Toy Hauler Questions and Recommendations...

[MyBrokenJeep]

Quick question and looking for advice from the experienced!

We are considering buying a toyhauler...

Do you have a toyhauler? If so, do you haul your Jeep in it? If so, which brand and size did you get? What are some of the positives and negatives you have encountered thus far?

We will be pulling this with an 06 F250 diesel... tongue pull or 5th wheel would be acceptable...

Any help and advice would be greatly appreciated.

[Jeeperator]

First off I dont think the foldown backdoors are rated for a 4000# jeep. I have never seen a jeep pull out of a toyhauler either. You might want a converted enclosed car trailer with at least 3 axles. My buddies has a 3 axle 35' fufth wheel and I dont think he can fit a jeep he was actually looking at a smaller lighter samuria. I have a 30' fith wheel and I cant fit a jeep if I tried. The FW tow nice until you get off road and then you have to watch your off canted areas because the trailer will hit the bed of your truck if the angle is too great.If I had to do it all over again I would get a regular toungue pull.

[Dukes69]

The hard part is finding one that has the height for a Jeep, especially a built one. I'd get a 5th wheel, if it where me. I know they're out there, its just not easy to find. We were looking a while back, but decided nothing fit our needs.

[MyBrokenJeep]

More info...

Jeeperator, Thanks for the input... If I could ask a few more questions based on your responses...

...My buddies has a 3 axle 35' fufth wheel and I dont think he can fit a jeep...

We found a Gearbox today that they claim has a cargo capacity of 4300#... They say that is after you add the fresh water and fuel and LP to it... Not sure if I am being given "the old sales pitch"... The door or gate has a weight capacity of 3500#... What have you heard or seen?

The FW tow nice until you get off road... If I had to do it all over again I would get a regular tongue pull.

Mind elaborating a little more on why you would go with a tongue pull rather than the fifth wheel? In talking some Ford truck folks, they say that my total tongue pull weight capacity is 14,200# but they say that with a FW, that capacity goes up by another 20% - 25%...

We stopped by Giant RV and checked out the new ENVY toyhauler... we liked the 32' model had about a 16' cargo area and about a 7' clearance...

I'd get a 5th wheel, if it where me. I know they're out there, its just not easy to find. We were looking a while back, but decided nothing fit our needs.

Dukes... Do you have any history with a FW as opposed to a tongue pull that makes you lean towards the FW? Any experiences you could share to help us with our decision would be much appreciated... What is that you were looking for that you couldn't find?

[The-Hurricane]

what happens with a fw is that the truck is say going down hill, the trailer will still be going up. then the part of the trailer that hangs into the back of the truck will smash down onto the back of the truck, in a straight line only the tailgate will get hit, if the truck is cornering, then the side of the box will get hit.

does the trailer have to be enclosed? i find flat deck trailers are much easyer and they can be used for more than just hauling a jeep or quad. you can pick up lumber, or a skidsteer...anything you want really. they are easy to hose off if the jeep drops mud on them. just my two cents

[FishPOET]

Everything you ever wanted to know about toyhaulers

http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fu...m/13516802.cfm

Every salesman will tell you that they have a unit that will suit your needs. I would never take advice from an RV salesman.

[Kodiak Spirit]

I know two people that take their jeeps to the trails in toy hauler box trailers. They both use the drop ramp to unload no problems... the only thing is they have to swap out a set of tires every time, one small skinny set to get the jeep to fit in the trailer, and then the set they use to wheel with. it's no biggie, 'cause with the trailer they have room for air tools.

[Roger]

Have you given any thought to a large cab-over camper for your truck and either flat tow or hauling your Jeep on a two axle car trailer?

Less in taxes & registration, just a thought.

[MyBrokenJeep]

Everything you ever wanted to know about toyhaulers

http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fu...m/13516802.cfm

Every salesman will tell you that they have a unit that will suit your needs. I would never take advice from an RV salesman.

Thanks for the link! This is great info! :beer: on us when we meet...

Have you given any thought to a large cab-over camper for your truck and either flat tow or hauling your Jeep on a two axle car trailer?

Less in taxes & registration, just a thought.

Roger, have thought about this option... wish we could but we need more room than the cabover offers... We are in need of something that sleeps at least 6 people... and additionally, the new cabovers are as expensive or more than some of the toyhaulers we have looked at... :omg:

Hurricane, thanks for the input!

[bclg]

I had a 31 ft FW and currently have a 26 pull trailer, both toy-haulers.

The FW tow's easier and much easier on the truck as some weight is in the bed. I had my FW on my lifted Ford F250 and never had problems with the FW hitting the bed on any off camber road. I reversed the axles so the FW would sit higher.

Never had a jeep inside of either of them, but would like to try with the pull trailer.

You could always get a FW and still tow your jeep from the rear of the FW. As long as your under a certain length. But you will also need a certain drivers license to drive a double trailer.

[Jeeperator]

Gear box trailers are some of the nicest trailers out here but definatly dont buy a new one from a lot . I go to the dealer auction and those trailers and motorhomes are going so cheap right now you wouldnt believe it.One thing need to know is do you have a long bed or short bed if you have a short bed with a fw trailer you need to get a slider hitch so you can slide it back so it doesnt hit your cab when you are doing tight manuevers. The other thing I was talking about was when you truck is tilted or leaning to one side and the trailer is leaning to the other it might possibly contact the bed to the underside of the front of the trailer in an off road situation you just have to be more careful. 3500# door capacity thats alot mines only rated for 2000#'s I would try it out and test it before you buy that way its on them if it breaks or bends. I actually had my trailer built for bikes and quads I didnt own a jeep when I got it so it was built with 2 5000# axles If I wanted to put a jeep in it I need another axle.Another thing to consider FW tend to be higher profile and when the wind is blowing hard things tend to get a litle scary somtimes, alot of peole pull over in high wind situations.Just somthing to think about.My FW sleeps 5 adults comfirtably and 7 with an air matress on the floor in the back. Have you thought about a motorhome with a trailer I have heard about nice $250,000 + motorhomes with deisel pushers going for about 60-80 thousand at the auction because no one wants them and the dealers cant sell them lol.

[xjkevin]

i tow my jeep, and have 7 quads and bikes for the family, i wanted a toyhauler to pull both, not at the same time, and couldnt find it, i ended up gettin an rv, its nice besides for not being able to unhook the tow rig and drive it around..i stayed in a friends toy hauler for calico and wasnt impressed...

[Ol Man]

One of the guys in my club had a Holiday Rambler Next Level and put his Jeep in it. Before this trailer, he had a Ragen and the frame broke! Had to get a lawyer to get things right. Think you have to be real careful to look at quality vs price.

By the way, he did move on to a diesel pusher and enclosed trailer. No problems with this setup. That is also how I roll. Gives you lots of options.

If you are going to pull a trailer like this, make sure you are within the towing limits of your truck and the trailer is within the limits of the manufacturer.

[MyBrokenJeep]

One of the guys in my club had a Holiday Rambler Next Level and put his Jeep in it. Before this trailer, he had a Ragen and the frame broke! .....

Great info... we are still searching! The floor capacity is one of our primary concerns... I have learned that quite a few makers use 5/8 compressed board (plywood) as flooring but some of the higher priced and better built models use 3/4 and some 1 inch flooring... It would really SUCK to have the Jeep fall through the floor!

going to pull a trailer like this, make sure you are within the towing limits of your truck and the trailer is within the limits of the manufacturer.

As for the towing capacities of the truck, we are double checking and triple checking that with Ford and other Ford enthusiasts... I have a line on a set of F350 rear springs that I might put under the F250 just to sure it up a bit...

Originally posted by xjkevin
I stayed in a friends toy hauler for calico and wasnt impressed...

What kind of hauler was it that you stayed in? Do you remember the brand and size? What was it that you didn't particularly care for?

As we learn more, we will post more info. And as any of you have more comments and information and ideas, please do not hesitate to share!

Thanks!

[Dukes69]

Dukes... Do you have any history with a FW as opposed to a tongue pull that makes you lean towards the FW? Any experiences you could share to help us with our decision would be much appreciated... What is that you were looking for that you couldn't find?

We have 2 5th wheels for the bonneville cars. If you can find something big enough to fit the Jeep, it would be prefered to have the weight centered over the rear axle, instead of levered off the frame. Plus you can make sharper turns, which has come in handy.