eddd
Los Fresnos, TX
Senior Member
Joined: 09/19/2003
View Profile
 Offline
|
I'm playing with the idea of changing over to a "small" 5th wheel toyhauler. I really like my TC and where it will go, but the idea of being able to bring my R1100RT BMW and a dual purpose motorcycle with me is intriguing. I'll retire in May 09 and will have more time to be gone (actually as much time as I want). Right now I take a summer trip on the BMW, and one with the camper.
I don't see a trailer for the bikes as a good option. If I'm going to be limited in where I can go with a trailer, I'd rather opt for the room of a toy hauler.
So my question is...has anyone tried the switch to a toy hauler, or any "small" trailer only to regret it so much they came back to a TC?
2002 Chevy HD2500 4x4 ExtCab LWB D/A
2000 Lance 835
2004 Cannondale F600
1996 BMW R1100RT
|
Smithroyal
Salt Lake City, Utah
Full Member
Joined: 08/27/2007
View Profile
|
Nice B-mer!
Two thoughts; 1. You won't be able to get into places you can take a truck camper. 2. The weight! Fifth wheel toy haulers, even small ones, are heavy. More so than you think.
Roy
|
sasha_j
Dumfries, Virginia
Senior Member
Joined: 12/16/2004
View Profile
Offline
|
We have similar issues and have outgrown our trailer. We plan to keep our TC and truck but will get a 23'-25' TT style toyhauler, for toys, portable office and extra supplies. Looking at Attitude T23AK or T25AK.
Our Web Site
05 Ford F350 SD 6.0 PSD CC LB 4x4 SRW Lariat, 11500 GVWR, Alum Ricksons, G124 265/70R/19.5/G tires, Airbags
05 Snowriver 8'10" Super Slide w/ 100 W Solar, All Weather, slides
07 Prolite 7.5x14 V Nose Aluminum Toy Trailer Mobile Garage
|
Zig
Indiana
Senior Member
Joined: 09/15/2002
View Profile
|
We am by no means rich,... but we have both a 21'Toyhauler and a small Truck Camper. It was my original idea to keep both and use the one that is most appropriate for the adventure,... but for a while we were using the Truck Camper almost all the time. We thought about selling the Toyhauler. This last summer we started using the Toyhauler again mixed in with truck Camper trips.
I guess what I am saying is if you can swing it, have the space, go for both. They both have there strong points.
|
rkortes
Citrus Heighs, CA
Senior Member
Joined: 08/15/2006
View Profile
Offline
|
eddd wrote:
I don't see a trailer for the bikes as a good option. If I'm going to be limited in where I can go with a trailer, I'd rather opt for the room of a toy hauler.
I've put tremendous thought into this as well. Like you, I ride bikes and almost always take them with me. My buddy has a 36 foot Raptor with the separate garage. Although it is very roomy, the thing is like pulling an aircraft carrier. After a couple of trips in that I new it wouldn't work on 2500 to 3500 mile trips. As you can see from my signature we pull an enclosed trailer behind our TC. Remember, we still have the option of not taking it if we don't want to. The last two trips to the mountains did not involve riding so we left the trailer at home.
Truck - 2005 GMC 3500 SRW Duramax/Ali
Camper - 2006 Arctic Fox 990
The Journey Is The Destination!
|
|
|
BrandonR
Oregon
Senior Member
Joined: 04/12/2006
View Profile
|
A smaller (but big enough for the bikes) utility trailer will go a lot of places a 5th wheel toyhauler won't go.
Brandon Reed
Albany, OR
|
campercajun
Central Texas Hill Country
Senior Member
Joined: 08/09/2007
View Profile
Offline
|
eddd wrote:I don't see a trailer for the bikes as a good option. If I'm going to be limited in where I can go with a trailer, I'd rather opt for the room of a toy hauler.
I'm not trying to be sarcastic here, but maybe I don't completely understand your limitations. Like BrandonR, I know several places where I would take a small utility trailer hauling bikes, but would not attempt to haul a toyhauler through. I guess I'm too dense to figure it out?
2003 GMC Sierra Crew HD; 6.0L; Prodigy
2006 Thor Tundra 30RL-DSL; Reese Strait-Line & Dual-cam HP
2001 Honda Elite Scooter
Jim & Gayle Bryant
Murphy's Law: "Anything that CAN happen, WILL."
Bryant's Law: "31 years of RVing? Probably already HAS."
|
INSAYN
NW Oregon
Senior Member
Joined: 12/29/2003
View Profile
|
I came from the Toy Hauler scene, then to the TC with a cargo trailer. In the 3 years of owning the TC/Cargo combo, I have never looked back. The convenience and simplicity of the cargo trailer over the TH are too great to even consider going back.
Some points I can think of.
1.) The cargo can be used as a separate garage and not interfere with my living space. Extra gear can be stored out there too.
2.) The TH has limited garage utility as you wouldn't just screw on a shelf or coat hanger on just any wall like you can in the cargo.
3.) The cargo is normally lower to the ground than most TH's so loading and unloading is in my opinion easier.
4.) The cargo can be ordered any way you like. Configure it into a zillion ways that fits your needs or budget. The TH is pretty limited.
5.) We can drop the cargo, and go venture around with the TC still on the truck.
6.) Repairs to a cargo are going to be ALOT cheaper than the TH, and not too many reasons to worry about wood rotting. All the wood can be unscrewed and replaced easily if ever damaged. The frames are either steel or aluminum.
7.) Cargo trailers can be made way more secure than TH units.
1997 F350 CrewCab PSD 4x4, auto.
2005 SnowRiver 8'10", Loaded + EU2000i.
2005 8.5'x16' Interstate West Cargo trailer, Line-X'ed
2005 16' Fish-Rite Rogue welded aluminum boat, 2005 40HP Yamaha 2-stroke O/B.
|
ORbiker
Eugene, Oregon
Senior Member
Joined: 02/17/2005
View Profile
Offline
|
I also like the enclosed trailer. You can bring it or not.
The wife wants a toyhauler, but I don't want 36' behind me.
I (2-10-05) bought a 2002 F350 CC SWD PSD and a new 2003 Citation 10'8. Rancho 9000X & Toyo M55's.I have been a tent camper all my life. I wanted more comfort while doing my Willamette Backcountry Ski Patrol & Crater Lake Ski Patrol duties.11
|
tycreek
Idaho
Full Member
Joined: 03/27/2005
View Profile
|
Had a WW FK2100 for a couple years. Smallest, lightest with the most open floorspace of those I considered. Did a spring-over conversion for clearance and while that made washed out road traversing great, it was still a lot of vehicle length with all the height at the rear a definite challenge to negotiate in the mountains (trees, rock overhang, tight corners, etc…).
When looking at most of the TH options ... most had torsion axles and I found nobody locally that would do a lift on them. For twisty/washed out roads leaf springs are better IMO and places had no problem doing an axle flip on those.
My TH was a big box ... temperature control of that open box was quite a challenge. Inside room to wiggle was simply not worth it! Though on a positive note; Gas & oil smell went away right after unloading and was never noticed unless ATV’s were loaded and had traveled for some time.
TC & ATV trailer are so much more maneuverable! No contest! … I’ve had the TH in spots where I had to hang a front wheel off a drop-off edge and just a hair between the trailer and a rock wall. Having all the height & width right over the truck (TC) makes negotiating mountain roads so much more relaxing!
06 Lance 845
05 CTD Qcab SB SRW Last-NV5600
|
|
|
