Toy Hauler

[mvengineer]

I have been evaluating toy hauler manufacturers with the intent of purchasing one for my spyder. I am thinking of buying a Jayco Octane 161 which for 2010 weighs only 4000 LBs. It is only 20 feet long so should be fairly easy to tow with my F150 ( my first traier). My idea would be to haul my spyder to certain destinations, then do my spydering when I arrive using the toy hauler to transport. Any words of wisdom about the idea or what to look for in a toy hauler for the spyder ? Thanks

 

[Smylinacha]

We have a Tahoe Transport. We can put the Spyder and the Harley in it. I think we are selling it though. Don't do much rv'ing anymore. We do most of our traveling now on the bikes and haul camping gear or stay in hotels. Once we sell it we can buy the Ural!

 

[retread]

There is a smaller unit available, 15 feet long, sleeps 2 or 3, called a Blast. I can't remember who makes it, but behind a half ton, the lighter the better.
An aluminum cargo trailer might be better, even the small toy haulers are fairly heavy, and a 7 by 10 cargo trailer can be set up fairly decent for less cost than a toy hauler.

john

 

[Smylinacha]

Yup and gas is gonna be $4 again by summer so hauling that thing won't be fun. You can ride a bike and stay at hotels much cheaper than spending all that cash on high gas prices.

My sister has a Jayco that is having some delamination issues.....Do some research on the RV forums.....

We like ours, but it is a big investment that doesn't make much sense anymore with the infrequent use it's been getting.....

 

[NancysToy]

An aluminum cargo trailer might be better, even the small toy haulers are fairly heavy, and a 7 by 10 cargo trailer can be set up fairly decent for less cost than a toy hauler.

:agree: A 4,000 pound trailer ends up at over 5,000 with a Spyder, food, clothes, etc. aboard. That is pushing the towing capacity of your F-150 pretty hard. I am not a great believer in towing too near the capacity of the tow vehicle. I have a 7'x12', V-nose all aluminum trailer. It is the extra tall variety. Weighs only 1,200 pounds empty, with plywood interior. Tows great with my F-150. After we empty out the bikes, we set up cots and a porta-john, add a screen I made for the back door, and it becomes our home. A friend of mine does much the same, except he made fold-down cots that double as couches. He even added a socket for a dining table. Before the enclosed trailer, we used an open trailer and slept in a tent. That worked great, too, and sometimes I really miss that real lightweight trailer.

 

[rnet]

I have a Jayco Octane T-26-Y 31' weighing in at almost 7500 lbs empty. Last year I took two bikes and one Spyder to the ride in the smokies and I'm towing with a Chevy Avalanche with a towing capacity of 12,000 lbs. It would have been cheaper to drive the bikes down and stay in a motel, but didn't have the time and had to pick up family in nashville that had flown down to Nashville to check out a college (NADC) after the friday bbq. I got 8 mpg when towing. so if you compare that with three bikes that average about 40mpg and divide by three, that would be a savings of about 5 mpg. On the quality of a Jayco, it is considered one of the better trailers built and I have several friends that have them with no issues. Not sure what you mean with delaminate issues cause I thought all the Octane's were metal sides, so maybe you mean the floor, hope they don't have a roof leak. Anyway I hope this helps. It works for me.

 

[SpyderGirl]

Yup and gas is gonna be $4 again by summer so hauling that thing won't be fun. You can ride a bike and stay at hotels much cheaper than spending all that cash on high gas prices.

Yeah, you'd be better off just riding. My trailer is only for emergencies. I've towed the Spyder on it twice in 2 years. I've actually had considered selling it many times.

 

[RShrimp]

In the scheme of bigger is better, I went a different route.
It's a 40 Gooseneck 4 horse trailer with full living quarters and a slide out.
I removed all of the stalls and now have a 15 foot garage in the back and 25 feet of living space in the front.

I don't pull it with an F150 however, but my modified 6.7L Cummins gets 14MPG at 70

I can haul:
Spyder
The bikes
The Suzuki Samurai
The 12 foot Carolina Skiff on the trailer
Dale Jr Golf Cart
Not all at once ...

 

[Smylinacha]

Yep we tow w/ a Cummins too! Better mileage. When we towed w/ the old Hemi we were getting like 6 miles to the gallon. Still, all fuel is going up. That's a very nice set up you got there!

In the scheme of bigger is better, I went a different route.
It's a 40 Gooseneck 4 horse trailer with full living quarters and a slide out.
I removed all of the stalls and now have a 15 foot garage in the back and 25 feet of living space in the front.

I don't pull it with an F150 however, but my modified 6.7L Cummins gets 14MPG at 70

I can haul:
Spyder
The bikes
The Suzuki Samurai
The 12 foot Carolina Skiff on the trailer
Dale Jr Golf Cart
Not all at once ...

 

[BillGargan]

Check out http://rvbasics.com/rv-press-release/Adrenaline-Blast-toy-hauler.html

There is a smaller unit available, 15 feet long, sleeps 2 or 3, called a Blast. I can't remember who makes it, but behind a half ton, the lighter the better.
An aluminum cargo trailer might be better, even the small toy haulers are fairly heavy, and a 7 by 10 cargo trailer can be set up fairly decent for less cost than a toy hauler.

john

 

[mvengineer]

Thanks all you guys and gals, you are so wonderful and helpful in your comments and perspective points of view which I really appreciate. You have given me good direction. Let me share with you some thoughts.

I always try to maximize the value and use of any thing I buy espically if it is expensive.
The reason I am buying a toy hauler has many considerations.

1. Live in Michigan and in the summer time I set up my present little "Aliner" camper on my property just about all summer. Spend many nights sleeping in it with the nice lake breeze. Love that. I also us it as a "little tent" where neighbhors come buy and have a cold one or two or more!? with me. My new toy hauler will serve the same purpose in that respect so it will get a lot of use just sitting on my proerty even if I dont tow it! I love to be outdoors all the time on my property.

2. Since I bought my beloved spyder last year, I feel I need to take it to destinations I always wanted to explore within two to three days travel from my house, so I will be doing a few of those per year. I will feel safer, travelling bymyself, hauling my toy and probably less tireing to get to the destination. Once I am at my destination, I can do my excursions on my spyder while my toy hauler and truck are parked somewhere.

3. In two years my wife and I will be retiring ( me 61 and the Mrs. 51). We will be spending winters at our condo in San Diego , California and summers in Michigan at our house. So how am I going to be without my spyder for 5 months when in San Diego in the winter?? my spyder has to go with me and that is when the thought of gettig a toy hauler was born. I will be driving to California taking different routs and visiting many National attractions and spydering through national parks.

Sorry for the lenghty desortation, but I think some enjoy reading what others do or how they plan their lives. I do. Thanks again

 

[NancysToy]

Thanks all you guys and gals, you are so wonderful and helpful in your comments and perspective points of view which I really appreciate. You have given me good direction. Let me share with you some thoughts.

I always try to maximize the value and use of any thing I buy especially if it is expensive.
The reason I am buying a toy hauler has many considerations.

1. Live in Michigan and in the summer time I set up my present little "Aliner" camper on my property just about all summer. Spend many nights sleeping in it with the nice lake breeze. Love that. I also us it as a "little tent" where neighbors come buy and have a cold one or two or more!? with me. My new toy hauler will serve the same purpose in that respect so it will get a lot of use just sitting on my property even if I don't tow it! I love to be outdoors all the time on my property.

2. Since I bought my beloved spyder last year, I feel I need to take it to destinations I always wanted to explore within two to three days travel from my house, so I will be doing a few of those per year. I will feel safer, travelling by myself, hauling my toy and probably less tiring to get to the destination. Once I am at my destination, I can do my excursions on my spyder while my toy hauler and truck are parked somewhere.

3. In two years my wife and I will be retiring ( me 61 and the Mrs. 51). We will be spending winters at our condo in San Diego , California and summers in Michigan at our house. So how am I going to be without my spyder for 5 months when in San Diego in the winter?? my spyder has to go with me and that is when the thought of getting a toy hauler was born. I will be driving to California taking different routs and visiting many National attractions and spydering through national parks.

Sorry for the lengthy dissertation, but I think some enjoy reading what others do or how they plan their lives. I do. Thanks again

Valid reasons for a toy hauler, for certain. I still have reservations about both the safety of hauling this much weight with an F-150, or any 1/2 or 5/8 ton pickup. Be sure and look up the specific towing capacity recommendations for your year and model. Here is one such source. Please don't cut it too close. Under adverse conditions a maximum weight trailer can take over the handling and braking unexpectedly. Don't ask how I know! Remember that your payload capacity in the truck itself will be reduced by the 600+ pound tongue weight. Your handling may also be adversely affected without a weight distributing hitch. That's a lot of tongue weight for a half ton.

A couple of last things to check before you lay down your dough. First, many toy haulers are quite high off the ground, with relatively short ramps. The Spyder does not like a steep ramp angle. It may bottom out. Be sure and test with a Spyder before you buy. Second, the floorplan of this model appears to be a bit short on the refrigerator side for the Spyder to be loaded facing forward. Make absolutely sure it's gonna fit. If it has to be loaded backward, also check what that will do to the weight distribution and tongue weight...especially with and without the water tank loaded. I hope you find a solution that satisfies.

 

[mvengineer]

Thank You Scotty and HDX for your input.
Scotty, I did check with the manufacturer about the exact dimensions and you are, as always, very perseptive. Yes pulling forward , I only have 64 inches width which will work, as the spyder is 59.5 inches wide. Backing into the trailer will be probably what I will do most of the time as this will allow for better manuverability around living area of the camper. Yes I will check the towing capacity of the F150 ( 2006 5.4 triton) although several people told me it will not be an issue. Yes there will be some modifications to the hitch to install a stabilizer? sway bar? or whatever the dealer recommends. I am going to look at one tomorrow, and I will check the slope of the ramp door to see if it appears too steep to load the spyder without hitting bottom. Couldnt you raise the front of the trailer by crancking the front jack to lower the rear door and therefore lessen the slope?

 

[mvengineer]

Scotty
I checked the towing capacity of the F150 5.4 V8 4by4 Triton super cab. using the source you sent me.

It is 8300 lb. So with the spyder and additional stuff , I should be around 6000 lb, still 75% of maximum recommended which intself I am sure has a factor of safety as engineers call it. So I think towing should not be an issue. Have a good night.

 

[mvengineer]

I've been using one of these for many years-

http://www.equalizerhitch.com/productinfo/

Simple to use, functions flawlessly.......

Thanks HDX, I will find out where to purchase and have it installed by a mechanic that works in my department. probably ca save a few bucks vs. dealer installed. thanks again. Hello to Smyllinacha.

 

[SPYDERGUY1]

toyhauler

the missus and I looked at a toyhauler as well, great concept but kinda lacking something. Being that she is the smarter one ( yes ) the concern of gas fumes came up and that was the end of that. We now have a 35foot motorhome fully self contained and or self sufficient ( boon dock camping ) and pull the SPYDER behind us with ease on the trailer. Fuel economy is really not an issue, as is way still cheaper than hotels and restaurants. Besides when ya wanna go for a ride , give er man, just be carefull where ya park as the cagers are less than compassionate to your equipment as experienced in Kelowna B.C. as some F*&^%$ opened their door and slpit the fender. Good luck in your search and many happy travels.hyea:

 

[NancysToy]

Scotty
I checked the towing capacity of the F150 5.4 V8 4by4 Triton super cab. using the source you sent me.

It is 8300 lb. So with the spyder and additional stuff , I should be around 6000 lb, still 75% of maximum recommended which intself I am sure has a factor of safety as engineers call it. So I think towing should not be an issue. Have a good night.

Yeah, I checked too, after I knew what you had. Much better than my 2003 4x2 SuperCab, BTW, and way better than my old 1997 SuperCab was. Equalizer hitch may still be a good move, just to level the truck for handling. You can raise the tongue to load...within limits. I do not suggest loading while unhitched from the truck unless you have stabilizer jacks all around, however. Most RVs have them, but make sure they will actually extend far enough to load. Another caution, the Spyder rear tire slips easily on a trailer ramp. Use some traction strips. If it spins in reverse the nanny shuts it down.

 

[mvengineer]

Here is a picture of the new Toy hauler. Mine will be delivered within 8 weeks. Put the deposit today. I am excited.

 

[Smylinacha]

:2thumbs::congrats:

 

[rnet]

:congrats:Hope your's will be as trouble free as mine has been. If you need any help, PM me when you get it. Mine's a 2008 T26Y.