Toy Hauler Option

[B-n-B]

Hey everyone! Love this forum and I’m always reading and learning something new here from all the full timers. I’m still a ‘wannabe’ but have an executable timeline and a fairly clear idea of what’s needed (for us) to undertake the full-timing adventure. We’ve had time to consider several things and are at the point we’ve settled on our method of travel and living once we hit the road. A 5th wheel is our choice and with that we recently became aware of an option that several have used to augment their mobility while parked. Some are using toy haulers to haul a Smart Car in the garage then using it to zip around their destination while the 5th wheel is parked. So yes, the Smart Car is light enough and the loading ramp is rated high enough to do this. Mechanically and structurally it’s well within the capabilities of certain toy haulers, and the garage area doubles as a living space while stopped. My question is; does anyone here on the board use this set up? What are your impressions or lessons learned? Or if you’re not using this set up but know someone or have run into someone in your travels using this set up what we’re your impressions?

Thanks!

[B-n-B]

Good point Diane, and it's one we've considered. If it was just me doing all the driving all the time while between destinations, the TV would not be an issue at all. However, in the interest of avoiding putting ourselves in a situation where I become the single point of failure for driving the TV, the idea of a Smart Car alternative is very appealing. The DW's driving ability and confidence are not a good match when handling a large TV (never mind a Class A). This is her self assessment, not mine. I feel she would be just fine behind the wheel of a DRW, but that horse has several post mortem wounds already!

And yeah I realize I'm adding maintenance, insurance and so forth with this idea and should it push the budget margins too far, well then its back to looking at the 5th wheel and lone TV approach.

Dougford I'm looking at something like this one:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0gUh-es1Dk

[chiefneon]

Howdy!

We been fulltiming for seven years with a MDT large 5er with Idado Tote. For years we carried a Rhino atv and a large sccoter. A couple of years ago we purchased a smart car. We drive the Smart Car everywhere. In two years we put over 35,000 miles on the Smart Car. That adds up quicky the MDT 12 mpg empty to the Smart Car 48 mpg plus. We have no problems driving on the freeway for long distances. We recently ordered a Cyclone 4000 elite TH an plan to carry the Smart Car in it.

"Happy Trails"
Chiefneon

[DianneOK]

One question...are you wanting the car to avoid driving the TV? If so, take into consideration what it will cost you for the extra vehicle, maintenance, taxes, insurance, registrations, etc. Do you REALLY need that car?

We fulltimed for 9 years with only the TV.Most of those years it was an FL60. We never regretted it and never had an issue driving or parking it anywhere.

[dougford]

There is a safe way to use the Smart car on the freeway. Load it in the back of the TV...:-)

What toy hauler are you referring to?

You might also want to post this question in the toy hauler forum. You might get more responses, although most of us over there haul "toys" in our toy haulers--things like golf carts, dirt bikes, ATVs, moon shine stills, etc.

[B-n-B]

Hey thanks for the quick replies! I should have clarified that we would also go with a 350/3500 DRW when the time comes for sure. Also, there’s a toy hauler floor plan out there that has a 14 ft. garage and a 3K pound rated ramp which leaves plenty of wiggle room front to back for loading. Also, good info on the highway use of a Smart Car. I see them on the interstate occasionally around here, but I suspect we would use it primarily for around town driving.

[PawPaw_n_Gram]

Two people in my GS chapter have toy haulers.

One takes his motorcycle on most trips, and has a little trailer for it so they can make grocery store runs, etc - on the bike.

They figure using the bike for local transportation vice the TV saves them enough to almost double the number of days of their annual big summer trip (Ontario, and the east provinces this year).

The other couple does a lot of charity type work on trips, and the garage is the workshop. They carry a mule for local use only, and occasional OHV use.

I've seen oil field workers pull into campgrounds in southern Texas with Smart Car, Scion, Cube, Mini-Cooper and one with a Miata in the back of toy haulers. All seem to be very happy with them.

As noted above - the Smart Car is great for around the campground, local driving. Not on freeways.

[square_dancers]

Hello B-n-B,

We had a 2000 F-350 Crew Cab SWD but it had 221K so we upgraded to an F-450 Crew Cab Dually. You need a good platform under your 5th wheel when towing and the dually adds to your stability. We went with the Keystone Fuzion 39' with a 12',(144"), garage, width 102", smart cars have a length of 104", a three wheel trike bike has a 109" length, they each have about 40" of width. The trike weighs more than the car, the car will reach speeds of 60mph but it is unstable when used on major roadways where there is high semi truck traffic.