Camping in a trailered Mac?

[mastreb]

My family has a reunion coming up in Southern Utah next summer. Typically my family would drive up and stay in a hotel, but we've been talking about perhaps renting an RV and staying at a campground instead this year, and maybe tacking on an additional week of vacation. Then we decided that we'd rather drive our SUV and tow a trailer than pay for an RV rental, but a quick look around the web revealed that there aren't many options at all for rental trailers. I guess they don't make as much revenue as a rental RV.

Then it occurred to me that we could actually just tow the Mac and use it as a camper. It's got all our "stuff" in it already, is setup the way we like, and actually has more sleeper space than a 24' rental trailer (Two adults, three kids).

If (big if) we decided to do this, I'd demast it and leave the foresail, boom, mast, and rigging in the garage. On my near stock boat, that's still easy. Without the mast and rigging, there would be no towing issues to worry about other than the axle and wheels. I've had zero trouble with the trailer thus far and it's only seven months old at this point. We would probably be going to Zion's, Bryce, and perhaps as far as four-corners, so the total round-trip would be between 1500 and 2000 miles.

Besides the obvious hassle of climbing the swim ladder to the cockpit for ingress/egress, are there any problems with this that I'm not considering or don't know about, such as rules against parking a boat in an RV lot, or some such? We would be overloading the trailer when we're aboard at night, but the boat is not moving so I don't think the static load rating would actually be exceeded.

Are there serious disadvantages I'm not thinking about compared with towing a 24' camper trailer? Am I stupid to even consider this? For example, we won't have any significant ability to level, I'm sure the trailer suspension will be wobbly (but certainly no more so than the water), etc. I've never stayed in an RV or camper trailer before, having done all my camping either in a boat or a tent.

Should we do this, we would probably put in at Lake Meade and motor around a bit, perhaps anchoring overnight or staying at the campgrounds there. If we don't take the boat we'd skip this part of the trip.

As always, collective wisdom and tales of having done this are appreciated!

[Phil M]

One drawback might be your standard, single-axle trailer.

Phil M

[mastreb]

One drawback might be your standard, single-axle trailer.

Phil M

Good point. I do have plenty of time to add an axle, should I decide it's warranted, and I've given that a lot of thought.

I've not pulled the trigger thus far because the boat seems to travel really well with the trailer "loaded", and adding a second axle will certainly at a lot of "bounce" to it. The I5 down here has long sections where the cement has settled between crossbars and they setup a rythmic bump that can really get a lightly loaded or oversprung trailer jumping. The trailer is far scarier to tow empty than with the boat on it for this reason. An extra axle would definitely be stiffer while moving about inside it though.

I have to say that although the boat certainly "looks" overloaded on the single axle, it trailers well at least with my SUV (a diesel 6 with trailer stability assist, i.e., it custom brakes individual wheels of the truck any time it detects excessive sway). There are a few times I've felt the TSA kick in here on the I5 at 65MPH, but it tamps down any sway that the trailer is doing immediately, so there's no bucking, pulling, or sway that I have to deal with. Frankly it's a hull of a tow vehicle which is surprising because it was purchased to be the Admiral's overpriced minivan.

I've never hauled the boat up a grade or down, and we are talking about a 4000 foot rise along with the Virgin River Gorge. I know a slow back road we can use to get around going through the gorge, but we're probably actually safer slow rolling it on the freeway.

Input from those who've added an axle to the stock trailer?

[alanmoor]

Two things I can think of are dealing with waste water from the sink (ours goes into the lake) and showers.

I'm thinking of adding an axle to my trailer too, so I'm curious about the experience others have had doing this.

[pokerrick1]

Just be sure your trailer is maintained (tires, tire pressure, etc) and I don't see any problem with up to 3,000 miles for using the Mac as a camper. Lake Mead is an excellent place to motor around. Don't forget at least your handheld GPS - - - one can easily get lost in Lake Mead - - - you can fit the State Of Rhode Island into it.

I accidently camped in my in 2006 when I took it to Lake Mead for Mead Madness but arrived after the gates were closed (I didn't know there were gates); so I just parked outside the gates, spent the night in the boat, and entered the Park after the gates opened in the morning (come to think about it that may be the only time I actually camped in my life) (my definition of camping is a Holiday Inn vs a Hilton).

Also, you may be able to use the boat in Utah and be a Family Hero by taking others.

Rick

[mastreb]

Just be sure your trailer is maintained (tires, tire pressure, etc) and I don't see any problem with up to 3,000 miles for using the Mac as a camper. Lake Mead is an excellent place to motor around. Don't forget at least your handheld GPS - - - one can easily get lost in Lake Mead - - - you can fit the State Of Rhode Island into it.

I'll leave the chartplotter installed--I had no idea it's that big, but looking at it on Google Earth its easy to see you're right. More of an inland sea, really.

I'd planned on getting the trailer professionally serviced before this trip. It'll be 1.5 years old and more than ready for it by then. Good confirmation. While I do have just the single axle, I do carry a spare trailer wheel and the truck has the tools to change it.

(my definition of camping is a Holiday Inn vs a Hilton).

Mine too. Unfortunately growing up "in Utah" means a lot of forced camping. I'm only just now warming up to the idea of doing it of my own free will.

Also, you may be able to use the boat in Utah and be a Family Hero by taking others.

And we've got a winner for exactly why I should not take the boat!

[nedmiller]

The Mac is a lot to pull especially in the mountains...and there are always issues with where to park, etc. It does make a great place to stay on a trip though. If you aren't in a hurry, it's great fun to plan your trip stops where there is a decent size lake--doesn't have to be very big...without the mast set up, it's a breeze to drop in the water, spend the night, and then pull out in the morning. You can often get beautiful sunsets and sunrises and get to secluded and quiet places. Often there is no launch fee or it is $5 or $10 which is a lot cheaper than staying in any campground! You can take cockpit showers if you take a couple of those black bags--sun showers. Put them in the cockpit during the day and shower in the evening...fill the next morning.

SILK

[ROAD Soldier]

The POs of my boat lived in the boat traveling across country staying overnight at Wall Mart parking lots. They were missionaries and believe it or not they are still married traveling around Africa.

[Mac26Mpaul]

I guess its similar for retirees there in the US, but here in OZ we have what we call "The grey nomads". This is the term we use to describe the huge number of retirees who sell up everything and buy a caravan (trailer) and travel around the country for a few years, or sometimes for the rest of their days. OZ is about the same size as the US but mostly uninhabited. Amazingly, I have now heard of a 2 sets of retirees who are doing it towing a Mac rather than a caravan! Apparently in one park the owners of the Mac made lots of friends when they put the mast up, raised a sail and used a projector to stream a movie onto the sail (I'm not making this up ).

Personally, I would deffinately want another axel, some better tyres, and a stronger, better drawbar setup and a very strong tow vehicle and a heap of dollars for petrol (its 3 times more expensive here). WIth all that, I cant see why it could make a perfectly acceptable road caravan with obvious huge benifits if you come across a pretty body of water

[Sumner]

Normally I'd say yes to this, but considering where you are going I'd say no. We like staying in ours when we can on the road, but I've been over all the roads you mention and it is not a trip to be taken pulling the boat if you don't have too.

The climb you mentioned to St. George is a major one, but divided highway. From there into Zion it is also major. Also if you want to go through Zion and out the other side you might have a major problem getting through the tunnel there. It has restrictions on height and width and I think the width is 7'-9 or 10 if I remember right. I think you can get through with a permit, which means waiting for them to convoy you through. Even if you get through the tunnel you won't enjoy hauling that boat in Zion or some of the other places on your trip. From that area over to and including the 4-corners you have all 2 lane highways and lots of grades of various lengths and steepness.

We hauled ours on similar roads in Idaho, so it is possible, I just wouldn't recommend it. I don't think it would be a fun pull and for sure not with a single axle and I would hope you have brakes. We came close to turning the trans. into toast up in Canada on a long downhill using a lower gear to try and save the brakes. This was before we added the second axle and brakes.

You will be going through some of the most beautiful country in the United States, don't ruin the experience hauling the boat through it. 4-Corners is 90 miles from us, but since we are at 6000 feet we can see it from just outside, along with Monument Valley, Telluride, Mesa Verde and more. If you go to Arches or Canyonlands 70 miles north of us you will probably go through Blanding. Stop and say hi if we are home and if I can help with info on southern Utah PM me,

Sum

Our Endeavour 37

Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Our MacGregor S Pages

Mac-Venture Links

[bartmac]

Actually the "grey nomad" tag has been replaced by other long suffering road users......they are now called aluminium speed bumps......due to thier aluminium caravans/campers and the lack of speed/urgency.All jokes aside we are also setting up to use our Mac26X as a pointy caravan....both on and off the water.Currently fitting greywater holding bladder which for some waterways/marine parks/lakes is required anyway,already fitted 300 litres of water bladders and compost toilet,12v dc to 12v dc charging system so our tow vehicle will charge the Mac batteries and run our fridge.The fitment of both a dodger and bimini and a connecting cover will make the cockpit more useable...shade & some weather protection....because trapped in a small boat is very claustrophobic

[mastreb]

Thanks for all the input. So I do have brakes on the trailer and I know they're working as of today just fine. The tow vehicle's capacity is 7500 lbs. so we're really only at about 50% of capacity presuming the unloaded boat. Probably 60% with the kit that will be in it. The tow vehicle is a diesel that gets 20..21 MPG while towing the boat, and up easily 25 MPG highway when not towing, so fuel would cost less than half what it would cost to refuel an RV.

The strong consideration comes from the fact that I'll be saving $3000 over renting an RV and about $1500 over renting a trailer. I can definitely squeeze a second axle into that math. Just driving and renting a hotel will cost us about $800. Even paying $30/night to park, we're only at $200 if we take the boat--and I doubt we'd be paying that.

Sumner I hear what you're saying about roads. Our plan today is St. George, Zion, Bryce, and Four corners/Mesa Verde, but that plan was made when we were thinking we'd go RV and/or trailer. If we decide to take the boat, I'll likely go Lake Meade instead, or we will leave the boat in a campground in St. George and just do day trips for Zion and Bryce, going back to St. George at night. I'm not afraid of the I-15 with the boat, but trying to do some of those switchbacks in a 55 foot long consist would be harrowing to say the least.

So I think I'm going to keep thinking about this. We will take "back country" off the itinerary if we tow the boat--but would it really be any different towing a 24' long trailer in any case? Sounds like it would be RV or nothing if we were going to go to Zion and Bryce canyons? I've been past them hundreds of times but never to them, so I don't know what I'm getting into there.

And we'll definitely stop by when we're in the neighborhood!

[Sumner]

...... Our plan today is St. George, Zion, Bryce, and Four corners/Mesa Verde, but that plan was made when we were thinking we'd go RV and/or trailer. If we decide to take the boat, I'll likely go Lake Meade instead, or we will leave the boat in a campground in St. George and just do day trips for Zion and Bryce, going back to St. George at night. I'm not afraid of the I-15 with the boat, but trying to do some of those switchbacks in a 55 foot long consist would be harrowing to say the least.

So I think I'm going to keep thinking about this. We will take "back country" off the itinerary if we tow the boat--but would it really be any different towing a 24' long trailer in any case? Sounds like it would be RV or nothing if we were going to go to Zion and Bryce canyons? I've been past them hundreds of times but never to them, so I don't know what I'm getting into there.

And we'll definitely stop by when we're in the neighborhood!

Here is some added thoughts/suggestions. I think you said 'family reunion', so don't know how this would effect more people than just you.

First I personally think that Lake Powell is far more scenic than Meade. Also you say that you will be there in the summer. Both lakes can have temps well over 100 in the summer, but Lake Powell should be a few deg. lower than Mead. If you are thinking about the lakes then I assume you are also thinking about actually putting the boat in the water. Last I don't know how much time you have put aside for the trip, but you will be covering a lot of pretty territory.

One day in Zion and one day to go to Bryce is reasonable. If you have the boat or an RV the tunnel in Zion...

http://www.nps.gov/zion/frequently-aske ... tunnel.htm

... will be something that has to be considered. Look at the regs above.

With your tow rig I wouldn't be worried about I-15 or hills on the trip. Staying down in St. George and day trips out of there wouldn't appeal to me. Here is an alternative that I think you could handle with the boat.

Look at your map and you will see that highway 389 goes from Hurricane around the south side of Zion to Kanab. There is a climb out of Hurricane but other than that it is a good road. Tow over to Kanab or up to Mt. Carmel Junction and find a campground at one of those two places. Then day trip into Zion through the tunnel with the tow vehicle. That is a great way to see the park and you can go down into the whole park and back out the same way. Much more scenic than coming into the park from St. George. Then do a day trip up to Bryce.

Leave there going east from Kanab over to Page and Lake Powell on 89. A pretty drive and one that you should handle easily. Then put the boat in at Wahweap Marina.....



.... and go up the lake not down to the dam. You will soon be in spectacular scenery...





If you are thinking about Lake Powell you might want to read the first 3-5 pages of our trip report. It will give you some idea about the lake....

http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner ... index.html

Then leaving Page you have the option of going south to Flagstaff, 89, and catching 40 back to CA or heading SE from Page over towards the 4-corners on 98 to 160. Other than the deal of putting 4 body parts in 4 states at the same time 4-corners is a waste of a day in my opinion. Go east like you are going to 4-corners and see Monument Valley just north of Kayenta. Then from there you could go north past us to Moab and Arches and Canyonlands.

Lots of options though in the 4-corners area depending on how much time you have. If you want to go to Mesa Verde then go through 4-corners and on up to Cortez and into Mesa Verde. From there you can go over to Moab and Arches and Canyonlands and then north 30 miles to I70 and west and home or come back down 191 past us and on to Monument Valley and then to Flagstaff and home. I'm assuming you are in southern CA somewhere.

Lots of options,

Sum

Our Endeavour 37

Our Trips to Utah, Idaho, Canada, Florida

Our MacGregor S Pages

Mac-Venture Links

[Sea Wind]

Every time we trailer the Mac we stay at campgrounds and use it to sleep in. We think that it is several steps up from tent camping. We travel with two toddlers so Walmart parking lots are out. We like to stay at secure campgrounds that offer showers and clean restrooms. The average rate is $20-$40 most of the times without power.
I don’t know the area that you are going to, but this is what we have learned:
- We carry a plastic ladder step so that we do not have to use the boat ladder.
- We have an aluminum tandem trailer, you should consider the total weight including people that your single axle trailer is going to have to support. This is one more reason for considering adding the second axle.
- We use the campground facilities so no pottie or sink from boat are used these nights.
- If you don’t have netting on your boat hatches, now is a good time to consider the investment.
- If you want power either buy a transformer for your shore power or get a very long extension cord.
- A window fan in the companionway is a nice addition in hot nights if you have power.
- Keep most of the load in the vehicle, including bags of clothes and such, we only carry the essential in the boat including sheets pillows and blankets if necessary.

Good luck,
Sea Wind

[bscott]

Sum has excellent points-especially about 4 corners as it has turned into an Indian flea market. Monument Valley is a must see--Gouldings Monument Valley Trading Post--they run a pretty good tour operation.

I have also looked into hard side travel trailers--hard to find and expensive. Some of the new pop-ups sleep 6 or more and are ez to tow, park and erect. When my son was young, he had a dome tent that worked just fine.

If you are planning to do much towing out west a tandem axle is a definate plus as tire service is non-existant in many places and summer heat on asphalt is a tire killer. I do alot of high mountain pass travel and tandems with brakes (both axles) definately reduces panic on the switchbacks. I reduced my springs to 1.400# each with walking beams giving the trailer a softer ride that tracks like an arrow. Your M trailer independent suspension is a different deal but ez to fix.

Good luck on your trip planning

Bob