Considering a toy-hauler?

[MJO21]

We are planning on upgrading from our present 5th wheel. We have started looking at campers and features we like we like but we know this is a three year plan and plans may change.

We love our current 5'er. 2002 Trail-Lite. But with two kids we want to upgrade to a bunk house. We don't like having to take down and put up a couch and kitchen table every morning/night. We found several bunkhouses we like but as we continued to look at the RV show we came to believe that we might really like the set up of a toy hauler instead.

We currently have a 2006 Dodge 2500 with 5.9 cummins.
We are looking hopefully for 30-32'...34'max. We have NO big toys (2 kayaks=80lbs total, maybe the backyard BBQ grill=50lbs). We would not need to haul gas in the hauler or a big generator. I do not know if that will change the truck weight thinking factor??

This is where I am looking for opinions.

We liked the toy hauler because of the possibility of the garage being a separate bedroom. We liked the ones that had 2 queen beds that went up and down and set up like bunk beds. We like that some had a loft bed towards the back of the living area before the garage. We also like the second rear entry door. We did notice the limitations of shorter toy haulers not all having a separate garage, we really didn't think it was a deal breaker.

Does anyone use a toy hauler in this manner? What are your opinions? likes/dislikes about using a toy hauler as a family 5th wheel camper and not a TOY HAULER?

I am sure as I read some responses I will come up with more questions.

Thank you for your advice...

Mike

[bullsnot]

There are certainly pro's and con's to each type of set up.

Toy haulers are generally more expensive and heavier. They do obviously offer a great cargo area if you need it. This cargo area is very versitle. The rear ramp can become a patio in some cases and certainly a great open air covered space when feasible for BBQ'ing and messy kids can eat but still be out of the sun and wind. They seem a little more friendly to having a bunch of people with you for this reason.

Some TH's just have different features and styling such as outdoor speakers, TV's and stereos consoles and nicer sound systems in general but there are of course exceptions. The cargo area is a great "mud room" when the carpet is pulled back if you get out and get muddy or even take a dip in the lake but want to change inside without a big mess to clean up inside where you normally wouldn't want mud and dripping wet kids (and adults) romping around.

TH's usually hold more fresh water and have larger waste tanks for "dry camping".

If the TH has a garage then keeping the temp the same as the rest of coach becomes a bit more of challenge in extreme temps. Moderate temps are not an issue. If it doesn't have a garage you usually either sacrifice slide outs, have "cheaper" fold up furniture, or just have a less than ideal layout to accommodate the cargo area unless you get a really big TH then of course you have the weight and size to deal with. Depending on how many people you have staying in the RV and how much time you spend inside will dictate how much this matters you.

Where you usually camp and how much you want to spend on a tow vehicle/RV will dictate the size and weight issues.

In short if I didn't need to carry large cargo I'd opt for a regular 5'er. But since I have ATV's then a TH works well for me and the trade offs are worth it and in some cases very beneficial and quite nice.

[31dirtracer]

I too liked the toy hauler for wide open rear area and sleeping capacity. How ever, we found a bunk house 5er with the bunks in the middle and a rear living. This gave us the open living area with lots of windows. There are several manufactures with different versions of this style now. Our just has 2 full size bunks in the room. Today's versions have couches and tvs with bunks and some even have lofts above the rooms for additional storage.
Good luck.

[NC_Hauler]

We traded our 04' 37', 4 slide HR Presidential Suite in this past August for the TH in my sig. We have no toy's, but are retiring 1 August and this unit afforded us more room to store a few things. We have 4 grand kids and the garage area could easily sleep 4 people and has a full bath, (also a TV/DVD which can keep them occupied if bad weather;))..Two full baths are nice and we have residential refrigerator, convection/microwave and even a dishwasher, along with our Splendid W/D combo....Haven't towed it yet, but looking forward to retirement and spending some extended time in this TH.

As stated, make sure all your weights work. Use GVW of the unit and not "dry" or "empty" weights, not realistic... Take 20% of GVVW and that will give you an idea of how much pin weight you might have... Good luck in making your decision.:)

[stro1965]

My last 5er was 38' long and slept 4 (3 comfortably). My new TH is 38'6" long and sleeps 8 (6 comfortably). Mama says I snore so I oftentimes retire to the garage bedroom when the motorcycles aren't in there. Love it.

[Lantley]

I was intrigued with the idea. But ultimately I see it as beneficial only if you have large cargo to carry. Which is the basic premise of a toy hauler
Otherwise I prefer the traditional set up.
Having fixed beds,closets and furniture has it benefits. The open space is nice for hauling a toy or Kayak etc. But if your not hauling anything the open space just becomes another area to set up.
While my bunkhouse days are coming to an end. I do like the new mid ship bunkhouse floor plans that allow for a rear lounger area and a dedicated bunkhouse room for the kids.
I do think a toy hauler vs. a bunkhouse is a viable idea with lots of versatility.However in the end a traditional bunk house fits are needs/style better.

[VTR]

Same thing crossed my mind at the last RV show, they more sense than anything out there. You can do what you want with the space. Simple but effective.

[lawnspecialties]

One simple thing that many manufacturers are offering with their toy haulers is a big rug for the garage area. It seems small and simple but for someone planning to use the garage more for a bedroom, it could save some toe-stubbing on the D-rings plus make it a whole lot more comfortable and warm.

Just make sure you get one.

[Y-Guy]

See more and more people buying a Toy Hauler for this reason. Be sure you know your weights, often Toy Haulers have a very heavy tongue/pin weight. Don't totally depend on brochure weights, get the dealer to get actual weights before you buy. There isn't much to be said for off setting weight by loading things n the rear of the toy hauler either.

[is_it_friday_ye]

We bought this a couple months ago and will take our first trip in March. We have two teenage daughters. The garage has two beds that raise up to the ceiling, or you can raise the upper bed and leave the bottom in place, making two benches with a spot for a table in between.

[DutchmenSport]

I don't have a toy hauler, but for many of the same reasons you've pointed out, we've considered them for years now. When it finally came to our last decision (about 3 years ago), the conventional trailer won again. But, we also don't have the kids any more, and we don't have all the pets any more either. We had a bunch of pets... I mean a bunch. We're down to one dog and one cat, and occasionally one grandchild.

The attraction for the toy hauler was all that open space in the back. And the double bunk style beds that raised and lowered was something we envied. We don't have toys, but the idea of lowering the tail gate, setting up a porch, or putting a screen across the open back with an entire wall for a window was VERY attractive.

I (not my wife), really liked the bunk space over the garage with the opening in the living room. But in all reality, without kids, what good would that space do. It might be OK for storing stuff, but we've down sized so much, we don't have all the "junk" like we use to.

When it came down to the final choice, convention trailer won. But it had surround windows on the rear, giving us the view we always wanted.

If you are wanting the bunk beds for the kids, you have to ask yourself (and maybe even the kids too), how long do you expect the kids to be camping with you. I don't know your kids ages, but when they turn 15-16 years old, they'll begin driving and getting job. Their attitudes change (and not for the better), and the last thing they want is to hang around parents. The camping days are pretty much over for the kids when they turn 16. And then they get VERY interested again when YOU become grandpa and grandma! It's amazing how interested they get again!

Without knowing your kids age, or if you have plans for when the kids no longer travel with you, there's nothing wrong with getting a toy hauler anyway, even if you have no plans for hauling toys.

While you do have kids, it would be great for bicycles and such though. Once the kids are on their own, you have that space in the back to do with, whatever you want. Turn it into a hobby room, or a "man cave" or a "craft room".

One thing you do need to consider though, which is another reason why we finally opted to go with a traditional trailer, is because you need space behind the trailer to open the big garage door. On a beach, sand dunes, the desert, or the middle of a corn field, that would be no problem. But far too many campgrounds don't provide the space behind the camper to open that big door, because of trees, or simply, you're backed up to another campsite. This is something to think about. We realized most of our camping is in State Parks, and pretty much, there's few places we've been that had that extra space to open a big door from the rear, because something was in the way.

But, you have a great idea. Nothing wrong with it. In the end, only you can decide what's best for you. And I know, you'll enjoy it, if you go that direction! Good luck!

[johnm1]

We went from a 35' 5er to a 34'TT (both with rear bunks) and now we have a 30' toy hauler TT without bunks. The 35' 5er was awesome while the boys were little and we didn't have kayaks and only 2 really small bikes and sandbox toys. But now that our boys are 11 & 13 the need for bunks is less than it used to be and the need to haul around 4 kayaks and 4 bicycles is more needed.

We haven't used the new TH yet (she's still sleeping at the dealer) but we're really looking forward to it! It doesn't have the cramped feeling like our other rigs have (even though they we're MUCH bigger). And, our camping trips we're getting to "complicated" by bringing everything and the kitchen sink so we're tying to simplify our trips.

Time will tell!