New Voltage 3905 Toy hauler

[Wertles]

So we finally got to pick up our new camper. I KNOW this is not a high quality unit (Lippert frame, crap tires) but we are not full timers, most of the time it is set up on a permanent site with a few trips a year. We did get what we paid for, along with a few other things we didn't. On initial impression, I am very very happy. I was able to actually prep my unit with a store employee so I got to see every inch of the camper before we picked it up. Anything that was not to my liking was fixed before we left. Things that I love about this camper... Layout, 4 queen size beds, 14 foot garage with washer/dryer, double fridge, 12 gal hot water heater, outdoor TV, onboard generator, two AC units, 20 gal gas tank for generator and 30 gallon gas tank with gas pump for the toys.

Now for the stuff I didn't pay for. When I first saw the unit, I didn't think it was ours. The outside was a little different look to it and there was a sticker on the outside that indicated that the unit had the all weather package that I didn't order. Long story short, when we signed the papers, it turned out that the unit was a 2012 and not a 2011. With a signed contract, they couldn't pass on the price increase on to us. We have known the finance lady since my wife and I were teens. In fact, she was there when my wife and I met. Anyway, she offered us a discount on an extended warrenty, 5 years for 1995 which covers just about everything. Again, when we signed, she extended the warrenty out for a total of 6 years. I'm sure that is a good idea on a lesser quality unit. Lastly, my friend put 2 six volt batteries in the camper and installed the morryde pin box (which he sold me for 450. 00) for free.

The truck with my current upgrades pulls the camper very well. I feel more stable and safer now than I did pulling my much lighter Jayco. The Max Brake along with the triple axle brakes slows down and stops very well. The air bags, Ricksons and 19. 5's are very stable going down the road. My weak point right now is my transmission. That is going to be addressed in the next two weeks. I can now also see a smarty jr in the near future but I will see how the new transmission works before spending money on that.

 

[MChrist]

I have no knowledge about the quality of the unit, but it sure LOOKS sharp!! Did you have your Ricksons when you pulled your last trailer? And how much does this puppy weigh?
Congratulations,
Mark

 

[DMorris]

That is sweeeeet !!!!!! How long is it ? Looks like a good 40' . I know 3905 doesnt really mean 39'. I have a cyclone 3812 and its 42'+. Keeps you on your toes when you pull into the fuel stop or parking lots. congrats on a beautiful rig!

Love the island with sink and drop lighting !

 

[Wertles]

Thanks for the compliments. This is our 4th trailer and each one progressively gets better in quality. I think that this is a good quality middle of the road unit, but I'm not sure how well this unit would hold up on an Alaskan trip. My wife fell in love with the kitchen which has Corian countertops and full ball bearing drawers. We are pretty easy on our trailers and we really haven't had any issues with any of our old trailers except for one blown cheap chinese tire on our Jayco. These tires will be on here until next spring (will have less than 2500 miles on them I assume) and then on to some Michellin XP Ribs and a little suspension upgrades, probably the Dexter EZ-Flex. This unit is 43 feet long and I'm going to over estimate that it is about 15,000 pounds as I plan to pull it. If you load up the garage and water tanks, it will top out at 18,000. I made the wife go on a trailer diet and get rid of everything we didn't use in the last one. I'll bet we dropped over 500 pounds of books and pots and appliances.

I did not have the Ricksons for the last trailer. The pin weight on that was only a little over 1000 pounds (from literature, not scales) where as this is closer to 3500 (stated). It so far has been easier to back up than the old one since the front cap is not flat. I backed into two different driveways and did not have to move the slider in the bed of the truck. I love the Megacab but hate the short bed.

 

[DMorris]

We full time in our cyclone. We tip the scale at a 18,000 give or take. Our pin weight was about the same as yours but when the garage is loaded (or over loaded depending on how you look at it)- it does help lighten the front a touch. We run with 3 bikes in the back-2 road and 1 dirt, then carry as much of our gear and excess either on the bunks which are actually just powered shelves, or on the bed over the garage. In our case we still end up with about the same pin weight because we load the basement and under the bed up-with her stuff of course:-laf .

 

[Grizzly]

Who makes the New Voltage Toy Hauler? I can't find it on my RV Consumer Group guide.



You need at least a 4500 DRW truck for that much trailer.



george

 

[MChrist]

Try "Voltage".

 

[MChrist]

Voltage Toy Hauler Fifth Wheels

 

[HBarlow]

It's a Thor company, probably Forest River.

 

[AH64ID]

Good looking rig! You need an exhaust brake.

 

[Grizzly]

I tried Voltage and found no listing up till 2010, which is as far as my RVCG goes. It is made under the name Voltage in 2011, which is a brand new model. It's manufactured by Dutchman.



I checked all names manufactures by Dutchman for 2010 models, which include, Komfort, Kodiak, Grand Junction, Four Winds, Denali and Dutchman. Everyone of the above names had a 2 star rating, which is not impressive. I expect that a 2011 Voltage is rated about the same.



Having made two trips to Alaska, I don't believe I'd attempt that trip with that large and heavy of a trailer. I had big time problems with a 29' 5th wheel in 95. I had no issues with the tow truck, which was a 95 Dodge/Cummins 3500 DRW but I did have all the running gear on the 1988 Holiday Rambler Alumalite replaced. Some on the 11K mile round trip and the rest when we got it home. Having said that, the Alcan Hwy was much improved on our 2006 11K mile trip with our 05 Dodge and our Lance truck camper, now sold.



I seriously believe you'll have problems with too much trailer and not enough truck.



george

 

[DMorris]

Good looking rig! You need an exhaust brake.

+1 on that. I cant imagine running the mountains (big or small) without mine. That saves a lot of braking and just plain feels safer.

As far as not enough truck- thats true- but then again I am doing it and yes I do get passed going up some long grades, but over all with a few up grades the truck actually pulls and stops decent. I do run 19. 5s on my dually. But there is no doubt a medium duty truck would be better for the job of towing but not for the daily driving when unhooked.

 

[Wertles]

Fortunately for the above situation, I don't have any plans on going to Alaska. I went into the deal knowing this is not one of the high quality units and made sure I paid accordingly. I purchased six years of warrenty on the unit so if it craps the bed, i'm covered and can trade in at that time. I put on less than 2000 miles a year on a trailer and 90% of the time it is parked at our campsite so while I am working weekends I can still camp. This is a new line as of 2011 made by Dutchman. Unfortunately the wife doesn't like to camp all that much but she loves this one so much because of the layout that she has actually made a month long vacation at the Outer Banks. That right there is worth sacrificing some quality points. A high quality unit that the wife isn't thrilled about does me no good at this point in my life because I would be the only one in it. Unfortunately I haven't seen too many units that can sleep 8 (4 kids plus their friends and the wife and I) that score well in that book Some day when the kids are gone and we're traveling around the country seeing them, the professional camper will be what we have.

I have passed on a few other trailers (a Forest River for one) based on Harvey's and Grizzly's experience and advice. I hope someday you can find the rating Grizzly as I hope this one makes it up to at least three stars.

A larger truck is in the near future. Until then I'm keeping it unloaded and will drive like my grandmother did. I can't tell you how many stock appearing short wheel base 2500's I've seen pulling these size units so I've got to believe I'm doing better than those.

 

[HBarlow]

The reality of shopping for a high quality trailer is that most are fifthwheels set up primarily for a mature couple because that is who buys them. They all have a pull out couch that can sleep two more for an occasional guest couple or grandchildren, but they are primarily for a couple and are usually heavy and costly.

Trailers set up for younger families with children tend to be toyhaulers or bunkhouse models because that is their market. Younger couple with children typically want to haul their four wheelers or dirt bikes and that means toyhauler. The buyers want to haul them to the desert or the beach or into forested rugged areas. That environment requires vinyl flooring, not plush carpet, and lighter weight for the rough or non existent roads.

The only real high quality toyboxes ever built that I am aware of was Alfa built a small number of toy haulers. They didn't sell very well. I pulled one from the Alfa factory at Compton, CA to FL. It was a very nice trailer but very heavy and very expensive. I pulled it back to the same dealer after some factory repairs were done under warranty. The dealer had held it unsold in his inventory for three or four years at that time. I would guess the dealer regretted the day he bought it.

 

[Grizzly]

Fortunately for the above situation, I don't have any plans on going to Alaska. I went into the deal knowing this is not one of the high quality units and made sure I paid accordingly. I purchased six years of warrenty on the unit so if it craps the bed, i'm covered and can trade in at that time. I put on less than 2000 miles a year on a trailer and 90% of the time it is parked at our campsite so while I am working weekends I can still camp. This is a new line as of 2011 made by Dutchman. Unfortunately the wife doesn't like to camp all that much but she loves this one so much because of the layout that she has actually made a month long vacation at the Outer Banks. That right there is worth sacrificing some quality points. A high quality unit that the wife isn't thrilled about does me no good at this point in my life because I would be the only one in it. Unfortunately I haven't seen too many units that can sleep 8 (4 kids plus their friends and the wife and I) that score well in that book Some day when the kids are gone and we're traveling around the country seeing them, the professional camper will be what we have.

I have passed on a few other trailers (a Forest River for one) based on Harvey's and Grizzly's experience and advice. I hope someday you can find the rating Grizzly as I hope this one makes it up to at least three stars.

A larger truck is in the near future. Until then I'm keeping it unloaded and will drive like my grandmother did. I can't tell you how many stock appearing short wheel base 2500's I've seen pulling these size units so I've got to believe I'm doing better than those.

On post #4 you did say something about taking this rig to Alaska, quote, "I think that this is a good quality middle of the road unit, but I'm not sure how well this unit would hold up on an Alaskan trip. "



I would never sacrifice quality for glitter and foo foo. My wife was all excited over a 5th wheel with all the glitter and foo foo until I had her look inside the cabinets and the shoddy workmanship in the basement storage and the weak looking frame. I won't mention the popular brand name. The 5th wheel we purchased, with the help of the RV Consumer Group, isn't all that fancy on the inside, but it's built right and my wife is happy with it. When you go out to purchase an RV, it may be best not to take your wife with you because they always go 'gaga' with all the fancy stuff. They don't care about quality.



george

 

[SearsK]

The Voltage is a Dutchman product, not a Forest River product

 

[Grizzly]

SearsK,



I know a Voltage is made by Dutchman. I never said nor did anyone say it was made by Forest River.



george

 

[SearsK]

It's a Thor company, probably Forest River.

I was just saying

 

[gtoli]

I would never sacrifice quality for glitter and foo foo. My wife was all excited over a 5th wheel with all the glitter and foo foo until I had her look inside the cabinets and the shoddy workmanship in the basement storage and the weak looking frame. I won't mention the popular brand name. The 5th wheel we purchased, with the help of the RV Consumer Group, isn't all that fancy on the inside, but it's built right and my wife is happy with it. When you go out to purchase an RV, it may be best not to take your wife with you because they always go 'gaga' with all the fancy stuff. They don't care about quality.



george

I got lucky and found a wife that looks at the quality and weight. She passed up several trailers because the fit & finish looked cheap. We setled on the Tango because it was, in our opinion, a good entry level trailer for us. It has held up quite well, so far. Besides it helped me convince her to trade the Ford gasser for a CTD. :-laf



When the time comes to upgrade to a 5er, I'll be tlking with George and Harvey before we buy.

 

[HBarlow]

I was just saying

Oops! I know better. May have been an early morning post before the coffee awakened my fading brain.