A folding travel trailer on top of a 28' pontoon boat.

[RonKMiller]

The "hitch" area seems like a lot of wasted space. Could you figure out how to use that infrastructure to mount the table? It would give you more deck space.

Got any elevation sketches so those of us without vivid imaginations can get the picture?

That's an excellent observation - and one I too thought of after finishing my sketch. The top of the round vertical tube for the hitch jack would be a PERFECT place to mount a table - and at a good height too. I'll probably go with a standard plastic oval top. I may go to the trouble of having a custom two level triangular one built - I have a feeling more table top space is always a good idea.

The 32" HDTV will mount right above it. It also fits inside on the wall at the bottom of the queen bed - same articulating arm. We love watching old, classic movies on a warm night with pop corn - of course!

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[RonKMiller]

Proof of concept, still LOTS of work to do. This is with MAX loading - note the sand bags. Simulated are full gas, propane, batteries, water, food, furniture, railings, roofs, helm, 4 passengers, BEER - the works. Enough provisions for 1 week and 200 miles without visiting a marina.

Of course this is only a 1 acre pond.

The tie downs are only temporary ,OK? - until the locking wheel clamps, winch cable, etc. are installed - so don't ask.

A pretty good view from my front door...

https://picasaweb.google.com/MillerRonK ... 0ryqo4SZQQ#

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[cbavier]

Watch that first step! The doors on the trailer are on the sides and that is over the side of the boat isn't it?
I would also worry about it being top heavy. If this is a permanent installation I would at least take the wheels and axle off

I figure I've got about a 1' foot wide "gang way" to work with to access the door - not a problem with a couple of grab rails mounted on the side of the trailer.

The whole idea is to not make it permanent - I want to be able to use the trailer as is the rest of the year. The prime seasons for Powell are spring and fall. Steenking hot in summer and frigid in winter.

Top heavy is not a concern, the cg is actually quite low compared to most trailers and directly over the axle. When cruising over 10 knots it will be folded to lower it even more and to help with wind resistance. I've pulled the trailer with my one ton crew cab at 80 mph and it handles exceptionally well.

Appreciate the insight though and keep it coming!

I think the idea is very cleaver and probably could work out with a few tweeks here and there. Post some pictures when it's all finished and let us know how it works out.

[tkrein]

looks goog and balanced but is that about were the gass and extras are going or is that simulating the couches

[Bamby]

Ron,

Not meaning to rain on your parade, but when you remove all the sandbags in the front that's representing people and redistribute the weight into the camper itself. I can't help but believe that is when your weight distribution on the boat is going to become somewhat of an issue. Or is everyone going to sleep out on the deck .

[RonKMiller]

Ron,

Not meaning to rain on your parade, but when you remove all the sandbags in the front that's representing people and redistribute the weight into the camper itself. I can't help but believe that is when your weight distribution on the boat is going to become somewhat of an issue. Or is everyone going to sleep out on the deck .

The current simulation with the sand bags represents the weight distribution when under way plus 800 lbs to max capacity. It includes all 4 passengers, furniture, helm, railing, table, permanent roof, etc. It is currently level. I have to assume that when under power there will be a slight - very slight - nose up pitch, which is what I want.

When at rest at night, the only re-distribution will be the 2 passengers moving behind the axle of the trailer to sleep in the queen bed - which will result in only a few degrees change in pitch - since that's where the third toon is - it's really "half a toon". If I have an additional 2 passengers with me, they will sleep outside on the front deck or on the beach. If only one passenger there is a nice sized sun deck pad on the back deck not yet installed. This bad boy is 28 feet long overall, but there's only 8.5 feet available up front.

Ain't no way they're coming inside with me and ma. (unless it's raining) 95% of the time this will be a 2 person rig.

Having said all that ya' never know until I ACTUALLY take it out!

[yellowk9]

If you have guests and you and "ma" try to do a little hanky panky in the camper I suspect the ripples radiating away from the barge will give you away

[RonKMiller]

If this boat's a rockin', don't come a knockin' !

[woolznaz]

Thanks for the update, Ron. I've been wondering how this project was coming along. Nice to see it afloat! Looks really good and level to me. I would not have a concern with passenger weight distribution if your "model" with the sandbags works this well with a simulated full load, fuel, furniture, etc. It would be like suggesting that those of us with "regular" pontoons could not allow passengers to move from front to back and vice versa without problems. People move all over pontoons, from side to side and front to back. Unless we are over our weight limits, I don't see any concern with it and have never experienced any problems with that on my boat.

Good luck with the rest of the project and don't forget to keep us updated from time to time.

[laxrebel]

The kind of project I also think about. But it kind of scares me. What kind of water - big waves from passing barges? Big storm at night when everyone is asleep? Not really the low center of bouyancy like a real live-aboard boat. What would your insurance agent say? I do know of a person who did this with a second hand fold-down: cheap etc. considering how much he actually used it on the water versus camping in his trailer. Plus he could see over it while cruising. How about a building a small cabin with a head, cooking, storage, etc and sleep in a tent you can put up on the foredeck?

[LittleBud]

Well after seeing the Margarita Mans post, it shows you it can be done. I have seen a couple home built houseboats on pontoons here in Montana. (they call it Big Sky Country but it should be Big Wind Country) Our boat is under powered with a 35hp Johnson, it's only 17 ft. and sits higher out of the water than most. When we get a bad wind it is really a tough fight. I can close my top down to just under 4 feet from the deck and still pilot from the inside, but I sure don't like it. The only thing I really can add is this...If you want to do something bad enough, you can figure out a way to get it done. Good Luck

[RonKMiller]

The kind of project I also think about. But it kind of scares me. What kind of water - big waves from passing barges? Big storm at night when everyone is asleep? Not really the low center of bouyancy like a real live-aboard boat. What would your insurance agent say? I do know of a person who did this with a second hand fold-down: cheap etc. considering how much he actually used it on the water versus camping in his trailer. Plus he could see over it while cruising. How about a building a small cabin with a head, cooking, storage, etc and sleep in a tent you can put up on the foredeck?

1. I don't TALK or THINK about doing things - I DO them.

2. "Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. Security does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding danger is no safer in the long run than exposure." quoted from Helen Keller. The only thing I am truly scared of in life is lightning - seriously. Everything else is manageable.

3. Barges? We don't got no steenking barges on Lake Powell... we do have late afternoon thunderstorms and serious wind - but only in the late summer when it's 100F and nobody is on the lake unless you are stark raving mad. 95% of the time the water is completely FLAT.

4. The average 16 foot travel trailer weighs about 3500 lbs. and does not fold down into a rectangular box and carry it's mass low like this one does. This one weighs 2000 lbs. I took 1680 lbs. of "Party Hut" guts off the existing boat and threw them in the dump. So I've added 320 lbs. Wow... I've still got almost 1500 lbs. EXCLUDING THE ENGINE AND FUEL I can add before I'm at max capacity - which I demonstrated by adding sandbags. This is the EXACT same procedure done when testing aircraft wings to maximum loading, except they load them until they break - which I was not willing to do, hell it would have just submerged anyway. The picture you're looking at is a FAR CRY from the finished project - I've still got months of work ahead of me.

5. I don't really care what my insurance agent would say - and he could care less as long as it is Coast Guard approved. I've got a 30 year veteran coast guard inspector (and former FAA Air Traffic Controller) looking at everything I've done so far. He hasn't found one thing that won't EASILY pass. If anything I am overbuilding critical components far beyond so called "marine" standards - which don't even come close to FAA standards. Oh yeah - did I mention I've been a Commercial Pilot for 28 years?

6. The helm is going to be installed in FRONT of the trailer. Duh....

7. Why would I want a piece of tent when I've got a permanent memory foam queen size bed, 32" HDTV with Blue Ray player, I-pod stereo, refrigerator/freezer, 2 burner stove, cassette FLUSH toilet, hot and cold running water supplying a 2 basin sink and shower, captain's chair, fishing chair, couch and 8X10 permanent shade/roof plus two extra seats and a folding bimini aft - and oh yeah - a 12 volt swamp cooler and air conditioning, not to mention a solar powered 1,000 watt inverter providing AC power on demand so I can grind my yuppie Star Bucks coffee fresh every morning... I WILL bring a North Face Expedition tent with me so I can camp on the beach if the wife gets really pissed off at me after I brush my teeth with scotch.

I think you need to comprehend that this is not some redneck special -and if you would take a few minutes and read back through the previous posts from the beginning - you won't be quite so quick to shoot from the hip.

Sorry to be so harsh - but hey, thanks for the encouragement anyway.

[RonKMiller]

Thanks for the update, Ron. I've been wondering how this project was coming along. Nice to see it afloat! Looks really good and level to me. I would not have a concern with passenger weight distribution if your "model" with the sandbags works this well with a simulated full load, fuel, furniture, etc. It would be like suggesting that those of us with "regular" pontoons could not allow passengers to move from front to back and vice versa without problems. People move all over pontoons, from side to side and front to back. Unless we are over our weight limits, I don't see any concern with it and have never experienced any problems with that on my boat.

Good luck with the rest of the project and don't forget to keep us updated from time to time.

Thanks, I think I may have been overly concerned with pitch - where in in aviation 1 or 2 degrees of difference can make the difference between... well... as the Quaker's say: "Having thine ground rise up and smite thee."

I've got enough extra potable water in 7 gallon square jugs (several hundred pounds worth) that will be securely stored under the trailer - that can easily be moved around to change pitch if ever needed.

[RonKMiller]

It's been in the water now for a month and came out today - no leaks!

Went to the dump during rush hour for total weight including travel trailer, boat, hauling trailer: 6,940lbs. Had a deputy sheriff tailing me the entire way at 15 mph (as fast as I could go through the tight cones) through a 25 mph, two mile long construction zone. I'll be he was gnashing his teeth trying to come with an idea for a citation.

Keep in mind this project is about half way done - still a LOT of work to do. Back to the barn for a couple of months. The next time it's in water will be for trials and coast guard certification.

And here:

https://picasaweb.google.com/MillerRonK ... PHzx-iCwgE#

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[blackberg]

nice going on the project, been following since before I signed up here, keep keeping us up to date


-bb