So I spent last night reading posts about trucks, trailers, do's dont's. My wife and I are new to this, we've talked about getting a trailer for years, but nothing really came of it. This past weekend we actually went to an RV show with the kiddo's and had a blast! Now it's been the only talk all weekend, what model to get, how and what to pull it with, etc.The "guy" in me wants more than I need to pull it, a big Ford-750, my wife says other blogs say a F-350 will work, then I see the freightliner M2's, heck why not buy a tractor trailer front...???a lot of things for beginners. I have 4 children, so our truck has to be able to seat 6. I've been looking at the Ford f-450's, but I'm seeking ya'lls experience, am I looking in the wrong place, is the regular dealership the place to go, or should we look at a fleet dealership with commercial options? Will these 40ft'ers fit in the KOA's?

More information is necessary.How much does the rig that you are looking at weigh? Need to know gross weight not dry weight.Off hand you will need a medium duty.

First you need to look at the GVWR and the pin weight of the trailer. Then you will need to look closely at the GCWR and payload capacities of the trucks. An F350 dually may well work. But only the numbers all tell for sure. For six people you will need a bench front seat. You don't see too many trucks in the higher trim packages with bench seats. So you may have to do some searching if you are looking for all the bells and whistles. Or order what you want. Most private RV parks have at least some spaces for a 40 footer. But often not many. And if you are interested in national, state, COE, city, etc parks you can be limited.

What would you recommend as a "safe size" trailer that will fit in most any national park or KOA sites? We currently own a e350 12 passenger van. I suppose we could looks. At a smaller travel riled forego the fifth wheel option, we don't want to get somewhere and be told we won't fit!

40 footer toy hauler probably has 3 axles. If it has 3 axles, without knowing anything else, I can feel comfortable saying, you're going to need something heftier than an F350 or 3500 (even the diesel versions). If it has 2 axles, you can probably squeak by with an F350 or 3500. But at 40 feet ... you're maxing out this range. Think bigger truck! (or smaller trailer).Campsites? you just have to do your homework first. It all depends upon where you are, what part of the country your in, and what type of camping you plan on doing. Many of the State Parks in Wisconsin would not accommodate a trailer that size, you might not even be able to maneuver the campground roads to even get to the camp site.Indiana state parks can accommodate a 40 footer, but you've got to choose your site carefully. You won't be parking between trees. Before jumping in too deep, take the advise I was given by a minister many years ago when he thought my choice of girlfriends was a bad choice. He said, "Put your heart in the freezer, and put your head in the oven." Didn't make a whole lot of sense to me, but I finally figured it out. Don't get drawn into the emotional side so much that you don't truly realistically look at it from the practical sensible side. FYI, I broke up with the girl. He was right! It was the best thing I could have done. It would have been an awful mistake with very unpleasant repercussions the rest of my life!

Look at my sig. My fiver is listed at 39', However it is 40'6" cap to cap. We carry two bikes on the back so when I am like 43' long. We full time and spend the majority of our time in State and Federal Parks. We also use private parks and have traveled in 35 of the lower 48 states. That being said I have always found parks with sites I can fit into. You may have to do a little planning but it is not a big issue. Oh and we full time. We stay away from KOA they are costly and tight. As far as trucks check the specs to see if you can get a bench seat in a 350/3500 otherwise they will only seat 5. You need to know not only the empty weight of the fiver but have a realistic idea of how much weight you plan to carry.

Looking at 40ft toy haulers, now how to choose a truck

42 Replies

riwolfman
Explorer
Feb 20, 2016
we Have a 43' 5th wheel toyhauler and with 2 Harleys in it are well within the weight limit for our Denali crew cab dually. the trailer is a 3 axle and is 14000 dry weight. Weve been to Montana and back a different route, up and down the east coast and have never had a problem finding a campground that wouldnt fit a 43'. That includes national parks. Dont be scared off, the diesel duallies will do the job. and you won't have trouble finding campgrounds.
tinner12002
Explorer
Feb 19, 2016
DutchmenSport wrote:
40 footer toy hauler probably has 3 axles. If it has 3 axles, without knowing anything else, I can feel comfortable saying, you're going to need something heftier than an F350 or 3500 (even the diesel versions). If it has 2 axles, you can probably squeak by with an F350 or 3500. But at 40 feet ... you're maxing out this range. Think bigger truck! (or smaller trailer).

Campsites? you just have to do your homework first. It all depends upon where you are, what part of the country your in, and what type of camping you plan on doing. Many of the State Parks in Wisconsin would not accommodate a trailer that size, you might not even be able to maneuver the campground roads to even get to the camp site.

Indiana state parks can accommodate a 40 footer, but you've got to choose your site carefully. You won't be parking between trees.

Before jumping in too deep, take the advise I was given by a minister many years ago when he thought my choice of girlfriends was a bad choice. He said, "Put your heart in the freezer, and put your head in the oven." Didn't make a whole lot of sense to me, but I finally figured it out. Don't get drawn into the emotional side so much that you don't truly realistically look at it from the practical sensible side. FYI, I broke up with the girl. He was right! It was the best thing I could have done. It would have been an awful mistake with very unpleasant repercussions the rest of my life!

I disagree on the truck size, Ram makes a 3500 easily capable of handling a 40' 21000lb toy hauler...my truck has a tow capacity of 30000lbs. Ford has to use its f450 to achieve those numbers which may throw you into the commercial category...chevy I think maxes out around 22000lb max tow according to the trailer life 2016 towing guide. Id get whatever RV suits your family situation, grab a 1 ton dually and then enjoy!!
NC_Hauler
Explorer
Feb 19, 2016
Racine96 wrote:
Get a 2014 or 2015 3500 RAM Dually. It should be fine.

....even a 2016':)
Racine96
Explorer
Feb 19, 2016
Get a 2014 or 2015 3500 RAM Dually. It should be fine.
Allworth
Explorer II
Feb 18, 2016
"Constituting"????
ouroutdoorfamil
Explorer
Feb 18, 2016
Reminds me of a Christmas party my wife and I went to, all the husbands were bragging about their lifted trucks, dally,s, etc. They shared their stories of buying form the lot and customizing, when they got to me and asked what truck I drove, I said I don't, I drive a MINI!, no one talked to me the rest of the night, lol
NC_Hauler
Explorer
Feb 18, 2016
transamz9 wrote:
Cummins12V98 wrote:
transamz9 wrote:
I would just hook it to my SRW and go. Lol

I want you to hook up to my little 23K 5er and see how your truck does some time.

I'll hook it to my 2500 but not my 3500 yet.

The reason I posted
I would just hook it to my SRW and go.
is because I think it's hilarious that in a thread about towing at the upper limits of a SRW all the DRW guys come out of the wood work saying to get a DRW truck and all the SRW guys have to constitute their truck. Now in a thread about towing at the upper limits of a DRW truck all the HD and MD truck guys are coming out of the wood work and the DRW guys are constituting what they have. HAHAHA!!!

It IS funny, you're right:B
NC_Hauler
Explorer
Feb 18, 2016
ol Bombero-JC wrote:
transamz9 wrote:

...... and all the SRW guys have to constitute their truck.

........ and the DRW guys are constituting what they have. HAHAHA!!!

"constitute" -and- "constituting" a truck....:h

Now that's a genuine - HAHAHA!!!

~

Lets go with "JUSTIFYING" a 1 ton dually, based on FACTS of today's 1 ton Dually's...No need for a MDT or HDT for a TH my size or Ron's size 5er....4 or more years ago...yes, but from 2013 thru 2016...No, you REALLY don't need a MDT to a HDT....up to a certain weight...
ol_Bombero-JC
Explorer
Feb 18, 2016
transamz9 wrote:

...... and all the SRW guys have to constitute their truck.

........ and the DRW guys are constituting what they have. HAHAHA!!!

"constitute" -and- "constituting" a truck....:h

Now that's a genuine - HAHAHA!!!

~
transamz9
Explorer
Feb 18, 2016
ouroutdoorfamily wrote:
Is there a terms page?

SRW
DRW

SRW = single rear wheel
DRW= dual rear wheel