Hi guys, question about buying a toy hauler

Steve92004 wrote:

otrfun wrote:

Steve92004 wrote:
Thanks guys, I looked at truck's owners handbook, I can tow 10,200 lbs and max payload is 1432 lbs

I think the trailer is way under that, well it's advertised as such
It's really the only one with a front bed that fits my offroad car and still be able to tow with my truck

This one is about $6,000 less than identical trailers online
If it doesn't work out I'll sell it

I was looking at a number of FS2xxx WW's about 2 years ago. Yup, the price on these things used are attractive. Did my due diligence and passed.

First off, the prices are low for a reason. Unless you know, or you know someone, that knows exactly what to look for in terms of the frame issues, you'd really be taking a big risk.

The tongue area on these WW's were way underengineered. It wouldn't take much for a properly adjusted WD hitch to bend the a-frame on even a slightly unlevel road. Even some of the earlier FS2xxx that were recalled and strengthened by WW were improperly welded by various independent welders that didn't fully understand the repair or the problem.

Then there's the issue of the entire frame from front to back. Even a layperson can look at the main frame rails and tell they're dramatically smaller than typical TH frame rails. Throw in the fact they cut openings in the frame rails (front to back) to reduce weight further, and you've got a recipe for potential disaster. The twisting and under-engineered side supports created a whole other set of problems with the seams/walls seperating and distorting out of position.

Secondly, the white UVW stickers located in the cabinet area on the WW's were notoriously inaccurate. Two owners of a FS2100 were nice enough to let me take their rigs to a CAT scale to verify axle/tongue weight. The white UVW stickers on these FS2100's listed the UVW as approx. 4375 lbs. In reality, empty, they weighed approx. 5500 lbs. The tongue weight was close to 1200 lbs. Keep in mind the maximum tongue weight for a Class IV hitch on most 1/2 ton trucks is approx. 1000-1100 lbs. (assuming the use of a WD hitch).

Unless one is up to the task of making frame and seam/wall repairs as a DIY project, I wouldn't consider purchasing a WW toy hauler at any price.

Well you guys are scaring me
I'm up to fixing stuff, but I don't want to get into a huge mess

Not trying to scare you, just hoping you consider everything with your eyes wide open.

FWIW, here's some additional food for thought.

The unit you're looking at may very well have zero frame issues. The dealer may even be an expert on WW frame issues.

Even so, here's something to keep mind. Maybe, just maybe, is has no frame issues because it's never been really loaded, stressed, or really "used" in the past.