Weekend Warrior FSC3200

[odinjunior]

My copy of RV Consumer is packed away. Can someone enlighten me as to the specifics of this RV it's a 2007? Don't I remember someone saying that they were heavy?

I've been on the lookout for a Desert Fox but every time one shows up they want at least 5K over NADA for it.

 

[Grizzly]

odinjunior,



It's not too heavy for a 37'. The GVWR is 13K with 3840 lbs payload. It's manufactured by Warrior. It's a Sport Utility Trailer or a Toyhauler. It's made for Vacationing use. It's rated 2. 5 stars.



You'd be better off with a Desert Fox, 3. 5 stars, if you can find one at a fair price. Desert Fox, like any Northwood Mfg. trailer will hold it's value. I'd get it new.



You and I have spoke before, george

 

[odinjunior]

Thanks George. . Yes we have spoken before. . I find it hard to justify the cost of a new 28K I need at least that for the two dogs and the Goldwing.



I keep trying to make a "Silk purse out of a sows ear" because of the price, that W/W is going for $20K and the last D/F I found was a 2005 for $22K. My credit union lends on the NADA value so that's what I'm limited by.



We have the house on the market so my RV Consumer discs got packed away.

 

[HBarlow]

I don't have the benefit of the RV consumer guide book Grizzly does but I have pulled a lot of Weekend Warrier trailers in 2006 and 2007, have slept in a few of them, and have looked them over.

I considered them okay, not great. They were a pretty typical stick-built lower priced RV unit. For weekending in warm or mild climates they are probably fine. I would not want to use one in very hot or cold weather because I am certain it would be difficult to heat or cool to a comfortable level. If it is used for play with the doors open in the desert you wouldn't care about heating or cooling comfort.

Grizzly is probably precisely correct about comparative quality and resale value. If you buy it make sure you are buying at a price way below market price. Once you own it you'll lose a lot of money to sell it, particularly if it is one of the very large and heavy units.

You don't want to hear it but you have about half enough truck to pull a large fifth wheel toy hauler.

 

[Grizzly]

Harvey,



What makes it even more risky than pulling a 37' Toyhauler with a 2500 is that it is not a 5th wheel. It's a bumper pull Travel Trailer (tc).



odinjunior, I'd seriously worry about stability. For that size trailer, you really need a 3500 dually.



george

 

[HBarlow]

37" conventional???? You gotta be kidding! I didn't know there was such a thing.

I would not tow that thing with my cab and chassis dually! You'd be nuts to pull that thing with a Ram 2500. It will be a disaster waiting for an opportunity to occur.

Standard rule of thumb for ordinary conventional travel trailers is about 12% to 15% of total weight on the hitch ball. A trailer that weighs 13k loaded would put 1300 to 1950 lbs. on the hitch. A toy hauler is built to carry more hitch weight when unloaded, less when loaded so I'm not sure how much weight it would put on the hitch but whatever it is it exceeds what is reasonable and safe to haul on a Ram 2500.

Odinjunior, I will go on record here advising you not to buy such a trailer. It is far in excess of what is safe for your truck and your chances of reselling a trailer like that would be very poor. Very few prospective trailer buyers would want one.

 

[BrianJ]

According to the online literature and specs I found it is a 32' model that is 34' in total length including the tongue. GVWR is as stated at 13k, which would put the hitch weight as roughly 1,300 fully loaded (from my experience and research 10% is a good rule of thumb for tongue weight).



Keep in mind the only difference mechanically between a 2500 and 3500 SRW are the overload springs. While a door plate or registration might not say it, with air bags or after market springs a 2500 can be easily spec'd to the same level as a 3500 SRW. It would fall well within the axle and tire limits with 1,300lbs on the tongue, and most likely under the payload of a 3500SRW (depending on your gear and passengers in the truck). The only potential week link I see is the hitch, and I would be inclinded to change it out for a class V titan.



At a 2. 5 rating in Grizz's book, that is towards the higher end as far as toyhaulers are concerned. If you like the layout, the price is right, and that is what's in the budget, then it is what it is. That being said, I would expect a very attractive price to take a chance on a brand that is out of business and would look into how easy and reasonable it would be to service it.





EDIT: Interestingly enough, the specs I quoted above are for the 2008. In 2007 it is listed as a 34' model at 36 total feet. By the way, NADA shows $19,350 low retail and $23,310 average retail on the 2007.

 

[odinjunior]

Thanks for all the input. . I'm thinking that even though this looks like a decent buy, it's too close to the Max that my rig is rated for.

Here is the ad that caught my eye... ... ...



2007 FSC3200 Weekend Warrior Toy Hauler

 

[HBarlow]

Odinjunior,

There seems to be a serious discrepancy in the numbers posted above. Weekend Warrier did not put three 6,000 lb. axles under a trailer rated at 13,000 lbs. I can't see the VIN tag so can't be certain of the details but the seller describes it as a triple axle with LT245/75 R16 tires. The RV industry puts 16" tires on 6,000 or 7,000 lb. axles and a typical triple axle trailer with three 6,000 lb. axles would have a GVWR of about 18k to 20k. 13k may be the manufacturer's claimed empty weight. It is possible that the trailer was built with 15" wheels and tires and has been upgraded with 16", I don't know and don't remember. I pulled some just like that but didn't like them and didn't pay a lot of attention.

That is a very large and very heavy conventional travel trailer anyway you cut it.

I would not want to pull it on a ball hitch with my dually. I wonder if it is even legal length in all lower 48 states?

It's not worth $20k either. That price is above low retail in a dead economy with $4 or $5 diesel fuel and rising prices. The trailer is an orphan without manufacturer support. That may not be a huge deal breaker but if the trailer is damaged how and where will you find matching skin panels?

 

[Grizzly]

RV Consumer Group says that a 2007 FSC3200 Weekend Warrior Toy Hauler, which is a TC or conventional Travel Trailer is 37' in total length. It also says that the minium truck to tow is a one ton. That too surprises me, as it does Harvey, because of it's length and triple axle. I believe they say a minimum of one ton truck because it only has a GVWR of 13K, which I believe is light for that size trailer. My 27' 5th wheel has the same GVWR of 13K and we're talking 10' less in length and one less axle.



That brings up another point. If that much trailer only had a GVWR of 13k it must not have a very beefy structure. It's built light and it is wood stick frame as Harvey pointed out. Typically a wood stick frame weighs more than an aluminum frame. I wouldn't want to haul it to Alaska. Food for thought.



george