Any recommendations for a toy hauler?

[newbury]

I posted this on another forum, (RV) but it always seems the highest quality people giving advice are on this forum, Tractorbynet

SAB -
Please tell me if I'm wrong in wanting a 5th wheel TH.
Also recommendations on a used TV and used TH
Warning - lot's of detail.
Did a search for newbies back a year, didn't find the combo of advice I think I need

Situation - SWMBO and I about to retire. Have properties in Vermont (75 acres), Virginia (2 houses), Mississippi (retirement destination, about 400 acres and a house).

Plan on wanting to keep it all for a while, but visit. Also grandson & family requiring visiting in Pennsylvania.

Want to be able to visit relatives, occasional vacation off the route from Mississippi to Vermont.

Primary toy is a B7610 tractor (8' long), and tools, and chainsaw mill.

Want to be able to drive to my properties, haul my "toys", set up and do stuff. Also have a VW JSW TDI as a "chase car" for SWMBO. And a 6K trailer for the tractor if need be.

For instance I plan on putting the 5th wheel TH out on the land, using it for a "work cabin", and then go back home whenever, but leave the TH at the site. Or put the tractor in the back and drive up to Vermont for summer work up there.

I've been driving a Ford '88 7.3L diesel MaxiVan since '88, w/ occasional towing, so I'm familiar with parking problems etc.

The main problem is the "legal" tow limit on the Ford is like 8,800lbs, and in some states I can't legally tow my 6K trailer empty (2,100lbs). Otherwise I;d probably just get a TT and tow with my van. I'm planning on also getting a bigger tractor, so I'm going to need a bigger TV with my present trailer.

Also I'm going to want the TV to be able to haul some serious weight legally (think logs).

So I need another TV.

Had started looking for a 5th wheel to go with it, then found out some TH had a 10 or bigger garage.

So - I'm in the market for a $15K TV and a TH as inexpensive as I can get. I've been looking primarily at:
Ford diesel dually 4x4 1994 to 2003 7.3L
Dodge 2nd Gen diesel dually

and don't know the first thing about used TH's.

Most advice (other than changing SWMBO's) would be appreciated.

So do any of you wonderful guys and gals have advice on TH's?
It looks like anything by Keystone is manure.

 

[Egon]

I'm still trying to figure out what all the abbreviations stand for!

 

[firedog]

I can't comment on the toy haulers, but we did have a Wilderness Advantage FW. Most of the info I've gleaned is similar to yours on the Keystones & Forest River Products. Top of the line, IMO are the Sunnybrook & Mobile Scout, Fleetwood (Wilderness) is middle of the pack.
Someone has put together a CD that ranks & details testing on RV's similar to a "Consumer Report" but it cost about $150.
With the vast number of low cost RV's being produced in the past 15-20 yrs. the higher quality manufacturers have had to cut cost to remain competitive.

You might stop by an independant RV repair shop and get their opinion.

 

[firedog]

I'm still trying to figure out what all the abbreviations stand for!

TV = tow vehicle
TT = travel trailer (as is bumper pull)
TH = toy hauler

 

[Egon]

Thanks Firedog.:thumbsup:

 

[Von]

Here is what I use to haul my toys around with. Oh the big yellow thing is one of my toys as well! The boys were needing a little snow to practice snowboarding. So we hook up the 16' trailer and they do all the shoveling!

 

[wroughtn_harv]

We have a 98 Patio Hauler toy box. We love it to pieces but it has the most expensive part to fix going south on us. That's the fiberglas is de-laminating. Everything else works great. Se we are also looking for another toy hauler.

1. Prices are down because of the economy so it's a buyer's market.

2. Be careful on the size because some of the bigger and better ones are really too much for a one ton to safely haul. They can haul it but they're not doing it safely.

3. We like the old people's version of the toy haulers, separate garage, big kitchen w/nice appliances and stuff like two a/c's etc. The young people's versions are all about beds and toy hauler space. The kitchen and comfort are after thoughts.

4. Decide on how big you need your garage and how much the cargo is going to weigh. You can get some that offer good living space and a fourteen foot separate garage. The hiccup on the getalong on those sometimes is the cargo capacity. By the time you load up with propane, fresh water, gasoline in the tanks for the generator and toys, and everyday stuff you're looking at a lot of room and all you can really carry is space.

Ebay has a pretty good selection of varieties and you can learn about what's available. There's usually two hundred plus or minus available there. Everything from the flat bed with the pop up tent at one end to the Escalade Sporster that's forty two foot long and has everything imaginable standard.

Our dream is a full time life with a toy hauler and my work truck which hauls them just fine. We would like to work out the rent and golf fees with the truck and my skills. We also like to dry camp out in the woods in the toyhauler. It's roughing it without the roughing it.

 

[newbury]

I'm still trying to figure out what all the abbreviations stand for!

And SMBO = She Who Must Be Obeyed

 

[ITHINKICAN]

I have to admit - I didn't read the part that was cut and paste. But in answer to your primary question - We have a 2009 Jayco Octane 26' toy hauler. We recommend Jayco for sure. We load it with several dirt bikes when we go mx'ing and the 610 mule when we to the beach - it is perfect. We love it. But ifyou have teenagers or a large family - you might want something larger and with a slide or two... definitely want your generator on board - we had a friend that wanted to save money and bought without a generator - he regretted it big time.

 

[wushaw]

Another thought is a race car hauler with living quarters.