Double towing - what things to consider ?

[tnduxcaller]

You mentioned a smaller put on top boat. We bought a 41ft toy hauler last year and a 3500 Dodge 4 door flat bed. The garage part of the toy hauler is 12 ft long. You might could put a small boat in it. The weight limit is 2500 lbs. Just a thought

[Hanr3]

I researched a lot of options.
RV towing boat- pros, quick and easy set-up. Con's- have to break camp every time you want to launch/retrieve boat. Not really conducive to lakes, campgrounds without overnight boat docks.
Have teh wife pull the boat. That would be a No, her quote. She would rather ride with me and let me do all the driving. I'm cool with that.
Slide in camper- pros- functional. Cons- That would be a No, her words again. Plus you need a serious truck to carry the weight in the bed.
Pretty much left me with the 5th wheel option.

Go to the RV shows this winter. Your up by Chi-Town right? The RV shows is a great time to climb in them and imagine how you would live in it. How you would cook, where food would go, where the clothes would go, how the bathroom is set-up, how the living room and tv are organized, dining room table, etc. Pretend to go through a meal, prep for bed, take a shower etc. Sit in it and mentally walk through it. I played that game with the wife. She pointed out things she like and didn't like. We looked and massive triple axle units down to tear drop campers. Then I went internet shopping. Found the models we liked, then found the nearest dealer that had them in stock so we could check them out. The biggest thing is the floor layout. Where is everything located. Can you work with it? Shelving, storage organization, etc. can be added. But it's real hard to move the toilet or move a sink.

[skunked again]

Hanr3 - thank you! Very thoughtful reply! Alot of what you wrote, are things we have discussed as well ! Your first paragraph sounds like us ! Are our wives related?!?!? She did however, surprise me tonight. Said she'd be willing to tow a 10' boat, as long as she didn't have to back up !!! First time she's made that offer. I think the real reason is she doesn't want to get rid of the frontier, and get a full size vehicle. I'm mixed on whether or not I want a full size vehicle.
We live a half hour east of st louis. I'll look and see if they're having a rv show this year. I like your idea. We did go to a dealer in st louis last month, walked in three different campers. With what you said in mind. Found one we liked. It's a bumper pull, which eliminates double towing.

[Hanr3]

This is the dealer I bought my KZ 231RK from. Excellent customer service. I had a couple of warranty issues and they took care them without question or hassle. I made an appointment and drove 3 1/2 hours one way to make the first thing in the am appointment. Told them what my plans were and they had me back on the road that afternoon.
Travers St. Louis RV | Trailer & Fifth Wheel Dealer - Saint Louis, MO

[skunked again]

Thank you sir !

[Baitwaster]

I researched a lot of options.
RV towing boat- pros, quick and easy set-up. Con's- have to break camp every time you want to launch/retrieve boat. Not really conducive to lakes, campgrounds without overnight boat docks.

Very true. I bought an aluminum boat for parking on the banks. I usually only take the boat with the RV when we plan to play for several days and the water and campsite are in close proximity. My family often camps w/o the boat or much in the way of water, and I usually take day trips to go fishing without the family and camper.
My parents seems to be very conflicted on this very topic too. The bottom line is that there is no perfect solution, just what works best for you.

[DoyleAlley]

If you really want to double tow, let me give you one more option. Instead of going with a very heavy duty pickup and 5th wheel you can go with a motor home which tows a normal car which is towing the jon boat. That bypasses the problem of the travel trailer not having a good rear hitch and an also winds up with a lower total cost. You just have to make sure the toad (vehicle being towed) is capable of being towed flat (most auto-transmission 2wd vehicles CANNOT be towed flat).

[Hanr3]

If you really want to double tow, let me give you one more option. Instead of going with a very heavy duty pickup and 5th wheel you can go with a motor home which tows a normal car which is towing the jon boat. That bypasses the problem of the travel trailer not having a good rear hitch and an also winds up with a lower total cost. You just have to make sure the toad (vehicle being towed) is capable of being towed flat (most auto-transmission 2wd vehicles CANNOT be towed flat).

Let's step this game up a notch. Get a over/under trailer for the car and boat. Then pull one trailer behind the RV. Legal in all states.

[skunked again]

Hanr3 - that set-up, while sweet, costs more than our house, all four cars and boat !!

[Snubby]

My first consideration would not be the load that could be towed, but other what I could tow (legally or in good-faith) with my setup. Your workhorse (the towing vehicle) dictates much of this. Diesel is the way to go in my honest opinion. 5th wheel to a bumper pull for a trailer if necessary. The motor home with towing a boat is happy medium for sure. Make sure your accessories match the options of your towing ability first and foremost. After all, the truck is doing all the work!