Toyhauler's---Which one

[Hawk]

Looking to get a Toyhauler for the family and this is all new to me. I have read everything I can find on construction and which units are junk from the get go. I know some of you guys hauled them from the factory and then there are those of you who own them.



Looking to get a Fifth wheel setup to pull behind the 2500. Under 40 feet and I prefer smooth sides(fiberglass/aluminum) but really don't want to have a wood frame. I'm sure the wood frame is fine but I can't see it.



Give me the good bad and the ugly. Give me the good news and what you love about them.



I'm on the fence right now cause I would rather get a new aluminum goose race trailer with living quarters in it so it get double duty.

 

[CUMMINZ]

New Horizon makes a good one.

 

[HBarlow]

Have you read the long running RV quality threads in this forum? Lots of opinions have been expressed about construction methods, materials, quality, and problems.

 

[Grizzly]

New Horizon makes a good one.

I agree, in fact they are the only 5 star rated 5th wheel by RV Consumer Group, but they are spendy. They start at 100K. Check it out. click here

 

[Gonzo 1066]

One of my friends had a Raptor 5er. What a cheap piece of SHip witha t . . In less than 3 years things were falling off of it. Now they were using it over 150 nights a year, but this is just a short term indication of a longer term lifespan. What I have seen really makes me sick to my stomach. Pay the extra for quality. You will not be dissapointed in the long run.

 

[HBarlow]

Yup, I've been preaching for years what Gonzo has just told you. A higher quality used unit is always better for long term satisfaction than a cheapo new one. Glitz and glitter don't last. Quality does.

 

[Troubleshooter]

I fulltimed for a couple of years in a 5th wheel toy hauler made by Crossroads, and was very impressed by the quality for its mid-level price point. That particular model is no longer made, but you may wish to consider one of their current models, or as mentioned earlier, find a used unit in good shape.



Some important questions:

What do you plan to haul in it? That will determine the size of the cargo bay needed.



How many will it be required to sleep?



How long will you be living in it for each trip, and will you have access to hookups during that time? This information will drive the size water tanks needed, and whether a generator is required.

 

[AMink]

For trailers in general, I think looking at used ones is the way to go. The new ones are shiny but you can find some used in really great condition. Think about things like carpet (PIA IMHO), window treatments (who really needs a valence? Blinds get beaten up. I like our honeycomb ones), tank size (you'll be amazed how long you can go with 4 people on 40 gallons plus drinking water in containers) and how the drawers work. Some of the drawer hardware is crap, some is better.



Check to see that screws, nails, and staples actually hit something. Otherwise you'll be littering the road with tire biters. Make sure the wiring, gas lines, and sewer pipes are in a handy spot without being vulnerable, especially if you don't stay on the pavement.

 

[Hawk]

Thanks for the input guys. I don't want to buy a new one and really wasn't looking at the new ones with any seriousnous. I read somewhere on here that the Alpha were nice and wouldn't fall apart. Back story is I live in AZ. We go to Glamis and when I get my ***** home for good we will go out to other parts of the SW to go riding. This brings up the next piece. At the moment we would only need to carry 4 quads (80,90,450R all Yamaha and the wifes 250EX) but I'm seriously considering getting a side x side. Full time in the toyhauler would be 2 adults and 2 boys but then others could join us at times. I was looking for sleeping cap of 6, 100 fresh and 40-60 black and grey. Does need to have a gen as most places I plan to go won't have hook ups. Under 40' and be able to be towed behind a Cummins Ram 2500 that will get Carli bags and will always have load range E tires on it. I'm a overkill kind of guy. Who really needs twins to pull stuff? No one but after the transmission gets built mine are prob going on. Same thing applies for the water hold tanks, bunk space and gen size. I know I prob won't need 100 gallons of fresh but the one time I don't have it I would need it.



Hope this helps guys. I will look at the ones you have mentioned. Thanks again

 

[AMink]

Just a thought... if you get a bumper tow you have room in the bed for at least one quad, maybe two of the small ones. That allows you to pull a shorter (lighter) trailer, maybe in the 35' range.

Those big 5er's are heavy beasts. It's not my intent to get a weight war going here (there are plenty of other threads for that:-laf) but you might consider that some places ARE weighing now, especially if you're pulled over for something else. At Sand Mountain in Nevada there are a ton of GMC/Chebby 2500's pulling big 5er's. Some have been dinged due to overweight trailers. By overweight, I mean overweight for the truck's LISTED weight capability. Just food for thought.

 

[Road Dog]

A 2500 doesn't have the payload needed for the pin weight of a bigger 5th. With a pin weight of 25% and payload of around 2,000# your trailer weight is limited to 8,000#.

 

[HBarlow]

The only weights that matter to DOT officers are axle/tire weights and registered weights. The federal DOT code addresses axle/tire and, of course, registered weights matter because that's about revenue. Combined weights of truck and trailer normally don't matter for private RV use until the gross combined weights exceed 26k.

DOT cops have no idea what the manufacturer's towing or gross combined weights are and don't really care.

 

[Hawk]

Just a thought... if you get a bumper tow you have room in the bed for at least one quad, maybe two of the small ones. That allows you to pull a shorter (lighter) trailer, maybe in the 35' range.



Those big 5er's are heavy beasts. It's not my intent to get a weight war going here (there are plenty of other threads for that:-laf) but you might consider that some places ARE weighing now, especially if you're pulled over for something else. At Sand Mountain in Nevada there are a ton of GMC/Chebby 2500's pulling big 5er's. Some have been dinged due to overweight trailers. By overweight, I mean overweight for the truck's LISTED weight capability. Just food for thought.

I thought about getting a TAG but most of them have layouts that my better half doesn't care for.

 

[PBliss]

I have a jayco fifth wheel TH, one of the bigger ones with a 12 foot garage. I can only shoe horn in 3 quads. You might have to find one with the open floorplan to haul 4. The big things I looked for was dexter axles and 16 inch tires and build quality. I wouldn't buy another jayco, my 2 cents

 

[Hawk]

I have a jayco fifth wheel TH, one of the bigger ones with a 12 foot garage. I can only shoe horn in 3 quads. You might have to find one with the open floorplan to haul 4. The big things I looked for was dexter axles and 16 inch tires and build quality. I wouldn't buy another jayco, my 2 cents

I have read that on many other forums. Looking for a 35 or so 5th wheel style.



This is the one that I have been looking at Elevation Fifth Wheel TF3612



This one would seem to do everything I want but its new and therefor expensive. I might try to wait or just find a good used one that isn't falling apart. Hard to find a decent toyhauler that doesn't have inherent issues.



The other thing I thought about was working with ATC, Featherlite or Aluma and building the end all beat all. All aluminum, couple slides, extra foot and a half height, and storage for quads, race cars or whatever I want to move.



What do you guys think about that idea.

 

[Deleted member 995608]

I have read that on many other forums. Looking for a 35 or so 5th wheel style.

This is the one that I have been looking at Elevation Fifth Wheel TF3612



This one would seem to do everything I want but its new and therefor expensive. I might try to wait or just find a good used one that isn't falling apart. Hard to find a decent toyhauler that doesn't have inherent issues.



The other thing I thought about was working with ATC, Featherlite or Aluma and building the end all beat all. All aluminum, couple slides, extra foot and a half height, and storage for quads, race cars or whatever I want to move.



What do you guys think about that idea.

Look at my sig to see what I did to my 2500 after we bought a 36' 5ver.



I wish I done the same. Lost about $10k the moment I towed ours off the lot.



Won't have all the bells and whistles but would definately outlast a traditional RV style trailer.

 

[HBarlow]

Gonzo did something like you inquired about. He has an aluminum living quarters/stock trailer that he uses for the purpose. I'm sure the aluminum LQ stock trailer cost more but will probably last twice as long and still have good resale value.

 

[Hummin Cummins]

I've been shopping for about half a year for one. Finally picked up an awesome 2007 carriage c-force. Its put together way better than the new ones and not gonna lose a ton of value when I pull off the lot. Too bad camping season's about done for the year. Have to sit and stare at it in my driveway all winter. LOL

 

[AMink]

Winter camping can be a fun time! Even in PA. Oh, wait, I did that with Boy Scouts and it wasn't always fun! It would be better with a trailer instead of a leaky tarp.

 

[ewcmr2]

I'd vote for the gooseneck race trailer. I bought mine in 2001 and it's holding up great. Mine is 20' garage, 8' living floor-8' bunk. Big enough for the four of us but when the boys got to the teenage years it was getting somewhat cramped.

Mine has aluminium roof and sides with steel frame. Having the steel frame was great when I added E-track to the garage (welded E-track directly to "studs"). I would think securing extra storage options to a wood/fiber frame would be
harder/weaker. Race trailer is also much lower which makes loading easier, probably not much of an issue for quads...