I am totally new to owning an RVing and I have decided I need to get a toy hauler. I need it for events that I will be traveling around to throughout the year.I found a beautiful 39ft Highlander https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOZDSnCr8pc&t that I am interested in. I plan to buy a 1 ton dully to tow the trailer but here's my questions.1) I don't have a problem driving and pulling trailers but man this is HUGE, and I am a bit worried that it might be too much for a beginner to take on. There are so many things I don't know what I don't know. I would be interested in hearing people's feedback on this size of trailer, pulling and trying to find a place to park. Is this a mistake for a beginner to start out with?2) There are SO many different brands out there but they all seem to somewhat have the same look and feel to them. But not sure about the quality and the company. The one I am looking at is 2017 Highlander HF39RGL, does anyone have any experience with this brand? What other brands should I consider? I'll be on the road 4 months out of the year traveling and I want something that will hold up and be comfortable.Thanks for any advice!

Have you considered renting a TT or TH and TV to test your abilities? That’s a bunch of trailer and truck for a newbie. Dry camping and boondocking will be limited in that size rig. What are these “events?” What will you be loading in the TH?

Can’t comment on the brand, but if you have some experience towing trailers, it’s not the end of the world IMO. You’re planning on a sufficient truck to pull with. Your learning curve and confidence will go up with every mile. Start off easy and you’ll be fine. On the road 4 months a year will get you plenty of seat time and experience quickly. Personally once you get into the 30’ plus range, spacial concerns are similar when parking and maneuvering so i don’t see it being a lot different unless you were to start off with a small trailer, which doesn’t sound like it fits your needs.

Start small and start used. Going giant first is a huge mistake. You dont know what you dont know until s--- happens. Then its too late.Do not let the glitz of a monster RV sway you. Starting off small you can learn what you do and dont like. What works for your lifestyle and family. Besides to handle something like that you would probably need a dually. Got one of those?

Mooredb wrote:I am totally new to owning an RVing and I have decided I need to get a toy hauler. I need it for events that I will be traveling around to throughout the year.I found a beautiful 39ft Highlander https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOZDSnCr8pc&t that I am interested in. I plan to buy a 1 ton dully to tow the trailer but here's my questions.1) I don't have a problem driving and pulling trailers but man this is HUGE, and I am a bit worried that it might be too much for a beginner to take on. There are so many things I don't know what I don't know. I would be interested in hearing people's feedback on this size of trailer, pulling and trying to find a place to park. Is this a mistake for a beginner to start out with?2) There are SO many different brands out there but they all seem to somewhat have the same look and feel to them. But not sure about the quality and the company. The one I am looking at is 2017 Highlander HF39RGL, does anyone have any experience with this brand? What other brands should I consider? I'll be on the road 4 months out of the year traveling and I want something that will hold up and be comfortable.Thanks for any advice!1) There are RV driving schools - you can look for one in your area. Your local RV dealer may even be able to refer you to one. Most of the instructors I've run into are former or retired commercial truck drivers. Your profile doesn't say what state you live in, but 13 or 14 states out of the 50 require a special drivers license to drive the weight of rig you are contemplating. (One state even requires a commercial drivers license or CDL!). Here's a list of states and requirements:ChangingGears state list2) A good way to find out about people's experience with and customer service for a particular brand of RV is to join the owners' group for that particular brand or company. Search their forums and read, read, read before you start posting questions - you'll have a better idea of what to ask.Keep in mind that most toy haulers give up a lot of living space to the garage and, as a result, the living area is not laid out as well as a non-toyhauler floorplan. What are you needing to haul in the garage space?One brand I'm very familiar with that has a very good reputation for customer service is Grand Design. You might want to look at their Momentum line of toy haulers (and even their Solitude 376TH which has a more standard floorplan and a smaller garage underneath the bedroom). Again, join the Grand Design Owners Forum to read and ask questions.Rob

What’s the payload, toys and people?

Will This Be a Bad Move for a New RVer? | Good Sam Community

27 Replies

bikendan
Explorer
Sep 14, 2019
winniman wrote:

x2 I would get an rv and pull the trailer. If you go the TH route, Grand Design makes a quality one. Lots of reviews out there. Some of the Lippert frames had problems on other mfgers.

a Toyhauler IS a RV. so are truck campers, travel trailers, 5th wheels, popups AND Motorhomes.:B
winniman
Explorer II
Sep 13, 2019
John Wayne wrote:
Are you going to be able to park the TH at every event where you set up? If not what happens then, empty things from TH leave them there then find a place for the TH. You already have the Box trailer for your merchandise. Get a class A or class C and tow your trailer. Get a small motorcycle to throw in the trailer and your set. Want to take a trip with out your merchandise tow a small car.

x2 I would get an rv and pull the trailer. If you go the TH route, Grand Design makes a quality one. Lots of reviews out there. Some of the Lippert frames had problems on other mfgers.
JAC1982
Explorer
Sep 13, 2019
I think it's easier to back up our 38' 5th wheel than it is our 14' bumper pull utility trailer LOL. New trucks have so many features that can help you like cameras and stuff, and you can even install cameras on the trailer itself to hook up inside your truck.

As someone mentioned, the main issue with your plan is making sure there's somewhere to park something that big at your shows. Like, are any of the shows in a city? Finding a place to park in a city would be awful. But if they're out in more country/rural settings you're probably fine.

As for the Highlander, I've never heard of that brand but it doesn't mean it's a bad thing. I might try to find an RV show so you can walk around and look at lots of models. Or even just a large RV sales lot. You may find you don't need one as big as you think you do, and you'll also get a feel for different floor plans.

If you're going to be on the road a lot, I would suggest a floor plan where you can access the bathroom without bringing the slides out. Our current rig doesn't have that ability and it's annoying :)
philh
Explorer II
Sep 13, 2019
Buy once, cry once
JohnGraham
Explorer
Sep 13, 2019
Hello,

2017 Highlander HF39RGL looks promising, as for me. However, I have never seen it in action. Why did you choose this one specifically? I would recommend a wider choice list. I would choose 3-4 variants and then compare the features, prices, etc.
FMCA has a couple of programs for RV driving - https://www.fmca.com/index.php/rv-driving-school.html. Alternatively, you may try to find the driving school by location - https://drivingschoolnear.me

John
Merrykalia
Explorer II
Feb 08, 2018
I'm also in the "go for it" group. I will say that you should probably look for a used unit because as soon as you buy new, you will not like how some aspect works and you will be looking for another.

If you go used, someone else has worked the bugs out of it and you won't get hit with all of the new depreciation.

We had a 36' fifth wheel and now have a 43' fifth wheel. There's not a lot of difference between the two.
Mooredb
Explorer
Feb 08, 2018
Hi Everyone - Thank you all so much for the advice and words of encouragement. I'll keep doing some more research on brands and but feel I'll go with the one I really want. I found a few for rent in my area and I'm looking into that for my first trip to get a feel for things.

Thank you.
leggy
Explorer
Feb 08, 2018
My experience, I grew up driving dump trucks and buses, sometimes a trailer behind the dump. Then for reasons I won't get into went to Hershey RV show and bought a 40 ft triple axle cyclone toy hauler. I pulled it with F-250 srw, but I never put toys in it. I did upgrade to a f450 dually, which handled much better.

Anyway, it can be done and it looks like you are being smarter than me by starting with the big truck.
ken56
Explorer
Feb 08, 2018
I agree with the go for it people. Mr. buzzard has good advice, own the real estate, take as much road as you need when you need it and don't let anyone make you hurry. You will get the hang of it quickly enough. Read up on backing techniques and go to a big empty parking lot and practice. Use milk jugs for marking your backing target.

Get a diesel truck. You will be able to use the diesel lanes instead of finding a gas station that you can get into at the gasoline pumps. I pull a 37 ft. trailer and my truck is 20 ft. long. Its difficult for me to find one I can get in and out of.....my truck is a gasser.

Get it and bypass the 2 smaller trailers you would buy before you got the one you really want.
sayoung
Explorer
Feb 08, 2018
Just a FYI, in Tx you will need a class A non-CDL to tow this combined wieght rating . No big deal to obtain.
I am in the go for it camp. Get it & go to a deserted parking lot & practice turns & backing

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Will This Be a Bad Move for a New RVer?

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