Toy Hauler Question

[TFucili]

I have been toying(silly pun intended)with the idea of a gooseneck toy hauler. I am a function over form kind of guy, and the more "commercial grade" units appeal to me more than the RV type. Not dissing, just my thing. I have been looking at InTech and Sundowner, with InTech being fully customizable. I have also read a little about ATC, but don't know much about them. Does anyone have any experience/feedback on these units?

 

[mwilson]

I have been toying(silly pun intended)with the idea of a gooseneck toy hauler. I am a function over form kind of guy, and the more "commercial grade" units appeal to me more than the RV type. Not dissing, just my thing. I have been looking at InTech and Sundowner, with InTech being fully customizable. I have also read a little about ATC, but don't know much about them. Does anyone have any experience/feedback on these units?

Gonna' buy a Can Am to put in it????

 

[TFucili]

Gonna' buy a Can Am to put in it????

Oh man, that's a cheap shot, Mike:-{}

 

[mwilson]

Oh man, that's a cheap shot, Mike:-{}

Couldn't resist, you know how I get.......

 

[mwilson]

Actually looking forward to the responses regarding the commercial grade Toy Haulers, less glitz and more tough.......

 

[TFucili]

Actually looking forward to the responses regarding the commercial grade Toy Haulers, less glitz and more tough.......

We tow into areas with miles of rough roads, sometimes. I pulled a box trailer out for my buddy yesterday, as he had his motorhome and another trailer on site, so I offered to save him a second round trip. I was watching that trailer hop in my mirror, and we rarely got over 20-25 mph. As a side-note, I do find this coil spring rear seems much more prone to wheel hop than my leaf sprung '05 was in the really rough/washboard stuff, especially when pulling.

 

[NIsaacs]

Have you looked at LQ Horse Trailers at all?

https://www.turbodieselregister.com/threads/229650-Got-my-new-platinum-trailer%21%21%21%21%21%21

Here is a real nice used '17 model Sundowner Toy Hauler in Mesa.

https://www.trailersmarket.com/sundowner-toy+hauler-in-arizona-mesa-2017-6275886085502140102.html

Nick

 

[Wayne M.]

Gonna' buy a Can Am to put in it????

He's safe- no long weekends till Memorial Day :-laf

Good luck in your trailer search. Keep us posted! How about Wells Cargo? They make industrial grade trailers.

 

[TFucili]

Have you looked at LQ Horse Trailers at all?

https://www.turbodieselregister.com/threads/229650-Got-my-new-platinum-trailer%21%21%21%21%21%21

Here is a real nice used '17 model Sundowner Toy Hauler in Mesa.

https://www.trailersmarket.com/sundowner-toy+hauler-in-arizona-mesa-2017-6275886085502140102.html

Nick

Yes, I have been browsing them, thanks.

 

[JackFate]

Friend of mine has a “Work & Play “ brand that you may want to check out. Most likely made in Indiana

 

[TFucili]

So, I am still doing some research on toy haulers, and accurate information can be a bit hard to come by. For instance, not all units come with a fuel station on board, and the cost for the option seems to vary wildly. Does anyone have a good feel for what an optional on-board fuel station should add?

 

[Deleted member 995608]

So, I am still doing some research on toy haulers, and accurate information can be a bit hard to come by. For instance, not all units come with a fuel station on board, and the cost for the option seems to vary wildly. Does anyone have a good feel for what an optional on-board fuel station should add?

It shouldn't be much. After all, it's just a tank for fuel storage, a Shurflow pump and dispensing nozzle. All two of the TH's we owned came with them from the factory so I could be wrong.

 

[Lynx0849]

The wife and I have been looking at toy (toys) haulers for a few years for an eventual purchase when she retires.
The new (to me) 3500 is the first step.

Floor plan, floor plan, floor plan. Most important.
Things we care about are
- garage for 2 dressers
- walk around queen bed
- side shelf for my glasses
- living room seating facing TV
- safe access to bathroom in middle of night
- access to bath, bed, fridge with slides in
- shower with elbow room

Experienced folk suggest buying used. New has huge depreciation hit and most have issues from the factory. Warranty service is from dealer and let’s face it, once they got your money, where is the incentive for prompt service. Besides, you may be on the road anyway. Used will have the bugs worked out

Our early research was to find the units we will be interested in used when we are ready to buy.

Many larger models have fueling station. Many also have gensets.



Pro

 

[AnonEd]

@Lynx0849...

- living room seating facing TV

You'd think that would be obvious, but it isn't to RV designers...

I've seen plenty of RVs between factory and dealer so I agree, buy used and let others get the bugs out.

 

[TFucili]

Wow, I am sorta going in circles on this. The only Sundowner dealer in AZ only gets a unit now and again, and when I try to go look at them they are sold, so I am likely going to make a road trip to Oklahoma to visit the plant and get to see a variety of units to figure out what we would want. At this point I still like the Sundowner the best. ATC actually makes a super nice all-aluminum bumper pull, but the 28' with dedicated bedroom will not accommodate the newer 72" SxS due to clearance at the kitchen. They offer the 28' without the bedroom, but I am not real keen on fiddling with the happijack. Darn nice units, though! Still have not ruled that route out. ATC also recently introduced a butt-kicking all aluminum fifth wheel toy hauler. Very impressive! That opens up a truck can of worms, though. Loaded weight is beyond prudent for a 3/4 ton IMHO, and my truck is a short bed. I have a B&W gooseneck, so I could go to a Companion slider, but I am not keen on having to get out of the truck. I like the concept of the Superglide, but I can't seem to come up with a combination to mount it utilizing the B&W. There is something about the later model Rams that the adapter plates won't work with. Going in circles...

 

[Dieselnut59]

The wife and I have been looking at toy (toys) haulers for a few years for an eventual purchase when she retires.
The new (to me) 3500 is the first step.

Floor plan, floor plan, floor plan. Most important.
Things we care about are
- garage for 2 dressers
- walk around queen bed
- side shelf for my glasses
- living room seating facing TV
- safe access to bathroom in middle of night
- access to bath, bed, fridge with slides in
- shower with elbow room

Experienced folk suggest buying used. New has huge depreciation hit and most have issues from the factory. Warranty service is from dealer and let’s face it, once they got your money, where is the incentive for prompt service. Besides, you may be on the road anyway. Used will have the bugs worked out

Our early research was to find the units we will be interested in used when we are ready to buy.

Many larger models have fueling station. Many also have gensets.



Pro

I am also looking for a similar setup. I love the Grand Design 350M and 351M. I would want to swap out the generator for diesel though, since all my toys are diesel except my two Yamaha two stroke golf carts. In order to get a toy hauler, the dear wife to be insists on the luxuries we already have in the current TT (KZ Spree 262RKS). The GD 350/351M have the walk around queen bed, real porcelain toilet and a nice one piece residential type shower. It also has a half bath and separate AC for the garage, plus the living area faces the TV.

 

[CJ8Rockcrawler]

We have been looking at the Sundowner toy haulers. I have to say I'm impressed with the build quality vs. the typical RV I've seen out there. We were ready to go until I started looking at weights more and decided I wasn't comfortable with the projected pin weight of the unit on my 2500. Someone tell me I'm wrong for worrying about it because the Sundowners are really nice units!

 

[TFucili]

We have been looking at the Sundowner toy haulers. I have to say I'm impressed with the build quality vs. the typical RV I've seen out there. We were ready to go until I started looking at weights more and decided I wasn't comfortable with the projected pin weight of the unit on my 2500. Someone tell me I'm wrong for worrying about it because the Sundowners are really nice units!

Well, we are in the same boat. I want a garage model with 18-20 garage, so it boils down to how much LQ space we can add. The GVW of the two axle models is pretty much at the max tow of my truck, so it boils down to arriving at a dry weight that will allow cargo, tools, water, fuel, living supplies, and still have some cushion. I keep gravitating to the 2286, but I think with a 2500 we are going to have to "settle" for smaller LQ.

 

[CJ8Rockcrawler]

Well, we are in the same boat. I want a garage model with 18-20 garage, so it boils down to how much LQ space we can add. The GVW of the two axle models is pretty much at the max tow of my truck, so it boils down to arriving at a dry weight that will allow cargo, tools, water, fuel, living supplies, and still have some cushion. I keep gravitating to the 2286, but I think with a 2500 we are going to have to "settle" for smaller LQ.

We've been looking at the 2486 or 3586. The curb weights are around 9k and 11k which I just think is too much with another 4k worth of Jeep in it... not to mention clothes, food, water, Jeep parts etc.

My concern is the vehicle 9000 lbs gvwr with the 8200 lbs it weighs with the family in it, but no gear.

 

[TFucili]

We've been looking at the 2486 or 3586. The curb weights are around 9k and 11k which I just think is too much with another 4k worth of Jeep in it... not to mention clothes, food, water, Jeep parts etc.

My concern is the vehicle 9000 lbs gvwr with the 8200 lbs it weighs with the family in it, but no gear.

Accurate info is a little hard to come by. If you search dealer inventories, and find actual units the dry weights are generally 10-12 K on a 2286 with generator and fuel station. Being a 6.4 gasser, my truck is @7,500 full of fuel and with my wife and I in it, no gear, just the normal "stuff" I carry around. I might end up having to settle for an ATC 28' tag-along without the dedicated bedroom, or get the bedroom model and compromise on the SxS with a 64" instead of 72". They are "car capable", so your CJ may fit. http://aluminumtoyhauler.com/models.html