[Banjoman]

I'd like to have a trailerable houseboat, but understand loading back on the traier is a major hassle. Why do I need a trailer? Could the wheels be mounted to the frame and lowered into position for transport? Also, could a pontoon boat with a 5th wheel tounge be hooked up to a pick-up from the boat ramp? All of this would have to be custom built, with modular pontoons with space left for the tires but I think it might work. Advice for experienced boaters appreciated.

[neumanns]

There are several older model pontoons that had an axel that was lowered for transport via a cantalever and spring system. The trailer tounge was attached by a system of braces that lowered the axel and i believe the spring was there to give the system some cusion when the tounge flexed. I would think there would be some serious weight limitations on the systems i have seen.On another note why would trailering seem so unfeasiable i do it regularily with my toon and have no problems, and about the only diffrence i see would be is weight.

[DJ]

Banjoman,Most boats, if not all, are at the mercy of the trailer as they ride while on the road.They are not, specifically, designed to handle the road stresses.Trailers are designed to distribute the weight of the hull(s). If it, were as simple as that, we would not have a trailer industry.

[Link]

Banjoman:I have seen several would be boat designers that tried that idea and none ever really took off in our area. One that was built was a 19 foot cuddy cabin V hull that tounge and wheels retracted into the hull of the boat! I think the guy still has it. He went for a Pat. and tried to sell it to a few local boat builders to make it. If money is no problem you can have most anything made. To be a little more practical, pick the house boat you like, and it doesn't make a difference what type of hull. Pontoon, V, flat or tri-hull. If it doesn't have one, buy or have made a trailer that makes it self centering and equip with an electric winch! You will mabe spend five minutes loading it. About the same launching. Two of my friends have been using their boats for dual purposes for years. One is a 26ft sail boat and the other is a 28ft house boat. They just bolted trailer jacks under the frame of the trailers.. three for the sail boat and four for the house boat. Went KOA Camping on a trip down to Oregon once with one of them.. no water around so we pulled into a KOA camp ground.. heh we met more people that weekend that just wanted to look inside the boat! Not just a thought: As I've said in another post, my next boat will be a house boat of some kind.. and we will land dock it when we have too! I have pictures in my mind of a four point buck on the swim platform Link

[blifsey]

Here's a 1962 version of a houseboat/RV where the wheels stayed on the boat. http://www.houseboatingworld.com/articles/hancock.htm