With that much boat behind - your days of passing 65 mph traffic, are behind you. However, you will be able to nicely tow the boat all day at 55 - 60 mph. You will notice about a 2 mph reduction in gas mileage.

Boat launching is generally not too much of a chore, depending on the facility and ramp.

One thing that I did - for use at very long ramps etc. was to install a hitch on the front bumper. I don't use the hitch very often, but - for those ramps that are very long, or filled with curves, the use of the front hitch makes the launch and retrival - trivial.

______
One thing that you do want to do - if there is not one already installed, is to install a transmission oil cooler on the radiator.
By installing the transmission oil cooler on the radiator - it keeps the transmission oil much cooler, and greatly lengthens the life of the transmission.

-
If you decide to pass - when pulling the boat -- practice in a deserted section of the highway - to learn about the acceleration characteristics of your fully loaded rig.

Because of the wind drag of the camper - at speed - the boat - pretty much drafts along and is virtually transparent - to the vehicle.
However, during times of acceleration, passing, or stopping - you will notice that the boat is really back there. If you have surge or electric brakes on your trailer --- so much the better.

Make sure that you select a transmission gear to minimize shifting. If you are in drive, or over drive, and are constantly shifting - then shift down. If you are in 2nd and shifting down - then go down to 1st - until you get out of the shifting requirements.

Keep your engine rpms up and your shifting down, and you will do fine towing your rig.

Just remember, you have a rig with a lot of side load, and is affected by side winds. Not only from the side load on the camper, but also by the side load on the boat.

Also, make sure that you have a good hitch height on your camper, so that your boat sits level. Raise or lower your ball to make this happen. You will tow better if you do.

Just remember to give yourself plenty of time to get where you are going. You will typically be driving at 55 - 60 mph. It will be tough on your rig, to travel much faster - pulling the 3500 lbs of your boat. Also, depending on your trailer brakes - remember about the stopping time.

If you get into a hilly situation, don't get upset, or worry about your time, if you have to drop your towing speed to 45. You will get there fine, and will probably be able to tow faster, but there is no sense in abusing your engine or transmission.

Take care and enjoy your new purchase.

REW

[Eyefish]

One word of advice here. If you have a wife and want to keep her, do not ever under any circumstances raise your voice or make wild gestures as she is backing your boat off the side of the ramp or dragging it up the ramp beside the boat trailer. The possibilities here are limitless.

[s.f.]

Quite a few years ago, I decided the motorhome idea sounded good, as it would, in the long run, save me money on the tournament schedule.
Boy was I wrong! The only thing that WAS not a total disaster, was launching or loading. The rest of the fishing experience revolving around the motorhome concept was. (in comparrison to the conventional way that includes a normal tow vehicle and motels.)
I had to pay to park it if i wanted some comforts. I had to set up only to break it down, inside and out, to go get bait, gas, tackle, eat out, run an unexpected urgent errand....well...it wasn't a cake walk. The gas mileage, the parking, the hassle, surely wasn't saving me anything. I saw zero convenience except while on the road when I got tired of driving.
And by the way, this rig was a demo rig offered to me at no cost, by a major manufacturer. I brought it back after the first trip. That all said...if you have someone follow you with a small tow vehicle for operating with while your at the fishing site, you'll have fun.

Just my opinion basd on my experiences and math work.

Good luck!

#49
Steve Fellegy

[Pitts]

That will be your #1 complaint not having wheels to run around with at the campsite. If I was fishing tourneys I would definately use the motels but if your wife will drive the car along for the everyday camping thing its a pretty laid back way to go.
Motorhome motor and transmission combinations are made for pulling hard because of the extra load created by the vehicle. I have had my boat behind 2 different homes a 28' and a 24' and besides being real long and a tough launch in tight areas they pull great and you hardly notice them back there. Both homes had huge back windows so seeing the boat back there was easy in the rearview mirror.
I for one think a heavy duty pickup 2500 or 3500 size with a camper and a good hitch is a better way to go.
My .02


Pitts