Full-Timer Toyhauler - RV-Dreams Community Forum

tatkinson · RV-Dreams Community Member

Full-Timer Toyhauler

Workinrvers · RV-Dreams Family Member

We are researching the very same thing as you. I want the extra room that a traditional 5er allows and don't really want to give up the bike which is a big part of our lives.

While at the Indiana RV Supershow in Elkhart last month we toured an excel 5th wheel that had "fulltime quality" in my opinion. We talked to the factory rep there and they have beefed up the frames and are adding a motorcycle lift capable of lifting 1,000lbs as an option.

We are really intrigued by this as it may be a very viable option. We currently have a toyhauler 5th wheel and I don't think we would be comfortable fulltimimg in it.

here is the website for Excel: http://excelrvs.com/ext_features.htm

-- Edited by Phil Bob at 13:11, 2006-09-11

firebiker2006 · RV-Dreams Community Member

In a few weeks, we will begin our full-time adventure and this past Spring we purchased the Glendale Titanium MPRV as our "home on the road". Before making a decision, I think you have to determine what your priorities are...just like you would if you were purchasing a stick frame house. After months of research, creating a priority list, and then comparing all of our final choices at the Tampa RV show, we determined the MPVR best suited our needs.

We have a Heritage Softtail Classic and a Lowrider and both fit great in the garage. We traded out the hide-a-bed couch for two LazyBoys and also changed out the table and chairs for a smaller set. (We would have done this no matter what we purchased.) The selling points for us were:

the french doors to the garage (creating an illusion of more space - not so claustraphobic)

the optional screened porch (additional living space)

the finished garage (we can use that space for whatever we want when the bikes are unloaded.

the configuration of the bathroom (solid wall separating from the bedroom and no sink in the bedroom).

aerodynamic design and king pin position.

We've been on a few extended trips this summer and have confirmed that we made the right decision. We love our MPRV and are looking forward to making it our home.

Postalpair · RV-Dreams Family Member

My husband and I have been living in our Toyhauler for a year now. We have a Sunnybrook

391KSURV. We absolutely love it. We carry our two motorcycles with us, and tow with our

Ford F550. When we were looking for a fulltiming 5th wheel, we kept seeing the usual trailers

that were set up for weekend/vacation use. The Sunnybrook really caught our eye. Not only

does it have the light weight frame, but it is screwed and glued.....no welds to crack!! It also

has a wrap around kitchen counter, a loft that is wonderful for inside storage, and lots of

closet space. Our garage is large enough for both bikes ( cruisers ) and we even have a

plastic rubbermaid cabinet that we added in there. We also got rid of the sleeper sofa and added two recliners. We also had several outlets added throughout the rig. Especially near our table and chairs ( where we use our laptops ) and in the bedroom ( phone chargers ) and in the bathroom ( hairdryers, curling iorns, etc. ). We found Sunnybrook to be very helpful in all of our requests. Like I said, we love our rig. And would highly recommend Sunnybrook to

anyone!!

-- Edited by Postalpair at 11:41, 2006-09-11

Niles and Deb · RV-Dreams Family Member

Hi,

Phil-Bob is right we were with them on that little trip. those were very NICE. I think they were called an Excel, heavy weight, we have also done a little suring about and found a line called KZ escalade sportser toyhauler. That has alot of great stuff to offer. We just don't want to give up our Bushtec trailer, which we think could be something we can use to go and do laundrey, or shopping to haul stuff instead of using the truck. And we really DON"T want to give up our MOTORCYCLE ( RED 2004 Goldwing 1800). We also have Tucker our Black Lab that will need to stay out in the garage when we are gone and I want to have a screen door on the back loading door.However we realize over the next 5 years changes will be made to up grade ToyHaulers even as we write now. We have an All American Sport 5th wheel, by Forest River.

Hi Phil-Bob.....

Aloha, Deb

DZ · RV-Dreams Family Member

I'm also trying to figure out what to do about taking the bike, as we're going full-timing asap. We already have the fifth wheel, an Excel LKO Limited 35 ft. We stopped at the Excel plant on the way to LOW in Des Moines to tour the plant and find out more about the Hydra-Lift. Was all set to go this route until attending the weight safety class at LOW. The info I got there pretty much discouraged me from hanging a thousand pounds off the back of my trailer. Doesn't sound like a whole lot until you figure in the distance it is from your rear axle. I believe the frame of the Excel is plenty strong enough to handle it, I am just concerned about what it would do to the handling of the trailer. Also it's $5000.00 to install it, and my trailer would be the third one they had done. Don't want to be someone's guniea pig. Right now I'm leaning towards Blue Ox's Sport Carrier II. It has a swivel wheel which supports 1/3 of the weight. Other than pulling a trailer behind the fiver, I don't see too many options out there.

Luvglass · RV-Dreams Family Member

Hi,
You should take a look at the Carriage line. I'm sure they have toyhaulers and all their trailers are warranted for full time use.
Fred

tatkinson · RV-Dreams Community Member

Wow! Thanks for all the expert advice! Funny, but we have considered each of the RV's mentioned but it's nice to hear from those of you who have actually experienced rving in them. We have found joy in the "hunt" so instead of getting frustrated, it's actually been fun to look for the exact right "fit". We've had many rv's over the years but are unfamiliar with toyhaulers. We love our current Prairie Schooner but bought it before the motorcycle. Little did we know how much we would love the motorcycle. It definitely has to go with us when we full-time so we're just going to have to find what works best. The new Excel sounds very interesting. We were not aware of the new feature. Thanks again for your help, everyone. What a great community of folks....thanks to Howard and Linda for bringing everyone together!

tatkinson · RV-Dreams Community Member

Thanks, Phil, for your helpful information. With the news about the Excel, we are now very interested in finding one to look at. Even if we don't get the motorcycle lift (quite an expense at $5,000), we figure we could get a custom made carrier to put on the back. Our bike isn't a big Goldwing like yours (although we wish it were!) so getting it up there shouldn't present too much of a problem. Thanks again for your help.

bjoyce · RV-Dreams Family Member

Some good friends are using a Nomad Rampage 365 fiver toyhauler for full-timing and are quite happy. They carry a motorcycle, have a desk and computer setup, and carry "stuff" in the garage. Yup, looks like many of our garages from the house days, packed.

Tom N Gina · RV-Dreams Family Member

Since we are going to be working fulltimers and need two modes of transportation. We are going with an extra 10ft enclosed trailer as our garage. Leaves us enough room for the bike, a small deep freeze for extended stays, and some tools. The tools are for helping our new friends that might need it some day. (arr arr arrg)

This will work until the Toyhaulers are out for a few more years, after all it is us that guide and direct the market. Knowing how we all are, they will come a long way in the very near future. We have never had any problem with parking, every park has been very understanding. Sometimes we have to park the trailer in a storage area or extra parking area, only one park wanted more $$$ to park the extra trailer. This will also help me with wieght until my better half convinces me that I do not need the extra kitchen sink after all..... Any one need a sink? hehehe

15 days and counting....................

Exseedman · RV-Dreams Community Member

I have seen several people carry their bikes on their MDT or HDT. It is just another way to get the job done. It does make their tow vehicle a little long, but weight is usually not an issue for the truck or trailer.
There is an HDT rally in Wichita, KS at the end of the month, and, there will be a lot of different ways to haul the toys! I went to the one last year and no two trucks look alike.

Steve

Workinrvers · RV-Dreams Family Member

Tom and Pam,

Good luck in your search, be sure and let us know what you decide on.

I wanted to expand a little on my comment of us not being comfortable in our toyhauler for fulltime. I was being specific about the model that we currently own, not toyhaulers in general. Ours is a single slide and after seeing ones with the bedroom slides, well "WOW" it adds so much more room and storage for clothes and such. We too have thought about fulltiming in a toyhauler and have not ruled it out completly. We want to take our time, find the right unit for us so we don't have any coulda, woulda, shoulda thoughts while on the road.

Phil