Need input from families living full time in toy haulers

We have fulltimed in a 40+' toy hauler for over 4 years. with 9 to 11 of our 12 kids. We utilize the 'garage' as 'the boys' room' and hubby built custom bunks back there for them.

There are def benes to toy haulers and also to bunkhouses. If I did not need a toy hauler for the space to sleep kids, I would have a bunkhouse - ths are heavy, if you don't use the ramp, it's rather a waste and drafty, the garage is not well insulated, and it isn't at all 'homey'. But, with large dogs, it may be the way to go. With a bunkhouse, they are usually thousands of pounds lighter, and are already insulated and carpeted. That being said, I do love our toy hauler (not that I would buy a Gulf Stream again tho!).

We have done a lot of mods to ours to make it work:
http://ticknortribe.com/our-home
:)

savanteny wrote:
Your above reasons are why I'm definitely considering a toy hauler. So its cold in the winter ...that was my biggest fear. Do you have ac/heat in the compartment area? I know the models we were looking at had them.

I have a Voltage 3600. When getting ready to come south for a couple months, I was getting the trailer ready in ND. December.

It was -5 out, with about 15 mph wind. Slides out. Garage NOT used, i.e. closed off.

The furnace kept the temp up, and was cycling on and off. I was impressed At that temp and with wind. Garage closed though.

Have fun.........

We are in the process of buying a toy hauler for our family of 7 to travel around the US for the next year. We have looked and looked and setteled on the 2011 Heartland Cyclone 3950. We will have two children in the living area bunks and then the other three will be located in the back, garage area. We are going to be putting in curtains so that each child has their own space. We also will put in retractable cases for their tablets. Indtalling a tv in there and putting down padding and carpet on the floors to keep it warm. We will be chasing the sun, so I dont know how cold it will get back there. That is a modification we will will make when and if needed. We are nervous and excited but its something we have always wanted to do. We live in a 7000 square foot home now, but we are willing to downsize for the opportunity this brings. We mY sell our home and relocate somewhere we cant leave. We dont eexpect to be indoors a lot so hopefully it will not be too crowded all the time. I would love to hear more about your travels with the children and where you're going to be and any information that can help me get the RV set up prepared for our travels any ideas would be helpful.

We lived full time in our Raptor for 3 years in California while I was on active duty. We selected our model for the kitchen counter space and storage for the wife. The garage we converted to a bedroom for my at the time 3 year old daughter. I bought some foam padding from harbor freight for the garage floor and indoor/outdoor carpet. After a while it felt small inside with my wife, daughter, golden retriever, chihuahua, and two cats. For internet we had a verizon mifi modem with iPads. We also added a pillow top mattress in the bedroom.

We couldn't fit our unit in a lot of campgrounds we liked so we ended up buying a truck camper also.

We use the raptor for just camping now and the truck camper for places in the mountains we can't get the raptor.

Hi, I am hoping you may have an update. I see that your posts are from this last summer. We are considering the same things for our family right now. Only we have 4 kids and 2 dogs to also fit in. Did you buy a toy hauler? If so, how do you like it?

Wow great input! I'm thinking I would get some carpet padding and put that down to add some cushioning and insulation. I just saw someone posted a topic on that subject so I'm about to go read it. How do you like your voltage? Any problems with the slide outs???

We took our 4 yo GD with us the first 18 mos of full timing. A standard 5th wheel with King bed was all we needed. We added a cat and the 4 of us did fine in a small space. We would get her for the first few summers after she started school. She's 12 now and we do miss having her with us.

Laundry set-up is definitely most important with a working DH and little one. That keeps the # of jeans, sweatshirts, etc down. But more important was R-value. We only lasted 10 mos in the first 5er, a Pilgrim OR with only 1 AC.

We can't choose our assignments, so frequently stay in hot humid southern summers and cold, rainy or snowy winters. Usually we're wherever it's the worst in 40 yrs!

We have been full timing in our toy hauler for about a year now and love it. There are the issues with the garage are floor not being insulated but we feel that it is more than offset by the versatility of the space.
We use the bunk area above the garage for storage, there is set-up time involved with this space but we only do this when stopped for at least a week. We have a washer/dryer in the garage that I would recommend with a baby.
Good luck with your adventure.

I wasn't really considering a bunk type situation since she's too tiny to sleep on them. A pack n play will suffice for a while longer :) but I know this wont be our forever camper. I figure well update once she's older and we have more kids. I'm "temporarily displaced from Alaska" too ;) I can't wait to get back up there :)