Toy Hauler or travel trailer?

Our last rig was a regular 5th wheel and we double towed a trailer with the quads on it. Double towing was a pain and we wanted a dedicated area for our daughter.

So we bought a cyclone 3950 toy hauler which has a loft; to go with the toy hauler we bought an HDT to pull it (in my sig). We didn't really think about it when we bought the trailer but the HDT's have a ton of deck options so we landed on one that lets us take 2 quads/side by sides/smart car on the deck of the HDT plus we have room in the garage.

We still need the room in the garage because we take 3 toys with.

But, if I only had to haul 2 toys, I'd keep the HDT and get a regular 5th wheel instead of a toy hauler. Go with a layout that is two full master suites and a large kitchen between.

Had a toy hauler TT for 5 years. The downside is you have to be able to camp at the trail because there is no way to transport the ATV's once camp is set up. Decided to get the best of both worlds. This spring we bought a 5th wheel that we can pull the ATV's behind. Much nicer living quarters and can transport the toys where ever we want. I was leery at first about pulling doubles, but you can't even feel the ATV trailer back there. 60' nose to tail, so I'm not much longer than those with the huge 5th wheel TH's.

texasclarks wrote:
We dream of a TH 5'er for our next trailer. With two growing kids and all it just seems like a better fit for us. Of course the ability to load up the Road King and kids bikes would be great. I just can't believe how $$ the THs and the TV to pull them are!

We bought our 36' 5th wheel toyhauler new 1 1/2 yr ago under 30K out the door & before that bought a lightly used duelly for under 20K so our set up was well under 50K ( I use the truck for many other hauling uses).

We had a 30' TT for four years. We intentionally bought used because this was our first "non-tent" camping experience. We figured we would find out what we liked, what we didn't like. Although the TT was light it is a time consuming activity hitching and un-hitching especially if you have the equalizer and sway control. Leveling was always a pain. It would take me about 30 minutes once I pulled in the campsite to where I was downing a beer. It was a nice experience to have the TT and it served the purpose of what it was intended. We quickly realized we needed ROOM. We usually take my two boys with us and occasionally our two grandkids. I do have a motorcycle that we would be missing on our trips so obviously we turned to a TH and started the research (as well as conventional 5ers.) It didn't take long after searching and actually getting inside them for us to conclude that the TH was for us. We just picked up ours last week. It is going to take a little getting used to going from a TT to a very large 5th wheel but so far I think it is just the ticket. But like others say in the post, it is all personal preference. What is just right for me may not be just right for the next. the other factor you need to think about is how much time you plan to spend in the trailer and actually use it, how much are you willing to spend. Haven't shoped for TH in the bumper pull catagory but in the 5th wheel catagory there are much pricier.

We ended up with a 2014 Voltage 3950

We dream of a TH 5'er for our next trailer. With two growing kids and all it just seems like a better fit for us. Of course the ability to load up the Road King and kids bikes would be great. I just can't believe how $$ the THs and the TV to pull them are!

We have been camping 30 years & had several trailers wish they had toyhaulers back then. Now that we have one we would never go back to a regular trailer. We on occasion carry our golf car, but now..........now that our kids are grown they camp with us more than ever. Now the grandson also comes along. The garage is great for a guest bedroom (for the son & his wife) / living room, or a room for the dogs. & Anything else you want it to be. Our TH can sleep 10 easily (5 queen size beds).

Toyhauler from now on. Can do so much more with them.........

Sold the DW on our TH since she had to pull the golf car behind her vehicle :)

I have aspirations of going to a TH next time... after the kids call camping quits. We want to get a golfcart for fun and tooling around the CG's, and loading and unloading one into an F350 seems tedious. Im afraid that after the DW and I see what we want in a TH and what we can afford, a TT and a long box F350 will be on the docket first... well ahead of a TH. Frankly, I may have better luck getting the Swedish Bikini Team to camp with me than selling the DW on a TH.

I have a RZR 800S. Fits in the bed of my 3/4 ton long bed (barely). Have to be very careful loading it, I use a winch to get it in. Figure 30 minutes to 1 hour to load it and tie it down. Not for the faint of heart loading this or driving with it. Heard and seen many bent tail gates, dangerous to load and unload, have to carry 8' folding ramps, have to store generator, extra fuel, and firewood all under the RZR. I tow a short TT, which we really like especially when we don't have the RZR. When out riding your TT requirements change, need space to dump your stuff (helmets, gloves, riding gear, extra clothes, towels (a shower after each ride).

Loading and unloading probably easier in a TH. But when I have the toy, I only unload one time and load one time (normally); which would be no different than having a TH. Advantage of the truck bed is I can go on a trip and then drive to the staging area without pulling the TH since the RZR is in the bed of the truck. Disadvantage of putting the RZR in the bed of the truck, if I decide to upgrade the RZR in a few years it won't fit in the bed of the truck as the 900 and 1000 are longer and are wider.

Have had 3 travel trailers........lusted after a toy hauler for years.
Right now we are taking a break (ie. DW would like to try the touring/hotel/tenting:R thing for a bit) since our boys are older now.
When the touring novelty wears off (I hope) I had thought I'd definitely want to get a TH, but have since changed my thoughts.
We rented a RZR and DW loved it :), so that toy just might be in the cards. After being at the last rv show, we found some amazing TT's with great layouts that we fell in love with....lots of 'living space'. Just couldn't find the same amount of space in anything but the monster 5th TH's.
What I've convinced myself now is the way to go is:

TT with the layout we LOVE
Used dually (have had great luck finding used trucks) to put the toys in/on.
New SXS...the Wildcat Trail is looking sweet.

Quick calculations in my sometimes goofy head.....all that for possibly LESS than a TH alone.

My thoughts.

Mike...'oh honey, can I talk to you for a sec?'

May I add, (after reading a few new posts here), the reason we quit taking the canoe with us, or selecting campgrounds that are "water based activities" is simply because of our age. The canoe and bicycles were are "toys". But the older we're getting, the less we have a desire to "play" with them.

I can certainly understand when someone, when they are younger, would really enjoy a TH for the "toys", the dirt bikes, the 4 wheelers, and all that. But when we get older, it's just simply a lot of work to use them! Age has a way of creeping up on us, and all of a sudden, kids are gone, and it's just the 2 of us and the dog. The excitement of using them, teaching the kids, watching their fun, and being with them, all that energy, excitement, and thrill somehow ... well ... "been there done that ... ok, so what's next? ... dang, I'm really tired, I just want to vegetate!" If you're in this position, then get the camper that fits your current and future needs. No reason to feel guilty, time and circumstances changes all the time! Sounds like you're moving into a new era of your lives! Enjoy and find new interests! Nothing wrong with that!

I have my canoe. I won't give it up or sell it. It will hang in the garage, someday, maybe the grand kids will want to take it out! For me, it's just become too much work.