I'm looking at getting my first camper/toy hauler and need some advice for what to look for and what to avoid. Have been thinking a bumper pull but like the idea of a divider wall between the toy box and the living area. Definatly want to keep the wind resistance as low as possible. I will be pulling it with a 2005 Dodge cummins 3500 dually so not to worried about having enough truck for a very reasonable size trailer. The quads would be 2 Polaris Sportsmans and sleeping 4 people. Please let me know what you have found as faults to watch for and options that have become necessities.

K-Z makes some nice toy haulers, as does Weekend Warrior. I personally prefer 5th wheels to pull trailers because of the way they tow and their storage, but they do push wind.

Anyhow, one of the bigger faults you will find is that not too many are wide enough in the garage to haul 2 big utes without turning them sideways.

I would start by finding out when the next big RV show is in your area. Take your digital camera and start photos of each thing that interests you with a shot of the placard that says what it is and how much. You will see so many that they will run together.

If this is your first RV, I'd highly recommend just using the RV show to get an idea of the floor plan and stuff you want, then use that info to go find a good used one.

Those things depreciate hugely in the first year or two, and almost everybody who buys their first RV decides within a year or two that what they really wanted was a kitchen slide, or bigger holding tanks, more room in the shower or whatever...

You will find a huge variation in price for units of a similar length, but when you start looking closer you will find the cheaper ones have more plastic, pressboard and particle board. Taking a drawer out and looking at the construction of the cabinetry is a good way to gauge quality (cheap ones are press board, followed by particle board, and the better ones are plywood).

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680 Rincon camo, Foreman headlight, xt30, guru bumper
500 Foreman FM green, 2500 warn
Kit Patio Hauler 295F 5th wheel
Ram 3500 Laramie quad 4wd

Jeffin,
Thanks for the information, was just a t a small show and was blown away a 33ft 5th wheel was only $2500 more that a 25ft bumper pull. Closer inspection showed the difference, like you said cabinets and the high gloss gel coat. Man this is more confusing than buying my house LOL.

Yeah, I remember that feeling. It was helpful for me to have friends who have more RV experience who were willing to go to various shows and stuff...

K-Z does make some seperate garage bumper pulls you might want to check out.

I think I did OK with my Patio Hauler, which is kind of mid quality unit (oak doors and drawer faces, but the bases are photo laminate woodgrain over particle board) but it seems sturdy and well insulated.

Myself, though, I'm hoping to get something a little bigger... and envy you for getting a dually.

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680 Rincon camo, Foreman headlight, xt30, guru bumper
500 Foreman FM green, 2500 warn
Kit Patio Hauler 295F 5th wheel
Ram 3500 Laramie quad 4wd

P.S.

If you are going with two quads and a bumper pull, my GF's dad set his rig up with a Monster Hauler rack to carry 2 big quads over the truck bed, and he tows a 30' tow trailer.

Before seeing that Monster I hadn't been too impressed with the pickup racks, but that one is very nice, solid, and easy to use. He has a couple of advantages in that he doesn't have to turn machines sideways, and can get a monthly rate at an RV park (they are retired) and he has a way to leave the trailer at the park and take the quads for day trips to other riding areas....

With my toyhauler, I need a flatbed ATV trailer for day trips where I don't want to haul the big trailer, where he can just use his rack.

A negative would be that you would need to take the quads off the rack and make room in the garage to keep them out of the weather, where when I return I just park the 5th wheel next to the house and the quads stay in the back- locked up and out of the weather.

Anyhow, a monster rack and tow trailer might be an option worth thinking about...

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680 Rincon camo, Foreman headlight, xt30, guru bumper
500 Foreman FM green, 2500 warn
Kit Patio Hauler 295F 5th wheel
Ram 3500 Laramie quad 4wd

Edited: 06/11/2007 at 02:29 AM by JeffinTD

Jeffin,
I have a 9'x98" flatbed on my truck that will fit two big quads side by side with a tool box in the front so I'm good there. I definatly like the idea of storing the quads between trips in a toy hauler. If I go with a bumper pull I could still put two on the truck, a tird and the BBQ in the trailer??? Seems like there is never a problem filling extra space.

Tird's go in the toilet.





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sierrawx.com

LMAO

BBQ'd tirds? Remind me never to come over for dinner...

Seriously, a flat bed and toy hauler might be a really nice combination. If you find you can't fit two machines side by side, you can carry one on the flatbed. Yanking 600+ pound machines around when they are half on the ramp is a blown back looking for a place to happen.

Seperate garage tow trailers aren't very common, but I do know KZ makes a few. Some folks consider the garage wasted space once the quads are out, but I find it makes a handy mud room to keep from tracking stuff into the living area, and you can also set up folding chairs and a card table and make a nice open area to relax or whatever.

Also, I don't know where you live, but if you go camping where it gets down into the 20's I think not heating that extra area at night does a lot to make the propane and batteries last longer.

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680 Rincon camo, Foreman headlight, xt30, guru bumper
500 Foreman FM green, 2500 warn
Kit Patio Hauler 295F 5th wheel
Ram 3500 Laramie quad 4wd

Try this one!!

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Quad Abusers ATV Club<BR><BR>quadabusers.com

I like the floor plan for that one with the seperate garage that loads from the side. It would keep you from having to turn the quads sideways by hand. One other thing to think about on the seperate garage is that they have their plus and minus'. The biggest advantage is that if you are traveling somewhere too far away to get there in one day you do not have to unload your toys to be able to fold the beds down for sleeping. The big advantage of not having the separate garage is that you can fit more toys inside. Our 37' Dune Chaser fifth wheel can fit our Rhino, our Grizzly 700, and three dirt bikes inside, which would not be possible with the seperate garage.

I would also recommend getting one of the better quality toy haulers out there. We had a Weekend Warrior before, and now have the Dune Chaser by Mckenzie. The Dune Chaser has required far less upkeep; everything works as good as it did when we first got it three years ago. The Warrior always seemed to be blowing a tire on the highway, had the water heater self igniter quit working several times, batteries not holding a charge and needing replaced, etc., etc., etc. It was always something.

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'07 Yamaha Rhino 660: Lonestar long travel suspension w/ Elka shocks; Gorilla axles; Trinity sheave; Dynatek CDI; Yoshimura RS-5 exhaust
'07 Yamaha Grizzly 700: Ohlins shocks; Fix Powersports sheave; Dynatek CDI
'08 KTM 530 EXC R: street legal dirt bike

That side loader holds 4 full size quads (2 up / 2 down) with its hydraulic lift. The motorized ramp door converts to a screen room/ tent that creates a 10x18 party room or extra bedroom. Pretty cool!

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Quad Abusers ATV Club<BR><BR>quadabusers.com

contact national travelers rv in conway arkansas and u wil b talking to the owner. there are many rv choices. he will send u a factory order sheet and dont be afraid to load it up. he will make 980 bucks off u and thats all. i did business with him on a 40ft victory lane loaded with all radical packages and upgrades and southern rv tyler tx $55000. tax title and lic i paid less than $35000. believe me i checked for about 5 mos and ther is no better deal around tell him mike danielson sent u he will buy me a dinner u can call me ifu have any questions 903-876-3328

We have a 36' KZ sportsman sportster 5th wheel and LOVE IT! We can get both our 4-wheelers in the back. The cargo space is nice size, and we have a wall between the kitchen and "garage". I didn't want to smell fumes while I was in the living room. Even if we don't take the ATVs it's great for the dog kennels and also to sit in if it's raining outside - we just pull the screen door down over the opening. If my husband takes it hunting all the mud can be left in the cargo area and not get tracked into the living space.

You might want to make sure the one you select has a fueling station in it. We never run out of gas in the 4-wheelers when we're out and about. (I even use it in a pinch for the lawn mower at home).

Your truck will pull it with ease. We have a 1-ton Silverado crew cab and it does a great job.

Happy shopping!

I have a hobby toyhauler. I haul 3 700 quads in it. An I pull it with a 2000 Gmc Denali with no problem. I dont even use a weight distrabution hitch. I have owned other's but I will never own anything elese but a hobby!!!!

I also think side loading will be the wave of the future. I'm not too impressed with the Wildwood stuff, though.

Another feature I really like in toy haulers is the loft bed above the dividing wall in seperate garage models. Actually, having as many seperate beds around as possible is nice, even if you don't plan to have that many people over night very often.

Other than that, make sure you can stand up in the shower. Many RV's use a shower/tub with a bottom raised above the floor to fit drain pipes below, and that can put my head against the roof. I'm not willing to shower stooped over, or with my head sticking up in a 14" bubble skylight...

I really like the newer 5th wheels that have bathroom on one side and the stairs to the bedroom against the exterior wall on the other. Having a corner shower (that you can turn around in, and no curtain to get nasty), toilet and sink together in a seperate room is much more private feeling than the ones with the shower in the bedroom and the cheezy little privacy curtain in a track across the cieling.

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680 Rincon camo, Foreman headlight, xt30, guru bumper
500 Foreman FM green, 2500 warn
Kit Patio Hauler 295F 5th wheel
Ram 3500 Laramie quad 4wd

I started with a truck rack, side by side towing a bumper pull 26' trailer. While we got where we were going the extra hastle of loading the rack and disconnecting before I could get the wheelers off was a pain.

We up graded to a 36' Raptor 5th wheel with a separate garage a couple of years ago. I'll never look at a bumper pull again. The ease of connecting, pulling and disconnecting the trailer is great. We use the garage for the boy and his friends while camping. It helps with the noise and keeps them from coming in and out all of the time. Speaking of in and out, we use the garage door during stormy or cold days, it limits the time the furnace has to turn. I have been able to get all 4 four wheelers in the garage, it just took patience and a load plan.

Speaking of patience and a load plan, I have figured out that you can get a trailer with 2 jet skis on it into the garage and strapped down...... You just have to modify the tongue with a swivel pin so it swings out of the way and shortens the length of the tongue by 2 - 3 ft. You bring a ball hitch and tow the skis to the water with your truck......

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05 Scrambler 500 H.O.
05 Raptor 660R
03 Big Bear 400 4X4
03 TRX 250 EX

05 3612 RAPTOR..........
04 Dodge Cummins Turbo 4X4 "Haulin it all!!!"
MMMMMMMMMMMMM!

wow, u guys spend tons of $$$$$$$$ on them! i bought an 8.5x24 cargo trailer, insulated the roof, put in a bathroom, waterheater, holding tank, water pump, wireing,panelbox, and can haul 4 big quads easy. i have around $5500 in it.

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03 arctic cat 500 manual....... warren winch, 26" 589's, k&n, dynojet, fmf full pipe, snorkel.
07 kingquad 700....... 27" swamplites, k&n, dobek tfi. hmf pipe custom bumpers 3" extreme lift
. 07 brute 750 / blue. new 28" ZILLA's on ss 112. 2" lift, full snorkel.
07 cat 400 auto, lime , 26" 589's, full snorkel, custom built bumpers.

have you looked at fleetwood's evolution series.its a pop up with room to put a quad in front.it looks like it's made to pull behind a 4x4. it's loaded with stuff.fridge stove water heater shower etc. it was about 15g+\- with roof mounted ac unit and brake booster. it's a very nice set up.

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95' polaris 400L 2x4 no name version

I just bought one of these...check it out.

http://www.rvusa.com/rvinventory_item.asp?id=403773

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2005 Sportsman 700 EFI Dale Earnhardt Jr edition 26" Mud Lites

2002 Sportsman 500 H.O. Remington Edition