Thinking about purchasing a used toy-hauler

[JEstes]

Guys,



I'm considering buying a used toy hauler, but I'm not sure where to start. I don't really have much experience with them. Here's my situation:



I'm getting tired of paying for hotels, so I think that pulling my hotel with me would probably be a good idea. I know my fuel economy, over my existing enclosed cargo trailer, will go down a little, but if I can save $150 per weekend on a hotel, that will cover the fuel. I'd like to find something that's got about a 10-12 foot long cargo area in the back, with either clamshell doors or a ramp. I'll actually be using it to haul 2 large model airplanes to and from events. The planes are 40% scale, so they're about 9 feet long. The wings do come off though.



What do you guys think? I'm clueless about good brands, price ranges, ect. I'm assuming a used one would make financial sense, but maybe the dealers are getting desperate nowadays and wanting to unload some.

 

[JimB1]

RV Trader, RV Trader: New & Used RV Classified Ads. Buy & Sell New or Used RV Online | RVT.com is hugh listing of new/used units.



RV Consumers Group, RV Ratings for motorhomes, fifth wheels, trailers, toy haulers. is excellent ratings organization and all the ins & outs of buying.



I've been shopping for about same size as are you.



To get close to that size garage, maybe 28 ft.



Since your cargo will be light weight there'll be little rear load counter balance to relieve tounge weight.



Most mfg's easily advertise warm & fuzzy info but when it gets down to nitty gritty specs, ie garage size and TRUE weight and balance, you'll have to go beyond sales claims and verify for yourself those specs.

 

[surfbeetle]

ToyHauler Magazine - index



check that out and get an idea before you jump into something. Now is definitely a great time to score a deal.

 

[SSell]

Definitely agree this is a great time to buy... Dont be hung up on brand new from a dealer---Rv warranties are a joke (we bought a 23' desert fox new in '06, less than impressed with the warranty service we got). I'd think it'd be easy to find a barely used, couple year old, slightly neglected mid-size toyhauler for a SMOKIN' DEAL from a private party. People tend to not want them after the first couple years, first round of blown tires/brakes/bearing/batteries , $50 bucks-a-month just to store the dang thing and so on. Aluminum siding is a lot cheaper and lighter than fiberglass, will be your first choice if you've ever encountered the word "delamination". If you check out a trailer thats couple years old, everything works, no signs of leaks/water damage, roof is good, AC works, doors & cabinets still square & work properly----you've probably found a good one that will require little extra work from you. A brand new unit will almost certainly require some attention from the dealer, which takes weeks (minimum)and probably some foot-stomping and name-calling on your part to get things done.



just my . 02

 

[HBarlow]

SSell's post offered a lot of good information and advice.



I would add to his comments the fact that Weekend Warrier, a huge manufacturer of toyboxes, recently went out of business abandoning warranties on thousands of new and nearly new WEW's.



If you like WEW toyboxes there are probably some bargains to be had. Some who have had warranty issues on a new one and are struggling with fuel prices may be even more motivated to take their losses now and get out from under their payments.

 

[Spooled-up]

Here's one for you. This auction has already ended, but he dropped his price to 10000 from 16500 in the middle of the auction. It's a "must sell" kind of deal, so you should be able to get it from him cheap. You can contact him through the eBay site by clicking on his member name and then finding the "contact this member" link. It's worth a try if it's close to what you are looking for.

eBay Motors: 2005 29' KZ INC. SPORTSMAN SPORTSTER TOYHAULER W/SLIDE (item 250272812606 end time Jul-26-08 19:46:52 PDT)

Now I see it's been relisted here:

eBay Motors: 2005 29' KZ INC. SPORTSMAN SPORTSTER TOYHAULER W/SLIDE (item 250275899632 end time Aug-03-08 18:59:37 PDT)

 

[JEstes]

Thanks guys! That's good to know about Weekend Warrior. Depending on what's wrong, I may be willing to buy a "defective" one and make the repairs myself. I'm sure one with a relatively minor existing warranty issue would be a steal.

 

[surfbeetle]

SSell's post offered a lot of good information and advice.



I would add to his comments the fact that Weekend Warrier, a huge manufacturer of toyboxes, recently went out of business abandoning warranties on thousands of new and nearly new WEW's.



If you like WEW toyboxes there are probably some bargains to be had. Some who have had warranty issues on a new one and are struggling with fuel prices may be even more motivated to take their losses now and get out from under their payments.

Harvey,

Where did you hear about WEW's demise? I have some friends with one who were not aware of this. Thanks.

 

[msperos]

Harvey,
Where did you hear about WEW's demise? I have some friends with one who were not aware of this. Thanks

Yeah where did you hear this? I have one that I bought last year, my second one, and have not heard a thing. There web site is still going and they have 09' models on the lots?
warriormfg.com

 

[HBarlow]

RV Industry News, a website that publishes articles gleaned from news reports all over the country has published several recent reports on it.



Here's the article:





"Weekend Warrior liquidates assets

By Greg Gerber



ONTARIO, Calif. -- RV Industry News has learned that Weekend Warrior is now under the control of a liquidation company and that all assets are up for sale.



CMA Business Credit Services has assumed control of the company. All dealers with warranty claims pending will receive a letter within two weeks outlining procedures for filing a claim for possible reimbursement. An operator answering the phone at company headquarters would not promise that money would be available to pay all pending claims.



Weekend Warrior officials have yet to confirm the information, but dealers calling the company to inquire about warranty work are being told the company is being liquidated and that new warranty claims will not be processed.



Last month, Mark Warmouth, president of Weekend Warrior, assured the industry the factory would shut down temporarily and reopen under better financial controls.



An auction is pending to sell off all remaining assets, according to another source close to the company.



Weekend Warrior joins National RV, Okanagan RV, Alfa Leisure, Kingsley Coach and Western Recreation Vehicles as manufacturers which have shut their doors in the last eight months.



RV Industry News earlier reported that Weekend Warrior's lending partners were forcing the company's hand, said one dealer who has spoken with Warmouth and is familiar with the situation. As the firm sold off its lot inventory to raise cash, it reduced the asset line backing up the company's credit line. As a result, the lenders grabbed Weekend Warrior's operating capital to bring the credit line in line with the company's assets. The action forced the closure around the July 4 holiday.



The company never reopened from that "temporary" closure. "



I knew it was coming on May 1st when I visited my old friends in Fontana, CA. They are the family that owns and operates the transport company that pulled many WEW trailers and that I formerly worked for. Nobody announced it then but the indications were clear.

 

[HBarlow]

And here's another article:



Weekend Warrior confirms closing

By Greg Gerber Manufacturing News



"PERRIS, Calif. -- Weekend Warrior Trailers Inc. is shutting two Perris factories and has laid off about 250 workers, owner Mark Warmoth said Monday.



The company, like the entire recreational vehicle industry, has been battered by the declining economy and the slumping residential real estate market, he said.



The absence of home price appreciation, which often yields equity that can be tapped for the RV purchase, has cost the industry about 40 percent of its peak business, Warmoth said. Another 10 percent or more has vanished as consumer confidence has waned, he said.



Weekend Warrior, Warmoth said, was ill-prepared for the market to fall off after a boom that lasted more than a decade.



"I expected to be here for my customers forever," he said. He described his company as "still open, but in trouble. "



Owners will still be able to get replacement parts, which are sold by other companies, he said.



It's been a rough year for Weekend Warrior -- three executives resigned in April, and the company let 100 people go in March.



Warmoth said earlier that he was expecting the company's sales for 2008 to fall about 25 percent from last years' $155 million, which was itself a 25 percent drop from 2006 sales. "





WEW's closing means lots of illegal immigrants will have to turn to burglary or street crimes. Maybe Kommifornia, the worker's paradise, will provide unemployment benefits and welfare, food stamps, free housing, etc. for them.



I've picked up trailers at WEW's plants in the afternoon at factory quitting time and thought I had made a wrong turn and ended up in Tijuana. It appeared from their clothing that many of them had just come across the border within a few weeks.

 

[surfbeetle]

Thanks for the info. The economy's current state definitely has a lot of people in trouble. I went to a WEW dealer in Alpine Ca last year and had a look. I was impressed with the layout, quality, etc, but ultimately I could not afford the 50,000+ for what I wanted. I ended up with a used 5ver that I just added a hitch to the back and have a utility trailer to tow behind it.