Community Forums

MontanaMom · 03-20-2023, 01:52 PM

Hello!

I'm a crazy mom of two young kiddos (almost 8 and a 9 year old). We're a work hard play hard family and I have been wanting to buy a camper or a boat for a few years now. I've finally landed on a camper and my search is starting in full.

I'm looking to learn as much as I can pre purchase and make some friends along the way. Specifically looking at a toy hauler and try to figure out what is in my budget, tow capacity and dreams. (Currently looking for something in the 27-34' range with a separate garage) Also debating on timing and all the fun responsible stuff like interest rates and actual purchase price and if things are going to tank in the future or not.

I envision camping near the lake most weekends this summer. Kids playing in water then driving 4wheelers and dirt bikes as far as we can. Lol. Hopefully it lives up to what I'm thinking.

we've camped with friends a few times but never just the three of us.

MSHappyCampers · 03-20-2023, 02:10 PM

Hi ! Welcome to IRV2! We’re sure glad you joined the gang here!

Get out there and kick some tires!

Good luck, happy trails, and God bless!

stinger608 · 03-20-2023, 02:16 PM

Welcome from below you in Wyoming!

When you say you are looking for a toy hauler, keep in mind the TV (tow vehicle) towing capacity.
Toy haulers can be very heavy.

What tow vehicle do you have?
And, are you looking for a tough type tow behind or a fifth wheel?

MontanaMom · 03-20-2023, 03:15 PM

Hi Stinger! I'm looking for a travel trailer tow hauler. My truck maxes at 9500# so trying to stay on the light end. If we're going to go super far I would use my dad's truck.

My 4 wheeler is a an older 400 rancher and my son's 4 wheeler is a 125cc. Maybe ways 175#, it is about to be my daughter's 4wheeler and he's getting a dirt bike for his birthday. So all toys together we're at about 600 pounds. Probably will have kayaks and regular bikes and a water trampoline (surprisingly heavy) to throw in there as well. So definitely need to stay under 8k, but I think that is very doable.

Marine359 · 03-20-2023, 03:45 PM

Hey Mom,
Truck maxing at 9,500#? What does that mean.
Is that the tow rating? If it is, you won’t be able to tow a toy hauler in the weight range you’ve described. 9,500# tow rating is half ton territory. With that truck, you’ll be limited to a very small toy hauler. The most dangerous rig on the road is a big toy hauler being towed by a half ton Truck.

You’re limited by payload. Check the sticker on the inside of the driver side door. It will tell you CCC (cargo carrying capacity). A toy hauler of the size you describe will truly exceed the CCC of that truck. The only toy haulers you can tow with your truck will likely have a GVWR of 6,500# or less…pretty small. For a larger toy hauler, you’ll need a 3/4 ton truck.

MontanaMom · 03-21-2023, 06:48 AM

Hi Marine 359! Thank you for the advice. I agree I'm limited on what I can pull. I have an EcoDiesel. I'm looking at lighter model toy haulers like the Salem or Wildwood, and a few others that are 5-6k dry weight. The truck will get air bags and I'll double check that it has a transmission cooler, if not my poor dad will have a list of things to do to it. Lol. Realistically though, I am a single mom. I can't get a bigger truck as this is my daily driver too, and I bought it specifically to tow a camper and/or boat at some point and to get us to ski hills, and be affordable to drive fuel economy wise. And as a single mom there is no other way than a toy hauler. I'm one driver and while I'm close to camping areas this is Montana, everything is an hour+ away, so I'm not dropping off a camper and turning around and grabbing the little flat trailer with toys. So I'm stuck. I agree I'm limited. But it is doable.

Shall36 · 03-21-2023, 06:57 AM

Eco-diesel trucks are known to have low carrying capacity. I hate to say it, but I don’t think a toy hauler is in your future. Even the smaller models get pretty heavy.

Let’s put that aside for a moment and talk about the trailer itself. I would strongly recommend that you buy used. New trailers are notorious for having a big list of repairs that need to be done and new trailers can spend more time getting fixed at the dealer than they do in your driveway. Also, and you probably know this, trailers depreciate very quickly. Let somebody else take that hit.

You’ve already been given great advice, which is to look at the door sticker and see what your cargo carrying capacity is. When looking at trailers, look at the gross vehicle weight rating of the trailer and plan on about 12% of that weight sitting on your hitch. That hitch weight counts against the cargo carrying capacity of the truck.

PABO05 · 03-21-2023, 07:01 AM

Marine359 · 03-21-2023, 11:30 AM

MontanaMom,
There are toy haulers under 25ft with GVWRs 5,000 - 6,000 lbs like a Palomino. One of these would keep your hitch weight around 600-650 lbs. ecodiesels have payloads of 1,400-1,500 lbs. so your Ram should be able to handle a toy hauler with 5,000-6,000 lb GVWR, as long as your don’t load up the truck too much. To be on the safe side, it would be a good idea to load up the truck with kids and pets, and stuff you’re likely to put in the bed, and go to a CAT scale. Note what your rear axle weight is, and subtract that number from your rear axle weight rating. This number will give you a general idea of how much hitch weight you can handle. If it looks like you’ll slightly over rear axle weight rating with 600# on the hitch, not to worry. A WDH can move some of the weight (at least 100lbs) to the front axle.

I’d like to be encouraging that you can actually tow a small toy hauler safely. But you’ll have to limit the tendency to overload the truck, and you should definitely work the numbers after getting weighed and before committing to any trailer. Good luck. I think you may be able to do this with your existing truck. If it makes you feel better, my truck has a payload of only 1,340lbs, and I safely tow a 5,000 lb GVWR travel trailer, staying just under the truck rear GAWR by using a WDH. And, of course you absolutely must stay under tow vehicle GVWR, and combined GVWR ratings.

TonyDi · 03-21-2023, 09:41 PM

MontanaMom · 03-21-2023, 11:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Marine359

MontanaMom,
There are toy haulers under 25ft with GVWRs 5,000 - 6,000 lbs like a Palomino. One of these would keep your hitch weight around 600-650 lbs. ecodiesels have payloads of 1,400-1,500 lbs. so your Ram should be able to handle a toy hauler with 5,000-6,000 lb GVWR, as long as your don’t load up the truck too much. To be on the safe side, it would be a good idea to load up the truck with kids and pets, and stuff you’re likely to put in the bed, and go to a CAT scale. Note what your rear axle weight is, and subtract that number from your rear axle weight rating. This number will give you a general idea of how much hitch weight you can handle. If it looks like you’ll slightly over rear axle weight rating with 600# on the hitch, not to worry. A WDH can move some of the weight (at least 100lbs) to the front axle.

I’d like to be encouraging that you can actually tow a small toy hauler safely. But you’ll have to limit the tendency to overload the truck, and you should definitely work the numbers after getting weighed and before committing to any trailer. Good luck. I think you may be able to do this with your existing truck. If it makes you feel better, my truck has a payload of only 1,340lbs, and I safely tow a 5,000 lb GVWR travel trailer, staying just under the truck rear GAWR by using a WDH. And, of course you absolutely must stay under tow vehicle GVWR, and combined GVWR ratings.

Tha k you for this feed back!! Everything you say makes complete sense! I've been looking all the ratings up, and I also know that I wouldn't be filling the toy compartment like some people would. My 4 wheeler is 400#, my son's is 175, the dirt bike on the way is about the same weight so I figure 800# in toys where most of these haulers are planning on 1500-2k just in toys. Water I figured at about 4+500#, kids and I might be 200-250 all together (at the moment, little suckers grow fast) and then the dog is about a hundred pounds, water tramp is 75-ish. Then all the food and things, I figured another 500.

Long story short if we're at 2k in filling it up and it's a 5600 dry weight, we should only be at 7600, maybe 8k and I from everything I read that is well within range.

I got pre approved today!!! I'm so stupid excited and mad that I have two trips planned one this weekend and one next or I would be on the road buying a camper. Lol.

I'm looking hard at the wildwood and the Salem's. I know forest River isn't the best, and I would love to find something used, but honestly I can't seem to find one used that's in weight that isn't also stupidly priced. Still looking for sure. I hear horrible things about camping world, sort of afraid to buy through them. Everything out west here seems to be more $$. I try to be frugal, not cheap. Cheap gets expensive real fast. Lol.