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Mast transport on a motorhome #280322
08/26/15 01:09 AM
08/26/15 01:09 AM
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 140
Brisbane Queensland- Australia
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Qb2 Offline OP
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Qb2  Offline OP
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Joined: Dec 2004
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Brisbane Queensland- Australia
Advice needed to mount and transport a 30 foot A class carbon mast on a 27 foot long motorhome. I could raise the trailer front mast support to clear the RV roof but that will put the mast tip pretty close to the 4 metre local bridge heights and still mean plenty of rear overhang off the trailer which can attract unwanted police attention. Can anyone offer ideas on off the shelf racks or secure clamps I can purchase or fabricate?

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Re: Mast transport on a motorhome [Re: Qb2] #280323
08/26/15 08:21 AM
08/26/15 08:21 AM
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 3,969
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brucat Offline
Carpal Tunnel
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Not sure about commercially available holders, but that would be a very simple DIY project. Get some lumber, cut notches, and screw to the roof.

Of course, every screw in the roof of an RV is the next potential leak, so be careful.

If you're concerned about using wood (rot), I'm sure you can find something along the lines of a Thule rack.

Hope this helps.

Mike

Re: Mast transport on a motorhome [Re: Qb2] #280324
08/26/15 09:42 AM
08/26/15 09:42 AM
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 12,310
South Carolina
Jake Offline
Carpal Tunnel
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I've done all sorts of stuff there. Have you thought about a 2 or 3 foot hitch extension to move the trailer further back to allow room for the mast?

I've welded up and mounted steel mounts to the roof of my past RVs (wrapped the arms in rope to provide some padding). Cut small access holes in the ceiling skin to tighten the nuts and used milk jug caps to fill fill the ceiling holes lightly siliconed in place. Use plenty of 3M 5200 under the brackets outside if going this route. It's a bit of a pain heaving the mast up and down and also consider how the spreaders will stick out when considering other roof mounted objects and the outside perimeter of the RV (having the spreaders extend past the wall of the RV is probably not a great idea).

The best solution I came up with was to extend the tongue of my trailer. I added something like 6 or 8 feet and put in a new set of bracing on the sides of the main tongue member. It took a bit of work but it made everything super easy and avoided climbing up on the roof in the rain and so forth.


Jake Kohl
Re: Mast transport on a motorhome [Re: Qb2] #280325
08/26/15 03:45 PM
08/26/15 03:45 PM
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 61
NC
calcheck Offline
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NC
I know it causes turbulence and some stress, but if it was mounted diagonally it wouldn't hang off the end.

Re: Mast transport on a motorhome [Re: Qb2] #280326
08/26/15 04:47 PM
08/26/15 04:47 PM
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brucat Offline
Carpal Tunnel
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As Jake mentioned, by far, keeping it on the trailer is the best option.

I love these discussions, not only for creativity, but for bringing up great memories...

Coolest thing I've ever seen was the TWO Hobie 17s (and masts) that came across the country atop ONE RV to a North Americans in Syracuse.

Mike

Re: Mast transport on a motorhome [Re: Qb2] #280358
08/29/15 01:51 PM
08/29/15 01:51 PM
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 330
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srm Offline
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How about hanging it from the side of the RV? Something similar to garage ladder racks. I would guess an A cat mast probably weighs about 20lbs, so not much weight.

sm

Re: Mast transport on a motorhome [Re: srm] #280361
08/30/15 09:51 AM
08/30/15 09:51 AM
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 12,310
South Carolina
Jake Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Jake  Offline
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Posts: 12,310
South Carolina
Originally Posted by srm
How about hanging it from the side of the RV? Something similar to garage ladder racks. I would guess an A cat mast probably weighs about 20lbs, so not much weight.

sm


Yeah, but the general life and abuse of an RV (getting stuck in tight places and so forth) will see it rub an occasional tree. The mast would be pretty exposed to potential damage hanging on the side.


Jake Kohl
Re: Mast transport on a motorhome [Re: Qb2] #280455
09/08/15 12:07 AM
09/08/15 12:07 AM
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 140
Brisbane Queensland- Australia
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Qb2 Offline OP
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Jake is right. After a lot of mucking around trying various ideas the simplest solution is lifting the front mast support. Got some 40mm box section, welding a flat bar to the top and then bash it into a V and hope my amateurish welds hold.

Re: Mast transport on a motorhome [Re: Qb2] #280460
09/08/15 10:40 AM
09/08/15 10:40 AM
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Posts: 3,969
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brucat Offline
Carpal Tunnel
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I think Jake meant to make the tongue (not mast support) longer. Not sure how much length you'll save just by changing the angle?

One advantage of that approach, though, is to keep the mast away from the rear window. More than one cat sailor has poked a mast through the rear RV window...

Mike

Re: Mast transport on a motorhome [Re: Qb2] #280463
09/08/15 01:38 PM
09/08/15 01:38 PM
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 473
Panama City, Florida
Redtwin Offline
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Panama City, Florida
You have to also be careful not to raise it to the point that the other end gets too low to the road surface.


Rob V. Nacra 5.2 Panama City
Re: Mast transport on a motorhome [Re: brucat] #280464
09/08/15 04:16 PM
09/08/15 04:16 PM
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 12,310
South Carolina
Jake Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Jake  Offline
Carpal Tunnel

Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 12,310
South Carolina
Originally Posted by brucat
I think Jake meant to make the tongue (not mast support) longer. Not sure how much length you'll save just by changing the angle?

One advantage of that approach, though, is to keep the mast away from the rear window. More than one cat sailor has poked a mast through the rear RV window...

Mike


I did...the tongue extension - not raising the mast higher. You'll have a hard time getting it high enough to clear the back of an RV without putting the mast support at risk of a structural failure or putting the back of the mast so low that it hits the ground going up sudden inclines (like some gas station entrances).


Jake Kohl
Re: Mast transport on a motorhome [Re: Jake] #280507
09/12/15 07:07 AM
09/12/15 07:07 AM
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 602
Wilmington,NC
Dlennard Offline
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Wilmington,NC
I replaced the tongue section on my trailer also around 2' longer to make the mast fit better. I did have a 2x2" hitch extension that worked fine, but i got tired of taking it out and it could drag with the long rv tail. I also added a few feet to the back of another trailer and then slid the axle back some to balance (not much weight on the back of the boat).


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