Side Patios-Big Enough to be Functional?

[loudounrv]

Does anyone have any experience with the side patios available on several toy haulers these days?

We'd like to use it as our dining area, but feel it might be a little tight for our family of 5. If nothing else, I imagine that giant sliding glass door must brighten things up in the coach and make the space feel more open.

We don't travel as often as I'd like to, but when we are able to get away, it is usually for 2 weeks since I'm working from the trailer during some of that time. With a family of 5, our current space can start to feel pretty tight pretty early on. Especially since everyone needs to stay in the trailer until I'm done with work that day (usually a little after lunch).

Anyway, my thought was the big glass door might make make my wife feel less claustrophobic and I was hoping we could fit a table and 5 chairs on the patio. But none of the manufacturers list the square footage of their patios. Most pictures show the patios empty. But when I have found some youtube videos with people or furniture on the patios, they suddenly look a little small to fit our needs.

I know these are relatively new, but I'm just wondering if anyone on the forum has a unit with a side patio.

For those with a rear patio, I know these are larger, but I'm also wondering if they get as much use as you thought when you first bought your trailer.

[NJRVer]

Saw a few with the sliding patio door at Hershey this year.
DW liked it until I asked her how she would like that much open glass area for the camper that is 5 feet away to be able to see in.

[Slownsy]

We had a 06 Titanium with the rear patio with screened in walls it was great, used all the time for 2 peaple and the dogs a few times 3-4 but to small for 5 peaple.
Frank.

[goducks10]

Forest River has a new line of the Wildcat floorplans. One has the side patio. Looks kinda cool.
http://www.forestriverinc.com/product-details.aspx?LineID=169&ShowParent=1&ModelID=2066#Main

[Pipeman]

Talked to a guy who had a side patio on his TH. He said it's comfortable for two and starts to get crowded with four.I have a picture I took from the front and it shows a small table & 2 chairs on it and I think it would get crowded with more than that. Just can't figure how to post the picture. I tried the advanced form but no go.

[Halmfamily]

We have a rear patio on our fiver and love it. Use it daily, much easier on my knees to go onto the deck than walk up and down stairs to sit outside. My dogs are always out on it watching the world go by.

I looked at the toyhauler with the side deck, they are nice but they took up too much room on the campsite, the sliding glass door wasted a lot of useable space and a toyhauler just didn't fit our needs for space.

Throw the kids and wife outside while you work, they can explore and give you quiet time. Our kids have spnet more time outside than in, that's what camping is all about.

Good luck with your search. Make sure you have a BIG enough truck to handle a toyhauler.