First Launch With New Camper

P

PNW_Wesley

New member
Karen and I have owned many RVs over the years.

Our current travel trailer is a 32 foot with three slides. We love using the trailer, but we wanted to be able to take our boat on trips. We are keeping our trailer because it is so comfortable for extended trips.

We picked up our new Lance 825 on December 29, and have made several trips with it. We are enjoying getting it ready for our trip to Flaming Gorge, Bear Lake, and Jackson Lake in May.

Today is the first time we’ve towed and launched the boat behind the camper. All went smoothly.

Mabel, my trusty ‘07 GMC, handles the rig just fine. She has hauled heavy trailers across the mountains, and across the country, many times.

10IMG_5545.jpg
 
Nice! What is even nicer is if your tow rig has the Duramax diesel engine? Last year of the Duramax to avoid the change in smog control. Great photo and good to know that it was easy to launch.
 
Hold onto it. It will last your lifetime and possibly well into the next generation to follow. :)

Youngest daughter got a job in Orem, Utah. Will look for you and Zenith on the water. Gary
 
You will like to option of having the camper or the boat when travelling. We haul with a '12 F350 diesel and an 8' Adventurer camper. I hardly notice that I am pulling the boat. One thing I did do was add a backup camera to the camper, mounted high above the man door. It does two things for me, firstly I can turn it on while driving so see that the boat is still there, secondly it really helps when backing up, especially into a tight campsite or down the boat ramp.
 
To expand on what Peter wrote, when towing with an RV, we put a camera on the top of the RV(--or truck), plus a second camera on th back of the cabin of the C Dory. The one on the C Dory gives you a good idea of what is coming up behind--and also helps with positioning the boat for launch. We temporally zip tie the cables to the bow pulpit and then the hand rails--camera is on a wooden base, with non skid silicone on the back, and shock cords to footman's loops on each side to hold it in place.
 
I have a backup camera on the back of my 22 above the door. It is wireless and connects to a tablet (or phone) via wifi. Very handy when backing up, launching and maneuvering in tight spaces.
 
ssobol":1e5soxox said:
I have a backup camera on the back of my 22 above the door. It is wireless and connects to a tablet (or phone) via wifi. Very handy when backing up, launching and maneuvering in tight spaces.
Click to expand...


I have an "I-ball" camera that blue tooths to my monitor in the Tundra. I rewired the camera (from an internal 9 VDC battery) to plug into the 12 volt cig plug in the cabin. Did that because the 9 volt would die in about 2 hours.

I'm curious what camera you are using, and how its powered and the transmit time? My I-ball monitor is very small, and pretty low quality.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon
 
Peter & Judy" One thing I did do was add a backup camera to the camper said:
When I ordered my camper, I had the optional rear camera installed. My travel trailer also has a rear camera.

Here is the view of Zenith from my truck's monitor.

IMG_5551.sized.jpg
Click to expand...
 
Our 2006 dually duramax with 2006 Eagle Cap 950 camper and the C-Dory with Atlin lake, BC in the background. We tend to only use the camper boat combo for the short trips, where we plan on staying for a while & traveling from a base area like summers at Yellowstone. We have used it as a combo on only one of our trips to Alaska & found the extra weight, just not worth it on the road, where the boat as a camper worked just as well or better, being as we were staying in it anyway for up to 3 months on the Alaska waters & the trips up & back were made fairly fast.

The Chevy Silverado duramax has 166,000 miles on it and though very reliable, I have in the past year spent $11,000 making sure it stays that way & well worth it as a new replacement would be at least $80,000+ & not have the additive free diesel.
DSC00443.jpg
 
hardee":1vh099ig said:
ssobol":1vh099ig said:
I have a backup camera on the back of my 22 above the door. It is wireless and connects to a tablet (or phone) via wifi. Very handy when backing up, launching and maneuvering in tight spaces.
Click to expand...


I have an "I-ball" camera that blue tooths to my monitor in the Tundra. I rewired the camera (from an internal 9 VDC battery) to plug into the 12 volt cig plug in the cabin. Did that because the 9 volt would die in about 2 hours.

I'm curious what camera you are using, and how its powered and the transmit time? My I-ball monitor is very small, and pretty low quality.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon
Click to expand...

Don't remember the brand, something Chinese. Very similar to this one (may be the same): https://www.amazon.com/Wireless-Las...082&sprefix=wifi+backup+camera,aps,103&sr=8-5

The camera is in a sturdy metal housing and is powered by the boat battery system. There is an app that controls it. The camera is on whenever the boat battery switch is on. The camera has IR for low light operation. I use a second hand Android tablet for a monitor. The tablet fits on the truck dashboard right in front of me when in use.

The camera can also be used to view the cockpit area when cruising (like when I'm in the berth).
 
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