Looked at the Raptor Toybox

[EricBu12]

Just went down to look at the Raptor toybox the dealer got in.



This one is already sold but I just wanted to get some pics and look alittle more and to show it to my parents who travel with me sometimes...



This is a 36' toybox with 2 slides and a separate garage.



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This garage is totally open and the silver thing there is a fold down work table with storage for oil, etc. also there is a fantastic fan and a great floor.



They are going to sell one to me for the show price they had last week at $39,500... ..... MSRP on this is $53K!

 

[LFarrar]

The bomb

A buddy of mine got one a few months back, it's dope. Are you getting the slide out porch area? he had it and at first I did not like but later found it was nice to have.

 

[EricBu12]

The porch has been discontinued due to lack of buying. I am in the process where the dealer is looking for the right bank to do it. I have the desert fox and I have a high pay off since it is only 1 yr old. But once I get it i will be very pleased with it. I like the blue interior but the green is ok too.

 

[Fireman]

Eric,



Did you count dem axles? That's a heavy trailer. What's wrong with the new Desert Fox FW ? Having owned both brands, I prefer the Fox.



Fireman

 

[EricBu12]

The 38 DF is 2 feet longer and 3k Heavier. Need a 1 ton for that... I only have 3/4



The Raptor has a GVW of 15,500 on 6 D rate tires. You add up the weight of the tires and it is almost the GVW... . within a few hundred although the pin weight is 2200



The DF has the rear bed IN the garage. Separated form the living area



The raptor has it in a loft that is over the garage but part of the living area... you see the second pic down, the loft is just over the door there. (Also the slide is in , in that picture, not slid out. ) almost a queen size and there is a cabinet up there for clothes or whatever and a place for a TV with a cable plug in.



Also the Raptor has a bed slide-out with a dresser and a full front wall wardrobe. (roughing it, huh?)



One of the biggest complaints I have with my 28K DF is the lack of outside storage. There is one small box by the Generator and that is it. The trade-off is there is a walk-around bed in front where other makers have a outside storage that go under the bed cutting off the ability to walk around. (My Elderly parents use this bed... easier to walk around).



This lack of space makes having anything for camping like chairs, firewood, outside stuff, tires for the quad, jack, etc, MUST go in the cargo area of the trailer.

Always tripping over the stuff even when in living mode, all the stuff is in the rear and jumbled together, just tossed somewhere out of the way. then have to unload it or move the stuff to load the quads... . Kinda a hassle.



The raptor is pretty much the only toyhauler I have seen that has a second bed and a separated wall and the bed is part of the living area. The rear floor of the raptor is 1" thick and covered with rubber diamondplate and metal diamond plate sides up 6". The tie-downs are the zipper track like that is on the sides of moving trucks. It comes with 3, 10' lengths and they are not mounted yet so you can put them where you want. Also comes with some short adapter clip-straps about 6" Long for that track so you can use regular straps with them.



Of course there is all the regular amenities including a hide a bed in the sofa and the dinette makes into a bed although a little short... for kids I guess... and a 5. 5K Gen and the frame of it is box tubing aluminum (not the chassis).



I looked it over very carefully (over 20 yrs of RV Experience), and the only thing I will have a little trouble with is the battery compartment. There is no room for one of the battery spots to put one of the 6 volt batteries I have since it is a little taller, it will not fit below a wall protrusion for the storage compartment. They have 2 batteries mounted between 2 rails in a open type holder, kinda down into it and one of the battery's end is just below the edge of the floor for the compartment... . It seems easily fixable, will have to get a battery slide tray to mount on top of the rails sideways since there is enough room vertically for both that way.....



The only thing I can see that is sorta cheap is the tail-lights, I think Keystone could have used something a little nicer. Going to get some black boxes to mount on the rear frame area and put in 2 oval 60 LED Lights that are receced in a rubber grommet. Other than those 2 things I mentioned, This thing seems to be the ultimate for toyhauler and nice 5th that is totally separated and is good for 4 seasons.



Well this turned into a long spewing of stuff, just can't wait to get it. ... .

 

[Fireman]

That's still a heavy trailer. I'll bet the pin weight winds up being more (it always does). Yep, I've owned 2 Tailgators, the FWs have been replaced replaced by the Raptor. I haven't eyeballed a DF, but I really like my new Arctic Fox. I have however crawled all over a Raptor and they have alot more than the old Tailgators. Anyhow good luck with your new trailer, I know you'll enjoy all the extra room and storage. Just be careful, with all that space it's easy to over load.



Fireman

 

[JOE911]

Been looking at these for a while now. Fit and finish seem to be excellent unfortunantly the dealers around here won't deal. $40 grand is not in my budget. Nice rig good luck

 

[DIESELMAN]

Eric - Are you buying a Raptor Now??? I am looking to buy the same, I bought another 04. 5 Dually but even the Desert Fox FW is realistically too heavy for it. You really need an F450/F550 to tow the Desert Fox FW.



This is real interesting that you have the same DF that I do, and are looking to buy the same FW that I am looking seriosly at as well. Give me some numbers and opinions. Like..... What is the actual Garage Size?? Can I stow two 600 Polaris Sportsman side by side without getting a hernia?? The DF is 2" too small inside for this, and therefore one quad is in the kitchen, makes it tough to grab a cold one without unloading.



My Dually is getting This Job from now on... ... This one is light...



John (DM)

 

[JHofmann]

We have the 35' single slide Raptor. Absolutely love it. Really an awesome toy hauler. We were looking at the 36' with the slide out porch but did'nt really care for it (along with the extra weight). Plenty of storage, and plenty of room in the garage for two bikes, tools, spares... ect. Tows awesome also, very stable. Overall just a great unit.

 

[EricBu12]

John,

I am having to set back my buying of this til I get my truck paid off which will be in feb '06 so I will be looking for that model when they are out... . Maybe they will have some new thing in them I like... .



This is truly a wide body so it is like 8' 8" or so wide inside and there is no couches or other stuff to get in the way. Length of it is 12Ft. As you can see in the pics above, Even when the slides are in, you can use the dinette and beds and such so overnighters in the truckstops are no problem if you don't want to slide them.



The DF 38' is 18000 GVW and yes it is too heavy..... maybe even for a 1 ton but I bet you could use the Dually since the on-board weight will be able to handle it. Just boost the engine ans put an E-brake on it and you're set. But I wouldn't want one just because the second bed is in the garage.



I calculated on what I put in the trailers and the water weight and the quads weight and misc. stuff and I come to about 14000 total give or take a few hundred.



The unloaded weight is 11,200# That includes the gas for the generator. (read the slip on the paper)... and with water at 880# and propane and 1200# of quads and food and clothes , and, and, and, I bet 14K will be around there.



I was told the placement of the axles were set so the pin weight won't be too much. the only thing to affect the pin weight will be the front wardrobe and the front storage. Everything else is either rear of the axles or centraly located.



I have helper springs on my 01 with the camper package and tow group. Also put the mag hytec cover on fr. and rear and synthetic fluids in the transmission (6 speed). Have about 400 HP at the wheels (2 boxes, 4" exhaust, 2nd stage inj. ) with a jacobs brake. Seems like I have enough grunt ability for like a SWR 1 ton. Also put disc brakes on the rear with the stock Michelin XLT E rate tires.



Also, anybody want a real neat magazine, see here http://www.toyhaulermagazine.com for $10/yr you cant go wrong

 

[DIESELMAN]

Eric FYI, I just crossed the scales with my '04. 5 DRW and my 28K Desert Fox with two Polaris 4X Quads, full water 100+ Gallons, empty holding tanks, 25 Gallons gas in the rear gas station, and 112 Gallons of Diesel in the truck - 19,580 Pounds GCW, 10280 on the trailers axles. , the front axle always weighs lighter than Dodge says it does, the truck is only carrying about 1800 pounds of the load. The DF always seems to load light on the tounge which irritates me.



This is 19580 pounds without food, or Beer, mmmm, Beer. No tools, No Passengers, Not even Me, no dogs, no gear,, and no Beer, mmmm, Beer.



My best guess on the DF 38-5 FW is loaded the same would be over 23,000 lbs. My DF dry weight is over 1000 pounds higher than the spec sheet shows, 3975 lbs doesn't account for two quads, water, gas, generator and a Microwave. I'd really like to hitch that DF in Mesa up and haul it to the scales myself. These things are heavy, period.



And we still don't account for Beer, mmmm, Beer.

 

[EricBu12]

John,



I have no doubt the DF's are heavier, As for being all wood construction is why. Your set-up is up there for a # of reasons as you know I have 1 polaris 4x4 and a polaris predator which is lighter. I don't have as much fuel as you do and I don't have a dually so that saves like 700-1000 right there. Last time I weighed my set I only had the 4x4 and full of Fuel (I have an 18 gal aux aux as well) and 3 people, full water, 1 quad, food, clothes, firewood, full 30 gal gas in the trailer, 6 volt golf cart batteries, 3 solar panels, and everything else needed for riding came to 19500# so with the predator, I am at 20,000 Max GCVWR.



The raptor has aluminum box construction so that saves some weight. I know it will be heavier when loaded but I will not be anywhere near max GVW for the trailer... . maybe like 1000 over my GCVWR total.



The 6 wheels are rated for like 15K so thats ok and the pin weight is 2200# according to literature and the salesman who has been selling the raptors like hotcakes here, Knows the weight divulged by the buyers that weighed it.



If I take the weight of my truck and the weight of the TW of the trailer (my DF) with the Hensley arrow hitch and Minus the weight of the shell, bedrug, Aux Battery and some other things that can go in the trailer, the weight on the truck will be about the same. I have over 400hp and the Mag-hytec cover on the rear axle and I have the six speed. Also the Jacobs E-brake on. I have no doubt on the trucks ability to haul this. I would be hesitant to haul the 38 DF even with a 1 ton, it is just too heavy.



I drive truck interstate pulling doubles and sometimes triples upwards of 150,000# so I know of how weight affects a vehicle up and down hill and how speed is a bad factor. Some of these "weekend Warriors" have to get out to the place as soon as possible with little reguard for others or what his rig is doing. That is where there is problems and people getting sued for their arrogance.



I know that my truck will be able to handle this 5th wheel and I know I will have to exercise more caution and leave more room for stopping. I drive reasonable at 60-65 like I do on the big rigs. even if the limit is higher I won't do it.....



So when feb of '06 rolls around, I will look at this again and get it.

 

[willy1947]

Raptor

I really like the looks of this. That will be a nice purchase. Wish I could find one I could fit my Jeep in. I need 81" door height to get it in and about 16' of garage space. I might be able to get it in a 14' though.



Nice toyhauler!



Dave

 

[EricBu12]

A few more pics of it



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[DIESELMAN]

Eric - My wife is going to kill me, at least I may have a nice trailer to live in when she throws me out for shopping up a new trailer, that rig is really nice.



I didn't even have the aux batteries and solar on when I weighed up, the 8% tounge weight just irks me, I always load the front heavy with gear when I expect freeway or twisties just for driving comfort.



Heres a ponderable, at least to me, why don't they make RV's, especially those stretching to 3 axles, with dually buds, they'd sure look cool and probably give a very firm ride, more sprung weight, less bounce in the chassis of the RV, better suspension choices, better weight distribution, great handling with wind, easier asphalt turning, better braking performance, better tires to select from, much safer with a flat, and a real PITA when you need to change a tire, but thats it for the drawbacks.



Sounds like a new thread to me!

 

[EricBu12]

Willy,



Since you have a 3500 dually, look at the alfa. It has a 15' garage when there is no wall



http://www.alfaleisure.com/asp_pages/toyhouse/floorplan.asp

 

[DIESELMAN]

Eric - I hitched to an Alpha Toyhouse too, way over weight, for both my trucks and my wallet. 15,200 without anything in it, and 3,000 of that was on the hitch. This only leaves 3300 for water, fuel gear and toys, and its way, way over GCVW even for my dually. But it sure was built nice.