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redrobin60's avatar
redrobin60
Explorer
Jun 27, 2022

Recommendation for New or Used Bumper Pull Toy Hauler

We are in the market for a new RV. It's been 7 years since we last looked and alot has changed.
We have been full timing in our Cedar Creek for the past 7 years but now we want a small Toy Hauler. No more than 33 feet and 1 slide in Bedroom. That floorplan is pretty much the same across the board but what really matters is quality & manufacturers warranty. It has also been suggested to stay away from Covid building years if we buy used.
So please suggest Make & Model & why. Thank you.
  • my brother and his family have an Attitude. It's an open floor plan meaning no separate garage. It's a shorter fiver model and they really like it except I'm not sure they can get a 4 seat SxS in there. Has swivel rockers and a big bay window. They're the second owners & have owned it for 5 years. Mostly use it in Forest Service campgrounds and boondocking.
  • Thanks for all the responses.
    We plan on taking our electric golf cart.
    We are looking at toy-haulers mostly becuz of the patios outback. Like the idea for our dog to be able to go outside.
    We currently have a 40' 5'er. Full-timed for 6 years and just looking to downsize to something smaller for weekends and summer vacays. Been camping for 20 years. And have had the whole gambit, MH, Travel Trailer & 5th Wheel.
  • jukes wrote:
    hi you mentioned having a toy hauler but no toys, I am curious about getting one just to haul a couple of ebikes, I like the flexible layout? Looking for a travel trailer one perhaps, under 30'...


    I assume this is directed at my post.

    I've thought of a couple of ebikes also (no gas fumes inside) but so far haven't pulled the trigger.

    But yes, very flexible interior. We swapped out the uncomfortable fold up bench seats in the back.
    - On the one side, I built some shelves.
    - On the other we put in a dual recliner (man was it easier to just drop the back wall vs wiggling thru the side door like we did on our last trailer.

    Mostly selected it because we got a deal on the unit.
  • jukes wrote:
    hi you mentioned having a toy hauler but no toys, I am curious about getting one just to haul a couple of ebikes, I like the flexible layout? Looking for a travel trailer one perhaps, under 30'...


    I'm not sure anyone in this thread mentioned that, but I have in the past. I/we went after a toyhauler primarily for the open/extra interior space it provides (not a dedicated separate garage model) and secondarily for a chassis that is not maxxed out or close to maxxed out like many travel trailers.

    Although not sure if you had a question, or not.
  • hi you mentioned having a toy hauler but no toys, I am curious about getting one just to haul a couple of ebikes, I like the flexible layout? Looking for a travel trailer one perhaps, under 30'...
  • fj12ryder wrote:
    Do you have your heart set on a bumper pull? The reason I ask is that bumper pull toyhaulers can be a pain to pull sometimes, more so than a fifth wheel. Getting the tongue weight right on a toyhauler seems to an issue. This is JMO of course, not based on actual usage, I could be dead wrong.


    I think this is more an issue of using marginal trucks.

    Toy haulers tend to have higher hitch weights unless you max out the weight in the garage.

    Higher hitch weights actually pull better (same reason 5th wheels pull well) but if if you select a truck based on a 10-12% hitch weight assumption and it's running 15-18%, good chance you are overloaded and will be an uncomfortable pull.

    Biggest issue with bumper pulls is most are smaller, so the garage is doing double duty as living space, which means you have to pull the toys out at every stop. Not an issue if you are doing a long weekend 100miles from home but if going cross country and just stopping for the night, it's going to get old pretty quick.

    We currently have a 29ft and it pulls really nice but we don't have toys and we are using a 3/4 ton, so no concerns with high hitch weight.
  • So hard to suggest anything used, there are always some good ones that roll off the line and some built by Gilligan too, much of it depends on owner and how well they maintained it. Covid era trailers were definitely pushed out fast, but that's not really anything new. I'm seeing a lot for sale, but a lot of those owners are upside down (also nothing new) so they are trying to get more then their RV is worth on the used market today.

    The two I think I'd be looking at close would be the Outdoor RV and Genesis Supreme. Do keep in mind that many/most RVs don't warrant use for full time, so that might be an aspect to focus on. Grand Design used to, but I think they dropped it, I seem to recall some Cougars & Montans might have.
  • Not alot of TT/TH experience, but I'm fairly impressed with the quality and amenities of our Heartland trailer. (It's still a trailers not a custom home, but seems pretty well put together so far.)
  • fj12ryder wrote:
    Do you have your heart set on a bumper pull? The reason I ask is that bumper pull toyhaulers can be a pain to pull sometimes, more so than a fifth wheel. Getting the tongue weight right on a toyhauler seems to an issue. This is JMO of course, not based on actual usage, I could be dead wrong.


    As a sample of one person here, my 30' bumper pull was a lot of work to drive, but my 45' fiver is a joy to pull. It's slow and dumb, but it's as chill as a St. Bernard.

    To the OP's question though...

    Hey Red Robin - Nobody likes people who answer questions with questions, but what kind of toys will you be loading? Your load is important to the equation like fj12ryder mentioned.

    Also, a lot of units have those small slides in the living areas. They're OK if you're just loading a bike or two, but they get in the way of an SxS and they add a lot of weight.
  • Do you have your heart set on a bumper pull? The reason I ask is that bumper pull toyhaulers can be a pain to pull sometimes, more so than a fifth wheel. Getting the tongue weight right on a toyhauler seems to an issue. This is JMO of course, not based on actual usage, I could be dead wrong.