Hi, I am in the market of purchasing a travel trailer/ toy hauler and would appreciate any recommendations and buying tips. I am a Motorcycle enthusiast, I enjoy traveling to motorcycle events this would be one use. I am also Father of 4 boys and 1 girl who are heavily involved in sports and cheer. This past weekend we traveled about 70 miles for a football game. My 8-year-old son and 6 yr old daughter who cheers for her brother’s team, game started at 10am. After their game ended around noon, we had to stay and wait in 103-degree weather on metal bleachers until my 13 year old played at 4pm. At the end of the last game it was nearing 7:30 pm. Once home, exhausted from the heat and long day I decided this is a necessity for my lifestyle and family of 7. After shopping on RV Trader I have realized there are so many types of rave's I don’t know where to start. Any help is greatly appreciated. I have a Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and a Traverse. I'm looking to stay under 40feet

You're going to be limited by your trucks' payload which unfortunately won't be enough to carry much of a tongue weight once the seats are filled. Toy haulers have high tongue weights to counter the garage weight in back so even the lightest trailer will push 1k which in a half ton will only leave a few hundred pounds for passengers and stuff. I can guarantee you won't get anywhere near a 40'er without a bigger truck. Forget the magical tow rating number as well. You will far exceed the payload, tire , and axle ratings before getting anywhere near it.I'd suggest loading your truck with passengers and gear as you would normally expect to travel and go to a scale. Subtract that weight from your GVWR. The number you have left is for the trailer tongue weight and the hitch. Figure 75lbs for a good weight distributing hitch, that you will need, and approximately 15 percent of the loaded trailer weight as tongue weight. It'll be a small trailer with mostly garage area. This is only 18' and if you look at the specs it would probably push or exceed your trucks limits unless it was just you in the truck and everybody else followed in the Traverse.

With a 1500 you are going to be a whole lot less than 40 feet.First determine the payload and towing capacity of your truck. Then estimate how many pounds of passengers and gear will be in the truck because they are subtracted from the available payload.When shopping for trailers do not get distracted by the so called empty/dry weight. You need to be comparing the GVWR of the trailers with the towing capacity of your truck.

camp-n-family wrote:...I'd suggest loading your truck with passengers and gear as you would normally expect to travel and go to a scale. Subtract that weight from your payload found on your door sticker....I'm sure you understand the procedure but I think you typed incorrectly. The total weight of truck, gear, and occupants would need to be subtracted from the truck GVWR. What is left is then the remaining payload capacity.

beemerphile1 wrote:camp-n-family wrote:...I'd suggest loading your truck with passengers and gear as you would normally expect to travel and go to a scale. Subtract that weight from your payload found on your door sticker....I'm sure you understand the procedure but I think you typed incorrectly. The total weight of truck, gear, and occupants would need to be subtracted from the truck GVWR. What is left is then the remaining payload capacity.Thanks for catching my typo. Had payload on the brain. I did mean to subtract scaled weight from GVWR.

Is that <40' truck + RV length? Then you are likely in the 18' box length which is a very small TH. If 40' is just the trailer length, then you will likely be very limited for payload in the truck. TH have very high % of tongue weight, so 6000 pounds dry means 7000 pounds loaded without the toys and probably 1100 pounds of TW. I highly recommend upgrading to a 3/4 ton pickup if you stay with bumper pull RV, or 1-ton if you want a fifth wheel RV.How do you plan to run AC in the TH at these games? Are there others who do what you want to do?

recommended travel trailer toy hauler | Good Sam Community

patperry2766
Explorer II
Sep 02, 2017
One thing that nobody has mentioned is that in your opening statement, you are a family of seven. Since the 1500 and none on the 3/4 & 1 ton trucks have the capability to be equipped with 7 seatbelts, do you plan on towing with the SUV?

Kids get bigger and if you plan on traveling with the entire family and having decent towing capabilities, then either a large SUV or a Chevy Express passenger van might be a better option and it would give everyone extra room to move around.
Express van
RedRocket204
Explorer
Aug 31, 2017
All the big 3 have modern high quality, reliable 3/4 and 1 ton options. Best for you to go and test drive them and see what fits your butt the best. There will be lots here who say you need to buy what they have but that's a poor argument as they don't know what you like.

Once you find what brand you like, may likely come down to gas or diesel as the big decision. I would personally suggest finding the toy hauler that suits you first, then match a truck to it. You don't want to be stuck in a truck that is lower on payload than what would be suggested to tow that perfect toy hauler you found. If it comes down to the choice between a 3/4 and 1 ton, the 1 ton won't be much more in cost and will provide a bit higher numbers in terms of payloads in the event you decide to move up in trailers later.

As for TH suggestions, this thread The new Complete List of Toy Haulers is regularly updated with available Toy Haulers. Start going through that
hvac
Explorer
Aug 31, 2017
That's another issue but my choice is Ram, they offer air suspension. Once you have it, hard to go back. 3/4 ton is always best but I prefer a half ton that is set up to tow heavy. I use Andersen WD, diesel,3.90,going to XL tires. It is a wonderful combination. Rides very nice.
tgrant1024
Explorer
Aug 30, 2017
thanks for all the info. I am glad I came to this forum, I realized I know nothing about this and all your help is greatly appreciated. I would like something around 24'-34'. I would be willing to look for another vehicle to pull it, like a f250 or f350 any recommendations there?
hvac
Explorer
Aug 29, 2017
ATC makes smaller versions of our 28 front bedroom with a built in generator. We have the 28 front bedroom and tow with ram half ton diesel.
1320Fastback
Explorer
Aug 29, 2017
1/2 ton truck, look for a 18'TH or less and be careful with filling it with water as the tank is up front.

Weekend Warrior years ago made a Supercross model TH that might fit the bill.
xteacher
Explorer
Aug 28, 2017
Here's another small toy hauler that might work:
Starcraft
APT
Explorer
Aug 28, 2017
Is that <40' truck + RV length? Then you are likely in the 18' box length which is a very small TH. If 40' is just the trailer length, then you will likely be very limited for payload in the truck. TH have very high % of tongue weight, so 6000 pounds dry means 7000 pounds loaded without the toys and probably 1100 pounds of TW. I highly recommend upgrading to a 3/4 ton pickup if you stay with bumper pull RV, or 1-ton if you want a fifth wheel RV.

How do you plan to run AC in the TH at these games? Are there others who do what you want to do?
camp-n-family
Explorer
Aug 28, 2017
beemerphile1 wrote:
camp-n-family wrote:
...I'd suggest loading your truck with passengers and gear as you would normally expect to travel and go to a scale. Subtract that weight from your payload found on your door sticker....

I'm sure you understand the procedure but I think you typed incorrectly. The total weight of truck, gear, and occupants would need to be subtracted from the truck GVWR. What is left is then the remaining payload capacity.

Thanks for catching my typo. Had payload on the brain. I did mean to subtract scaled weight from GVWR.
beemerphile1
Explorer
Aug 28, 2017
camp-n-family wrote:
...I'd suggest loading your truck with passengers and gear as you would normally expect to travel and go to a scale. Subtract that weight from your payload found on your door sticker....

I'm sure you understand the procedure but I think you typed incorrectly. The total weight of truck, gear, and occupants would need to be subtracted from the truck GVWR. What is left is then the remaining payload capacity.