Porta bote

[dwall]

I recently purchased a 10 ft Porta bote to take with us on camping trips. Trying to figure out best way to transport. I can put in tv but not my favorite option. Looking on the internet I've seen different mounts on side of rv but not sure how that would affect the integrity of side. Saw one diy project of a underside mount with rollers and drop down rack. Just curious if anyone has any experience or opinion on this.


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[MattHelm21]

I can't speak to specifics but I would be very careful of anything mounted to the side that would extend the width of the RV. Most are already at the maximum width permitted to travel on major highways 8' 6". There might be a legal issue.

[notanlines]

I know you have already pondered this, but can you tell us why you don't just slide it inside your trailer. Supposedly it only weighs in at 80#, how can that be a problem?

[dwall]

Originally Posted by notanlines

I know you have already pondered this, but can you tell us why you don't just slide it inside your trailer. Supposedly it only weighs in at 80#, how can that be a problem?

Inside the trailer? Don't think that would be an option due to the small entrance door. Also it would have to be removed just to walk inside.


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[NorthwestGuy]

I have been looking into the Porta Bote also since I can't pull my boat and trailer at the same time. The Web site lists a side of the RV mounting bracket they sell. My neighbor has one on his trailer and it looks pretty secure and does not protrude out but a couple of inches. He said it works well for him.

[JRTJH]

The Porta-boat has been around for well over 50 years and there have been some very substantial improvements over the early models. One problem that hasn't been "fixed" is how to properly carry it on "today's RV"...

Back when Porta-boat started, RV's were 96" wide, most road limits were 98-102" maximum width, so even with the Porta-boat mounted to the side of an RV, it was "so close that most LEO's just ignored the extra width. Then along came "permanently mounted awnings" (instead of those old roll-up ones we used to "string through the awning rail" at each stop)... Then along came "drip rail extensions" to keep the rainwater from staining the side of our RV, then along came the 102" wide RV's (like Keystone's Sprinter Wide Body). Then came slide covers and other "things, even roof access ladders, that hang off the sides of RV's.

So, with all of the "other stuff" that makes RV's wider, Porta-boat more or less lost some of its popularity. More people moved to biking, 4 wheeling, sitting in chairs and web-surfing and a host of other ways to spend their "camping time"... While boating is still popular for some of the RV crowd, fewer are using Porta-boats and because of the overall width of many RV's, the position of slides on the side of many RV's and the construction of RV sidewalls/slide walls, many potential users just don't feel comfortable mounting even a 50 pound boat on the side of their RV.

If you consider that there are still states where the maximum trailer width is 98", many of us are already over that limit with our 96" trailer and electric awning. While not a "reason to avoid mounting a Porta-boat on the side of an RV, it is something to take into consideration.

[Ken / Claudia]

I was going to buy one at one point. But, did not for a few reasons. It still takes 2 people to get them on/off a mount. As a boat they have real short sides and flex a lot while moving thru water. As a boat there are much more sea worthy styles. There are made for real calm water. As a river patrol trooper I seem them on the Willamette river a few times. I escorted one back to the dock by keeping the patrol boat between it and the wind waves. Without out looking up Oregon's law. It is something like this. Items be can mounted on the side of a vehicle as long as they are not wider than the side view mirrors. And not over 8.6 ft wide as I recall. Every state will have different wording. When looking at them hanging on the side of a RV, I think they are OK here. I never stopped anyone nor know of any trooper who did.

[PARAPTOR]

Originally Posted by JRTJH

The Porta-boat has been around for well over 50 years and there have been some very substantial improvements over the early models. One problem that hasn't been "fixed" is how to properly carry it on "today's RV"...

Back when Porta-boat started, RV's were 96" wide, most road limits were 98-102" maximum width, so even with the Porta-boat mounted to the side of an RV, it was "so close that most LEO's just ignored the extra width. Then along came "permanently mounted awnings" (instead of those old roll-up ones we used to "string through the awning rail" at each stop)... Then along came "drip rail extensions" to keep the rainwater from staining the side of our RV, then along came the 102" wide RV's (like Keystone's Sprinter Wide Body). Then came slide covers and other "things, even roof access ladders, that hang off the sides of RV's.

So, with all of the "other stuff" that makes RV's wider, Porta-boat more or less lost some of its popularity. More people moved to biking, 4 wheeling, sitting in chairs and web-surfing and a host of other ways to spend their "camping time"... While boating is still popular for some of the RV crowd, fewer are using Porta-boats and because of the overall width of many RV's, the position of slides on the side of many RV's and the construction of RV sidewalls/slide walls, many potential users just don't feel comfortable mounting even a 50 pound boat on the side of their RV.

If you consider that there are still states where the maximum trailer width is 98", many of us are already over that limit with our 96" trailer and electric awning. While not a "reason to avoid mounting a Porta-boat on the side of an RV, it is something to take into consideration.

John, are you aware of anyone having issues going through these states? Do these states enforce this ?? Had a concern initially with the Raptor 102" plus that rear ladder sticking out beyond that. Still have a concern, but what can you do? I do take the ladder off while traveling, seems to like to catch on to things. Already seen a few Raptors with no ladder, had to ask, well there was the garage, trees, etc

[JRTJH]

Pararaptor,

I have not heard of anyone recently that has been stopped for being too wide. Years ago, RVing was "essentially" a "west of the Mississippi" activity. Not to say that nobody in the east ever RV'ed, but the lifestyle got its roots and grew primarily in the western states. When the widebody RV's first came out there were growing pains as states had to change laws to allow for the wider RV's. As I remember it (it was many years ago) the "widebody trailers" were first introduced in the northwest, and as states changed laws, they "migrated" to other places. "Way back then" there were checkpoints going from state to state where inspections were conducted. Some of the restrictions (along with trailer width) were produce, eggs, plants, animals. In those days, Trailer Life was an advocate for changing the laws and was very active in publishing "places to avoid" for owners of "wide trailers and motorhomes".

We've (RV forums in general) recently had some discussion about motorhome length as well. It wasn't very long ago that maximum motorhome length was 40' for a "regular" driver's license. Anything over that (in some places) required commercial licensing. Some states were requiring people who owned motorhomes longer than 40' to buy a permit to travel through their state. I'm not sure, but I believe that issue is now behind us as well and the maximum length "everywhere" is now 45'. I haven't been keeping up with that, so I may be wrong on motorhome length requirements.

As for mounting roof ladders on the side of toyhaulers and trailers, when that first started, there was a decal next to the ladder that said something to the effect that the ladder must be removed and stowed before travel (or something like that). If I recall, Keystone did have a comment in the owner's manual packet (not in the owner's manual brochure) that reminded toyhauler owners to remove the ladder and put it in the garage before travel. I don't know if that's still being done and if there is still a decal by the ladder or not.

But to answer your question about travelers being stopped, I don't know of any current situations where this has occurred, but who knows what tomorrow brings in this world of "make a buck from tourists".....

[canesfan]

I'm not sure about other MFGs, but most of the Keystone toyhaulers I've seen have been coming with folding ladders the last few years. There is no notice whatsoever that you should fold them up before moving though. But even with the ladder folded up, between it, the awnings, and other "stuff" hanging off the sides, mine is still wider than 102". It really stretches my after market mirrors to see down the passenger side, and as far as I know they are some of the widest extending mirrors out there. Driving some roads leaves you little to no room for error.

[PARAPTOR]

Thanks John, and Wow the History.

As I was reading your explanation just remembered a few years back we had a thread addressing these toyhauler ladders. As a matter of fact I actually bought the parts but could not bring myself to driling screw holes in the back ramp. Basically you add stand offs to the rear ramp door, So when traveling you would hang the ladder off the back using the new stand offs and hooking top to the same stand off on the roof. I did not plan on ever climbing up on it while in the rear position. I did get as far as ordering the stand offs and seeing if the ladder would clear the rear awning , all looked good. Just drill holes to start the screws.

One of these days I will get discussed enough putting that big ladder in the garage, then DRILL BOY DRILL