5th Wheels Toy Haulers - Do you have and if So which One?

[packyderms_wife]

I'm getting ready to start looking at toy haulers, I've joined a few groups on facebook, to learn about the good the bad and the ugly which seems to be about the same all the way across the board.

So do you have one, and if so which one, and what do you like and dislike about your TH?

A friend of mine thinks I'd benefit more from a livestock, specifically a horse trailer with living quarters since I'm hoping to be out in the country soon with horses and I'll be getting them for trail riding. Lots of horse friendly trails in my area.

So that's another consideration, if you have a livestock trailer with living quarters which one do you have, how big, etc.

Already got the truck figured out, now I'm on the hunt for a used Dodge Ram 3500 with a mega cab, so it doesn't break the bank... may be going to Texas soon to look down there as they're as rare as hens teeth up here in Iowa, used 3500's. And I've heard good things about two different dealers in TX near Houston.

 

[packyderms_wife]

anyone?

 

[Publius]

Give it time for anyone to pick up this. We have people around here with such horse trailers and never seen what the inside accommodations look like and from what I see from the outside it has to be pretty basic.
Most of these trailers I've seen are quite long and pricy and would need a serious truck to haul it, at lest a one ton truck for the smaller ones or bigger.
One family nearby who is seriously into barrel racing has a really big one and pulled by a full sized four door road tractor.

 

[packyderms_wife]

Give it time for anyone to pick up this. We have people around here with such horse trailers and never seen what the inside accommodations look like and from what I see from the outside it has to be pretty basic.

Most of these trailers I've seen are quite long and pricy and would need a serious truck to haul it, at lest a one ton truck for the smaller ones or bigger.
One family nearby who is seriously into barrel racing has a really big one and pulled by a full sized four door road tractor.

Basic is all I really need, I don't need the slideouts, etc. I'm not looking for a home away from home. I'm looking for something that doesn't require I sleep in a hotel when I'm traveling, and allows me to prepare and cook my own food. Basically a bed, a chair maybe two, fridge, microwave, a place to plug in my crock pot or instant pot, and a bathroom.

I'm on several RV groups on FB and am shocked at the number of people who take loans out on these beasts, and they bitch about their house payments, college loans and the like. And they have no problems with attacking people like me for paying cash. It seems the older people, 50+ pay cash, and the youngsters that want it all are borrowing and big time. These rigs lose something like 65% of their value the second you drive it off of the lot!

 

[biere]

Lot of the rv sites have folks with toy haulers. Run a generic search for ramp problems with them. I like the idea of using the loading ramp as a porch, just keep it level and use jackstands on the ground or cables from the trailer to help support it.

But overtime the doors can have issues and fail.

Horse trailers tend to be "overbuilt" since you normally pull it down an unimproved road if traveling someplace and that is with it loaded.

My biggest thing, I like aluminum since it won't rust and is not a laminate that can seperate.

 

[ohiohippie]

Ex has 2017 Fuzion.
He wishes he’d bought a motorhome.

 

[Firebird]

I don’t have a toy hauler, but the main complaints I’ve heard of are the ramp doors. They are prone to leak some as they age, and dirt can swirl in around the seals. Are you planning on loading, golf cart, 4 wheeler, motorcycle?
Also, make sure you check the payload of any truck you buy before you buy your trailer. Cummins will drag a house, but a Mega Cab is HEAVY, and it will reduce your payload. As a comparison, my contractor and I both have 2019 Ram 2500’s, mine is a Bighorn crew cab 4x4 with the 6.4 Hemi, it has a payload of 3037 pounds. His is a Cummins Laramie Mega Cab 4x4, and has a payload of 1200 pounds. Practically any camper he wants to pull is “over” payload.

 

[packyderms_wife]

I don’t have a toy hauler, but the main complaints I’ve heard of are the ramp doors. They are prone to leak some as they age, and dirt can swirl in around the seals. Are you planning on loading, golf cart, 4 wheeler, motorcycle?
Also, make sure you check the payload of any truck you buy before you buy your trailer. Cummins will drag a house, but a Mega Cab is HEAVY, and it will reduce your payload. As a comparison, my contractor and I both have 2019 Ram 2500’s, mine is a Bighorn crew cab 4x4 with the 6.4 Hemi, it has a payload of 3037 pounds. His is a Cummins Laramie Mega Cab 4x4, and has a payload of 1200 pounds. Practically any camper he wants to pull is “over” payload.

I was looking at a 3500, with dualies and a crew cab.

 

[Firebird]

I was looking at a 3500, with dualies and a crew cab.

Great choice, dually will definitely bump up your payload! I would still verify payload, as some toy haulers and stock trailers have very heavy tongue weight.

 

[packyderms_wife]

Great choice, dually will definitely bump up your payload! I would still verify payload, as some toy haulers and stock trailers have very heavy tongue weight.

Yeah, I'm aware of this issue. Seems that not all 3500s are equal and some have a higher payload than others. I watched some videos on curb weight, etc., to make sure I get what I need the first time around.

 

[Firebird]

Yeah, I'm aware of this issue. Seems that not all 3500s are equal and some have a higher payload than others. I watched some videos on curb weight, etc., to make sure I get what I need the first time around.

Good, you are educating yourself before you buy, will save a lot of headaches. As an example, my camper is around 9500 pounds with gear and all for camping. Tongue weight on a bumper pull averages between 10 to 15%, so my camper will put somewhere between 950 and 1400 pounds of weight on my truck (payload) So as you can see from my earlier example, it already exceeds the capacity of my buddies more powerful Cummins truck.
Also, once you add 2 or more passengers, pets, gear, luggage, coolers or anything else in the bed, you quickly get up to or over payload. A dually will definitely help a lot. Are you going with a bumper pull or 5th wheel set up?
Here in Florida, it isn't as big a deal, but in some states, DOT will weigh you, and if over capacity, they will pull you off the road. Anyhow, ask lots of questions, and most folks will be more than happy to steer you straight. Welcome to your future world of camping!

 

[packyderms_wife]

Good, you are educating yourself before you buy, will save a lot of headaches. As an example, my camper is around 9500 pounds with gear and all for camping. Tongue weight on a bumper pull averages between 10 to 15%, so my camper will put somewhere between 950 and 1400 pounds of weight on my truck (payload) So as you can see from my earlier example, it already exceeds the capacity of my buddies more powerful Cummins truck.
Also, once you add 2 or more passengers, pets, gear, luggage, coolers or anything else in the bed, you quickly get up to or over payload. A dually will definitely help a lot. Are you going with a bumper pull or 5th wheel set up?
Here in Florida, it isn't as big a deal, but in some states, DOT will weigh you, and if over capacity, they will pull you off the road. Anyhow, ask lots of questions, and most folks will be more than happy to steer you straight. Welcome to your future world of camping!

I'm going with a 5th wheel and for a variety of reasons.