Start planning - Chicago Boat show 14 - 18 Jan 2016

[dlandersson]

Chicago Boat show 14 - 18 Jan 2016 - start planning

http://www.chicagoboatshow.com/

[1st Sail]

We will definitely be attending this year. This is the year of the motor home. We plan to enlarge the tow beast to a mobile live aboard. My wife suggested to me a year ago "Since you like to sail and I want to travel, can't we compromise and pull the boat with a motor home?" Thus the start of possibly the "Greatest Loop". We are seriously thinking of traveling the USA pulling the Mac. We will travel to various states with great sailing lakes, reservoirs, and river systems throughout the USA. Alternately we will leave the boat in marina storage or home and venture off on land based travel. Living is boring Illinois we have a great pivot point for all points of sail/travel. Because of her asthma cold, damp, humidity, mold, mildew etc. is often times a struggle. We have found if we pick the good weather days she manages very well. With the MH we can wait out the bad weather days at our own pace.
Now we are in the hunt for a MH/tow beast.

[dlandersson]

Chicago is the setting for "Chiraq" and Gary is the murder capitol of the world and you are bored?

Living is boring Illinois

[dlandersson]

Anyone planning on going have any dates planned? I have a fair amount of flexibility.

Chicago Boat show 14 - 18 Jan 2016 - start planning

http://www.chicagoboatshow.com/

[Lee Ward]

We will definitely be attending this year. This is the year of the motor home. We plan to enlarge the tow beast to a mobile live aboard. My wife suggested to me a year ago "Since you like to sail and I want to travel, can't we compromise and pull the boat with a motor home?" Thus the start of possibly the "Greatest Loop". We are seriously thinking of traveling the USA pulling the Mac. We will travel to various states with great sailing lakes, reservoirs, and river systems throughout the USA. Alternately we will leave the boat in marina storage or home and venture off on land based travel. Living is boring Illinois we have a great pivot point for all points of sail/travel. Because of her asthma cold, damp, humidity, mold, mildew etc. is often times a struggle. We have found if we pick the good weather days she manages very well. With the MH we can wait out the bad weather days at our own pace.
Now we are in the hunt for a MH/tow beast.

My wife and I have been looking at the same thing for months. We're looking at a class C. I was worried about backing down the ramp to launch and retrieve the boat as motorhomes have been known to float away when the rear starts floating and it loses traction. I ran across a simple solution to this, put a hitch on the front bumper. Ford makes a pickup cab diesel that looks nice, albeit really really pricey.

[NiceAft]

pull the boat with a motor home?"

A waterbago being pulled by a Winnebago, post pictures

Ray

[1st Sail]

The Winnebago pulls my Waterbago is in full research and development.
Things think I've learned:
Suspect turning radius and overhang behind rear axel is a ramp issue
Front and rear axel maximum load with 400lbs hitch weight requires careful review of every model MH
Factory weights are not to be trusted. Prior to purchase recommend filling all tanks, fuel, water, propane and weighing at a certified weigh station,
weigh front, rear, and all four corners with Mac attached, then check with factory chassis mfg load specs
Check GVW and GCVW
Maximum vehicle and trailer length varies buy state http://www.goodsamcamping.com/plan/SizeLimits.aspx
Small Class C's can't handle the GCVW (ex. Winnie Navion)
Min. Class C Ford 450 chassis, @22,000 GCVW are acceptable, you can pull the Mac with and still have storage MH storage capacity in the motorhome.
Supper C's are a definite, power, GCVW, GVC, to spare
Negative Super C's there are very few (Nexus) under 32.5ft most are longer
Super C length is a definite length issue in most states
Good news is there are a lot of used C's Ford 450 chassis 30-32ft in the $50-$70K range. Still a lot of $ but competitive with a used/new 1500/2500
pickup/SUV and it comes with a fridge, shower, and crapper!
All things considered the GGLA (Giant Great Loop Attempt?) is a possibility. Sell the company and house and we are out of here.
www.rvt.com, www.irv2.com, www.rvusa.com, rvtrader.com, goodsam.com
There is a wealth of RV forum with great individuals willing to help just like this one.
Negative rv mfg quality assurance is inferior to the marine industry and that really backs me up. So far I have found one very positive rv forum that unconditionally speaks well of the mfg. http://www.phoenixusarv.com. New or used I plan to visit the factory soon.