We recently acquired a couple of toys - Polaris Ranger 700XP and Polaris RZR. I am tossing around the idea of toy haulers.
I currently have a very nice Sundance 2800RLS 5th wheel. We love this trailer and it's been a pleasure to own. This is a standard floor plan with a long couch/dinette slideout and a bedroom slide out. It's very roomy for the 4 of us. The downside is that I have to make up beds for the kids every night. The couch is easy as it has a pull out bed with an air mattress. The booth dinette is getting too small for my daughter, so we've had to fashion up a platform with a separate air mattress.
I am thinking of possibly replacing this with a bumper pull toy hauler. I could haul the RZR in the bed of my truck (dodge 2500 CTD long bed), and keep the Ranger in the TH. In order to fit both in a 5th wheel TH, I would need a large unit that has around 18 feet of cargo space. I really don't want to pull anything larger than what I have now.
I like the bed arrangements on your typical TH, which would even allow a friend to come along. I just worry about what I'm giving up:
5th wheel towing
slide out in the living area
slide out in bedroom making it very roomy and comfortable
large outside storage
lots of interior storage
8 cu ft fridge
What I gain:
smaller trailer (I am looking at an Attitude 23AK)
easy bed setup
more places to sit (with the atta-lounger)
can carry toys, bikes, etc
Has anyone made this transition? Any thoughts or words of wisdom?
TIA!
-steve
2009 Northern Lite 9.6Q Classic
2009 Outfitter Apex 9.5 (soon to be for sale)
2009 Sundance 2800RLS
2006 Dodge Ram 2500 QC LB CTD 2WD
What about double towing behind your current fifth wheel?? I think you would be disappointed when you move down to a smaller trailer. The larger fifth wheels with the open interior will give you alot more options and veratility. Good luck.
1998.5 Dodge Ram 2500 with a few mods
2004 Wanderer Wagon Toyhauler
1997 XR400R Plated
2003 Polaris Trailboss 330
campNride wrote: What about double towing behind your current fifth wheel?? I think you would be disappointed when you move down to a smaller trailer. The larger fifth wheels with the open interior will give you alot more options and veratility. Good luck.
I don't think double towing is legal in CA. Most things aren't.
I'm not sure I would be comfortable doing that anyway.
Steve it's legal but it would be a pretty long combo and a PITA. You would need a commercial CDL with doubles endorsement also.
I would hate to give up a 5th wheel too (if I had one) but I think you're on the right track. I would suggest a front sleeper with double queen bunks in the rear. It seems most TH with front beds less than 25' or 26' have NO room in front except for the mattress. Maybe you're OK with that. Check your height clearances closely because a Ranger won't fit in all. The Attalounger is a good idea but you can raise the bunks and stick some chairs in there and accomplish the same thing. Also personal preference, but I'd opt for 2 free standing chairs and a small table instead of the dinette set up.
Thanks, OTS. You make a lot of good points. I've been trying to figure out if I want a simple front bath 23ft or a front sleeper 26ft. While a front sleeper would be nice - it adds considerable length, weight, and cost just for that feature.
I'd really like to not pay much more than $20K (plus tax) at this point. I can get a new Attitude 23AK for that price, or something used. I hesitate to buy a used TH, though! However, there is a used 26ft. HR Black Diamond (same as a Boogie Box) for sale not too far away that looks tempting. I like the use of space over the A frame for the bedroom. I would think the quality of HR/R-Vision would be on par or better than Eclipse?
Hmmmm....
I'd still like to hear from people who have "downsized"! I know that's rare as it looks like most upsize.
-steve
OlderThanSand wrote: Steve it's legal but it would be a pretty long combo and a PITA. You would need a commercial CDL with doubles endorsement also.
I would hate to give up a 5th wheel too (if I had one) but I think you're on the right track. I would suggest a front sleeper with double queen bunks in the rear. It seems most TH with front beds less than 25' or 26' have NO room in front except for the mattress. Maybe you're OK with that. Check your height clearances closely because a Ranger won't fit in all. The Attalounger is a good idea but you can raise the bunks and stick some chairs in there and accomplish the same thing. Also personal preference, but I'd opt for 2 free standing chairs and a small table instead of the dinette set up.
I used to have an attitude 26' fsak with the front bed and before that had a 23' attitude front bathroom. I have a rzr and my wife has a can-am 2 up, plus the kids have quads or bikes to bring. I liked having the front bed for privacy especially with the kids. The front bed gives you storage underneath too. Granted we now have a big fw it was kinda cozy and we miss it a bit. I would put my wifes quad in the back of the truck and the rest in the trailer. It worked fine. We didnt have any problems but you can feel on the truck having more weight than when we were able to get it all in the trailer and put just wood and stuff in the back of the truck. Slideouts are nice but with smaller kids we can deal with it if cooped up like at Pismo all day due to winds, etc.
Slides mean weight and less stuff to be able to haul too.
All good points so far.
You'd have to pry my 5th wheel away from me if I knew I was getting a bumper tow in exchange. JMO.
I'd seriously look at some non garage unit 5th wheel toy haulers.
We used to have a LE 3105 Warrior (33 ft end to end) and it had 12'6 unobstructed and an add'l 3-4 ft if you went into the kitchen. I would bet you could fit bot SxS's in a rig like that. With your price point, look around for some used 05's-08's toy haulers with this open plan and you can stay right around the same length as your Sundance.
The storage, master bed, comfort of towing, etc. are all things that would drive me nuts if I traded down to a bumper pull.
Just my $.02
Good luck with the journey
An open fifth wheel will be your best choice, I can fit my lifted golf cart, predator 500, honda 400 and honda trx450 in my trailer. That's three inline with the two in back being side by side.
2007 F350 Tow Boss FX4 CC LB
2003 33' 5er Thor Tahoe Transport
Wow! Lots of good suggestions on this thread and I don't disagree with any of them.
But .. always a but huh? If you want to stay small, < 23', you're limited. I'm in the same boat as you. I can't get anything much bigger than my 22' bumper pull up my driveway and get it parked. I'd love a 5er but due to my wacked out driveway I think I'd be hitting the bed rails on my truck. If you're ok with the bed-in-a-box feeling a 23' front sleeper would work and like BigJon said, it gives you storage up front. If you don't go for the FS then I'd stick with the front bath. I like the front kitchens, but the extra room in a front bath is more important to me. I wouldn't be afraid of a used TH if you check it out thoroughly. I bought mine used (1 year) I saved a pile of money and it's been great. Attitude/Stellar would definitely be on my short list.
More stuff to think about .. Due to the Ranger weight stay away from a 7K GVW TH. Avoid the 13.5 BTU heater if you can and opt for the biggest a/c unit you can get. Gas cans are a pain but way cheaper and more trouble free than a fuel station.
Let me know if you need me to give you more advice on how to spend your money hahaha
Double tow, you won't find a toyhauler as comfy as your fiver, unless you spend the big $$$... I double tow (see profile) and it's no problem, makes you a better driver as you start to look farther out as you drive...LOL
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