Looking for a 5th wheel Toy hauler with a 14' garage, Loft so we can sleep at least 3-4 in the living area.Need to have an artic package on this so that I can live in this during the winter in Central Indiana. This will be parked in the Winter and used during the Spring through fall for travel.Would prefer 3 slides and a hide a bed sofa. 40+' long is ok.I have a 2001 Ford F350 dually diesel.Thoughts on the most energy efficient make and model out there.ps. would like to buy used.

Well I'll just say that if you have a single rear wheel truck then your going to be limited to a GVWR on a toy hauler of about 17K or even less because of the age of your 01. No 14ft garages on any of those that I know of. If you have a dually then that will open up a few more but because of the age of your truck, you'll still be limited because the 14ft garage models are generally heavier than what your truck will handle. The one true 14ft garage toy hauler I can think of is the new Weekend Warrior 4100 or 4250 models. There are some 16ft garage models out there also all of which I doubt your truck can handle. Most haulers that size will have a pin weight of 3600# and up which I believe narrows trucks down to a dually in the 2010 maybe up to current model years.

Truck is a dually, 49,000 miles all easy miles

You have a good truck, able to handle most anything. Trouble I see is that no MFGR. I know of built ( builds ) a toy hauler with 4 seasons in mind. Summer play things you see? Building for cold temps means a lot of extra weight, which would put the purpose of a toy hauler overweight. There is one, if you have the money. New Horizons Custom Built. Would have to trade your truck up to a highway tractor to tow one. Why do you want a 14' garage? For a small car? Toys only need 9'. If possible, consider using a second trailer or a 'tote'

From what I find, here are the specs for your truck, 11,500 GVWR, 3922 max payload, if 4x2, you have a 13000 max 5th wheel capacity, if 4x4 you have a 12600 max 5th wheel cap with 3.73 or 4.10 gearing same either way. Your GCWR in 20,000lbs. That all is based on a crew cab with 7.3 diesel pickup. So with all that being said you will either need to upgrade your truck or downsize considerably your expectations for a 5th wheel. That info was on fords tow rating website. Feel free to double check it. Not trying to burst your bubble so to speak just want you to have realistic expectations as to what your truck can safely handle.

would like the 14' garage as we have a jr dragster that is 13.6' long, could go 13' or even 12' but will have to put dragster on angle from top to bottom.Truck is 4X2 with turbo diesel not sure of gearing my guess would be 4.10 as rpm @ 70mph is close to 2500. Crew cab Lariat version, back doors are smaller.13,000 lbs does limit options. Time to rethink

Best Winter Toy hauler | Good Sam Community

tinner12002
Explorer
Dec 25, 2017
Lantley wrote:
olds468 wrote:
Lantley wrote:
ependydad wrote:
For insulation, I was thinking DRV FullHouse. But looks like they only go up to a 12' garage.

http://www.drvsuites.com/full-house-luxury-fifth-wheel-toy-haulers/floor-plans.html

Luckily there only 12'.
Their 24K GVW will crush the OP's 2001 Dually;)

There is a lot of rethinking that needs to be done

So why does a 2001 with a 7.3L truck is rated less than a newer 6.8L truck? Is it the engine
Or have they changed the chassis that much?

In 10 years a lot has changed. In 16 years even more has changed.
Do you want to compare a 1985 to a 2001?
Comparing a 2001 to a 2017 is quite a long span with lots of changes.

In just a couple years on the Ram from 2012-2014, towing increased nearly 7K lbs. In ten yrs or so from now our current trucks will probably be lightweights compare to new ones. I had a CC 2000 Ford 4x4 dually and it was a workhorse, in its day!
Lantley
Nomad
Dec 24, 2017
olds468 wrote:
Lantley wrote:
ependydad wrote:
For insulation, I was thinking DRV FullHouse. But looks like they only go up to a 12' garage.

http://www.drvsuites.com/full-house-luxury-fifth-wheel-toy-haulers/floor-plans.html

Luckily there only 12'.
Their 24K GVW will crush the OP's 2001 Dually;)

There is a lot of rethinking that needs to be done

So why does a 2001 with a 7.3L truck is rated less than a newer 6.8L truck? Is it the engine
Or have they changed the chassis that much?

In 10 years a lot has changed. In 16 years even more has changed.
Do you want to compare a 1985 to a 2001?
Comparing a 2001 to a 2017 is quite a long span with lots of changes.
Bedlam
Moderator
Dec 24, 2017
Chassis and brakes and transmission and ...
olds468
Explorer
Dec 24, 2017
Lantley wrote:
ependydad wrote:
For insulation, I was thinking DRV FullHouse. But looks like they only go up to a 12' garage.

http://www.drvsuites.com/full-house-luxury-fifth-wheel-toy-haulers/floor-plans.html

Luckily there only 12'.
Their 24K GVW will crush the OP's 2001 Dually;)

There is a lot of rethinking that needs to be done

So why does a 2001 with a 7.3L truck is rated less than a newer 6.8L truck? Is it the engine
Or have they changed the chassis that much?
tinner12002
Explorer
Dec 24, 2017
ependydad wrote:
Lantley wrote:
ependydad wrote:
For insulation, I was thinking DRV FullHouse. But looks like they only go up to a 12' garage.

http://www.drvsuites.com/full-house-luxury-fifth-wheel-toy-haulers/floor-plans.html

Luckily there only 12'.
Their 24K GVW will crush the OP's 2001 Dually;)

True, true.

Heck, even my 2012 dually would be overloaded GVWR-wise.

If it had a 1/2 bath in the garage, I'd likely be trying to arrange financing!

The 455 model full house does have a 1/2 bath off the garage so get your financing in line! Lol!
Lantley
Nomad
Dec 21, 2017
ependydad wrote:
Lantley wrote:
ependydad wrote:
For insulation, I was thinking DRV FullHouse. But looks like they only go up to a 12' garage.

http://www.drvsuites.com/full-house-luxury-fifth-wheel-toy-haulers/floor-plans.html

Luckily there only 12'.
Their 24K GVW will crush the OP's 2001 Dually;)

True, true.

Heck, even my 2012 dually would be overloaded GVWR-wise.

If it had a 1/2 bath in the garage, I'd likely be trying to arrange financing!

That's Funny.

Truth is we sit back and Monday morning quarterback everyone else's RV choice and combo.
However when we truly find one that floorplan jumps out at us.
We quickly rationalize how we can make it work and ignore all the parameters that don't fit and focus only on the positive aspects!
ependydad
Explorer
Dec 21, 2017
Lantley wrote:
ependydad wrote:
For insulation, I was thinking DRV FullHouse. But looks like they only go up to a 12' garage.

http://www.drvsuites.com/full-house-luxury-fifth-wheel-toy-haulers/floor-plans.html

Luckily there only 12'.
Their 24K GVW will crush the OP's 2001 Dually;)

True, true.

Heck, even my 2012 dually would be overloaded GVWR-wise.

If it had a 1/2 bath in the garage, I'd likely be trying to arrange financing!
Nonsense
Explorer
Dec 21, 2017
I've got a 2015 Voltage 3818. 18" garage, I did give up the loft and second bathroom for the garage space, however going to this size garage did give me 3 happi jack beds that drop down in the garage. I can get two polaris RZR's in the garage or a quad and an RZR with plenty of room to drop a bed with the bikes in the garage during quick road travels for the kids. Mine has the "artic package" as stated it's just a cover over the bottom of the rig and a heat duct that blows a bit of heat in it.. It does make a difference but it's not really built for heavy winter camping. My rig is heavy, when fully loaded up at 20k my 2013 6.7L knows its there. I've owned the all the ford diesels starting with the old 6.9L, if your patient and not in a hurry the 7.3L you have will get you where you want to go but not in any type of record time.

I have done some "cool" weather camping in it (lows in the upper teens) and I'd have to say it just depends on what you have going on. If you are boondocking you will go through the propane like crazy, if you are able to plug in get two of the infrared heaters (one in the kitchen, one in the garage) and supplement with the furnace and it's very doable.
Bedlam
Moderator
Dec 21, 2017
What about a gooseneck car hauler with living quarters and better insulation package?
Lantley
Nomad
Dec 20, 2017
ependydad wrote:
For insulation, I was thinking DRV FullHouse. But looks like they only go up to a 12' garage.

http://www.drvsuites.com/full-house-luxury-fifth-wheel-toy-haulers/floor-plans.html

Luckily there only 12'.
Their 24K GVW will crush the OP's 2001 Dually;)

There is a lot of rethinking that needs to be done

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