florida trip for three months stay

P

patrick and linda

New member
So, linda and I will be departing lake Cumberland and traveling, via motorhome to Florida this sunday. It's been a dream of ours for many years. Now retired and able to make this journey, we are undecided wether to tow our 17' Montauk. I would tow the whaler with our motorhome and linda would drive our jeep liberty. It's an 850mi one way trip. Our stay will be for three months. Here's the concern, driving alone when we could enjoy the drive together. We could rent a run about on the days we want to boat, but that would be an additional expense. Any advice suggestions greatly appreciated.
 
patrick and linda-

Bite the bullet and tow the Whaler and drive the Liberty seperately.

What's it take to go the 850 miles? Two days? (Two 8 hour days, actually!)

And you're looking forward to three months (minus two 8-hour days at either end to drive) together?

3 months = 2160 hours

2160 hours - 32 hours driving = 2128 hours together!

2128/2160 = 98.5% of the time together……….

And you're worried about a few 8 hour segments?

So what are you? Newley weds on a Honeymoon? :lol:

Talk to each other on your cell phones as you drive to discuss what you see on the trip.

Enjoy the tow trip! And the rest to the vacation!

Joe. :teeth :thup
 
Back in times BC (before C-Dory), we towed a sailboat behind our motorhome, and Joan drove separate with an SUV as our daily driver and launch vehicle. We used FRS radios to communicate, with phones as a backup.

After a few years, that got old. But, at first, it was a fun, new treat - having the amenities of the motorhome, and pulling the boat to new places. We found it was better if we were staying in one place for a while, with a place to keep the boat in the water. Of course, there is more work in rigging a sailboat than putting in your Whaler.

The upside: having all your stuff available to use.

The downside: Not being able to converse normally while enroute. Our length was nearly 80' total (coach and sailboat) - Joan would "make a hole for me" when I needed to change lanes; her view (back of the boat) didn't change the whole trip. Finding RV parks that could accommodate our length plus the extra vehicle. Not as easy to be "spontaneous".

After a few years of that, we bought a Class B campervan and a small, easy to rig sailboat, a SunCat. No extra tow vehicle. We had a LOT of fun with that setup, the Class B was perfect for traveling, less so for extended stays in one place. Easy to be spontaneous - if we came across a lake, a pond, or a river that looked interesting, we could put the boat in and still know we'd have a place to spend the night when we were done.

Try it. See how you like the "caravan" style. Keep us posted.

Best wishes,
Jim B.
 
I don't get it. You have Misty Seas, a 27' cruiser w/bimini, probably A/C, concerned with additional expenses and you're taking a Whaler to Florida for 3 months???

Why not can the motorhome and the Whaler, tow the cruiser and be done with it except for the enjoyment part?

Please fill the void.

Aye.
 
We take the trip to the keys which is about 780 miles, with the RV towing the 18 foot Caracal and Marie driving the Yukon XL. Either of the vehicles can tow the C Dory or Caracal. But with a 42 foot RV, and the C Dory 22, we avoid certain states and parts of states which are more strict on the over all length (about 70 feet). When we take the C Dory and RV out to Powell etc--we tow with the RV all of the way. Going to Calif, or the Keys, we will tow in those areas with the Yukon.

We have radios which have batteries which last 8 hours--and each have two of these. Unfortunately no longer made--they are Tri Square eXtreme Radio service 100's. The range is about 5 miles, and since they rotate frequency they are secure, and no interference. If we loose that, we go to cell phones which have unlimited calling plans. We are in constant radio contact. Marie runs interference for me from behind if we are in heavy traffic.

For us, it is more comfortable to live in the 42 foot RV, 4 slides, with household 22 cu foot refer, full stove, convection over, 2 high Def TV, queen bed, etc for the few months we are in the keys. Air conditioning is not essential this time of the year in S. Florida--but nice some days. We usually have the fans on and windows open. We have spent many years full time cruising, and at this stage in life, both of us are better in the RV. Hopefully it is not the end of cruising in boats…but this year I was not able to use the C Dory…hopefully next year.

Patrick and Linda if you get to the keys, please check in with us at Knight's key space Harbor 6. There are boat slips right behind the RV's. Fishing is good from the smaller boats. I would prefer to use my own boat, over a rental.

I suspect in Patrick and Linda's case, a Jeep Liberty would be challenged to tow their 27 foot boat.
 
Foggy":1r79qnwd said:
Seems like a case of boater turning landlubber to me...

Aye.
Click to expand...

I don't see that one has to be either/or myself. I've been boating since my parents had a special "car seat" like contraption they strapped me into on one of the thwarts -- and I still like boats and boating more than just about anything I can think of. However there is also room in my life for other modes of travel, such as RV-ing. Sometimes it's to see places boats can't take me (mountains, for example); other times it's because I want to be with people who are on land; occasionally I want the (relative) ease of road travel; and there have been times I (or a pet) have had an injury that made it more prudent to stay off the water. During none of these trips did I feel like I had "turned" into a landlubber.
 
Foggy":2hytrt4i said:
Seems like a case of boater turning landlubber to me...

Aye.
Click to expand...

The OP inquired about towing a boat with an RV. Sharing RV experience, especially considering the extensive boat experience Dr. Bob has, is what the OP is asking for. Using "landlubber" that way seems a bit disrespectful. It's still early in the winter season... a bit less snarky will go a long way towards the "just be nice" policy. Do you have anything helpful to add to the discussion?

Jim B.
 
My mistake. "Landlubber" was the wrong word to use.
It just seems like more on water opportunities are available
in a pilothouse vessel than an open vessel for three months
in one of our best boating states.
It would be my preference. Others need not agree.

Aye.
 
Hi Pat & Linda, Glad to hear about you all going to Fl. for the Winter. We are on the Road now going down there for 3 mon. also. What we do in the RV that works for us. We have a Honda 250 Helix Scooter on a rack behind the RV, to ride and use as needed. Behind that is Pandy Girl we are a little long but have not had any problems. ( There is a Pic in our Albums of our RV) We are going to Fort Myers Beach on the West Coast. Where are you going to in Fl?? Would love to see you all again Jim & Sandy Give me a PM or Call 336-416-1172
 
Pandy Girl":wdp8hz5s said:
What we do in the RV that works for us. We have a Honda 250 Helix Scooter on a rack behind the RV, to ride and use as needed. Behind that is Pandy Girl
Click to expand...

I'm interested to know/see more about how the scooter rack/trailer hitch/trailer tongue all work together. I've been thinking of "enlarging" my RV a bit (currently have smallish camper van), but the thought of having a bigger RV and no toad was a bit of a stopper (because I can't tow a car and the 22 at the same time). With the van, it works as a runaround car as well, but with a bigger RV it would be nice to have something else. I just didn't know both could be done, i.e. the scooter rack/hitch/boat trailer combo (of course presuming all weights are within specs on a given RV).

Also, do you launch and retrieve with the RV?

Thanks!

Here is Pandy Girl's rig from the album:

Jim_Sandy_004.jpg
 
Hi Pat & Linda, You all must be loading up the RV and about ready to head south. Sunbeam, We are on the Road heading south, I will take a few Pic. of the Rack & Hitch & Put it in our Album when we get everything unloaded about the first of the week, We also have a bike rack for 2 on the front of the Boat Trailer. We do not Put the boat in with the RV. Some of the Campgrounds will put it in for us, or there is always someone will ask can we help you??? Jim
 
Pandy Girl":1bs7f26m said:
I will take a few Pic. of the Rack & Hitch & Put it in our Album when we get everything unloaded about the first of the week...
Click to expand...

Thanks for the additional info, and I'm looking forward to seeing photos when you get a chance (would like to see the boat trailer bicycle rack too!). Lots of good ideas, it sounds like :thup
 
I have not launched with the current RV, but would have no problem if I wanted to. We had a 38 foot diesel pusher, and I put a trailer hitch on the front of it for boat launching. I also solo launched the C Dory 25 with a 30 foot RV, using the rear hitch on some difficult ramps. There were other times, where the turning radius was too difficult with the larger RV, and I found a nearby ramp which allowed the room I needed.

We did a 6 month AK trip with the 38 foot diesel pusher, carried a motor cycle on a ramp loaded hitch carrier, and carried a 12 foot inflatable, and 8 hp motor in the bay under the RV.

There are basically tow types of rear carriers; hydraulic or electric lifts, or push on/winch on ramp loaded lifts. The ramp loaded were cheaper. Most of these require two additional 2" sq. tubing hitches be installed on each side of the primary hitch to steady and take the load.

We found that carrying the motorcycle was a great way to see AK--and since it was an off road type it opened up some vistas, where even Jeeps could not easily go---and we were a lot younger, and able to take the rougher ride with such a bike.
 
Thanks for the great responses! This trip was planned years ago and because it's the first,of many, we hope, we have decided not to trailer a boat. I really wanted linda and mr radar to be in the motorhome with me. We departed earlier today, we have set up for this evening in a wal mart parking lot with about 10 other rvs, just about 136 from the Florida line. We'll return to Nashville in April and once again launch our Nordic tug and whaler on old hickory lake. Pandy girl, very nice rig! Always good to hear from br bob and Jim. Thanks to the others as well. On a different note, this past august linda and I traveled to Puerto Rico to visit a friend. He recently bought a 36' center console that has three 350 merc outboards. I will post pics. Unbelievable!
 
Congratulations for getting off on the road on time--and making a very good day! Sounds like you found a great WalMart RV campsite! Good driving--and we all want to follow your adventures.
 
Enjoy your winter in the warmth! It's not always easy to "take it all with you." There are plenty of ways to get your water-fix in Florida, even without your own boat. Have fun!

Best wishes,
Jim
 
Just for general discussion, other alternatives are an aluminum boat over the TOAD; There are easy loading racks which will take up to a 15 foot boat, with man power or 12 volt motors. Kayaks on the TOAD are another popular way to go.
 
Our stay last evening was at wal mart exit 136 on I-75. I would highly recommend their location for a stay over. Great ingress and egress. Surrounded by good restaurants in easy walking distance. Verysafe environment. Another contributing factor for not towing our whaler was time consideration. Linda work's out four times a week and i am in the gym five to six times a week. So with seeing the sites and visiting friends it's tough, right now, to justify bringing our boat. Your responses helped us make our final decision. Motorhome is running well, average speed is 70. No hurry but old habits are hard to break. I would highly highly recommend retirement. Dr bob, Jim, paddy girl, and others, really appreciate your advice and comments. At flying j exit 2 in ga for fuel and breakfast. Life is good. Linda and I will toast you all with a fine beverage tonight. Snowing today in Cincinnati, but 70 where we are. Those poor sob's. Lol
 
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