Toy Hauler Travel Trailer concerns

My wife and I have been considering the purchase of a toy hauler RV. Specifically the Gulf Stream 17rthse. I am sure that it is small enough to be pulled by my Tacoma that is not the issue. We mainly will be using it for mountain biking. Initially I was super excited and started to research everything that you need for the RV.

Rv buying list

· Load distributed hitch

· Generator ($350)

· Batteries

· Sheets

· Blankets

· Pillows

· Tv and mount (does not have one installed)

Additional cost

· Gas (10mpg)

· Insurance

· Taxes

· RV park rent

· Maintenance

· Storage

Will we use it enough to justify it? 3-4 trips a year currently

· Moab, Utah

· Mulberry Gap, Georgia

· Cloudland Canyon, Georgia

· Beach Trip

After all the research I started seeing that it isn’t as free as hooking up and going. Many places have Rv parks but some are booked up months in advanced. My wife and I are not planners we like to just jump in the car sometime with no plan and go places.

Basically I wanted to get peoples input that has a travel trailer.

Do you use it regularly?

Is it easy to just hook it up and go find somewhere to stay for a weekend?

Rent at some RV camps are really expensive is it really the cost of staying in a hotel or motel?

Are there other hidden cost to the RV?

 

My wife and I do the same.

We have no trouble finding places to camp. If opt for state Forrest campgrounds instead of state parks, you will never have issues finding a camp ground.

You said you have a generator, so you don't need a campground with full utilities. State Forrest should work just fine.

We do camp at state parks as well, but only go during the week. We never book ahead. In fact I can't remember ever booking ahead. We tend to stay home during the weeks of holidays, so I can't offer anything about camping during those times.

As for hidden expenses. You are going to hate towing that camper more then 20 miles. Plan on buying a Tundra.

Seriously, the weight is fine. Its the wind resistance that will make towing no fun. In addition, you will not see 10 mpg.

 

Wind was one of my concerns. We drove out west last year and it was just crazy how bad it was with just the truck. So one trip we were going to use the trailer for is going from Atlanta, Ga to Moab, UT. That is like 3600 miles of driving there and back. This would be a test of the truck for sure. Do you think the trailer is suitable for 2 couples? The water tanks are kinda small.

 

I doubt you can carry enough water for four people. Better plan on getting water on location.

We have collapsible water jugs that work awesome. We fill them at whatever campground we stay at.

 

Realistically I do not think I will be getting a new truck any time soon. I wonder if anyone has done that long of a trip pulling a camper through the midwest. Thank you Koditten for your input. I wonder has anyone on here bought a travel trailer to just return it because it was not what they expected.

 

We have places that will rent travel trailers here. Might check into that in your area.

 

We've have pulled our #4500 Airstream all over the country with our Taco, both are 2006 and get 12 MPG.

Be Prepared. This lifestyle is not a cheap alternative to hotels, but works if you value your own bed. Have tools, be handy and like to tinker around, pay attention to your rig and surroundings at all times.... It's a whacky world out there. Water is heavy, carry the minimum if you are going campsite to campsite. Eating out is expensive and unhealthy. You and your wife have got to work well as a team, your friends should have their own rig. Accept you aren't going anywhere fast and go make some memories !

If you're new or unsure, I would say rent a rig, even a pop-up and go to the lake a couple times to see what it's all about while keeping an eye out for a good deal on a used rig. There is a lot to learn, you'll make a lot of mistakes. Don't go out and buy every cool little gadget at the camping store right off the bat and oh yeah..... Ditch the TV.

 

Frito you must be really dedicated because those trailers are really expensive. I might take your advice and rent one for a weekend and just see if I like it. They are just really expensive just to rent around here. I used to go with a friend when I was little and they didn't care for the pop up after about the third use. Just a ton of work for a weekend trip. I was really hoping to hear about the camping around Atlanta and on the coast. Like right now if I look in Florida on the coast for a site they are already booked.

 

You only go 'round once....
And We got a screamin' deal on the A/S although I didn't know it at the time + Quality and resale count in my book.

I full timed it in that little tuna can July to November this past year in NH. Long as the weather holds, it's good !

We went from tents to popup to camper after flirting with MH's. Thinking about trading for a camper van now.
I think we had the best times in a little 8' Jayco P'up all through NH, Maine, Bay of Fundy and Canada with bikes and kayaks X3.

Renting is a real good idea especially if you got a team mate. It'll be a cheap investment to really see what it's all about.
I have a buddy whose then girlfriend swore she loved camping, now that they are hitched.... well it's a different story.
To be fair you really won't know if it's a fit till you do it a few times together.

A lot of the FLA State parks say they are full on the website, but there are sometimes spaces reserved for drive-ups and well, things change from day to day. People cancel or pull up stakes and move on before their reservation is up etc. We always have been lucky on that count. Plus small rigs get squeezed in here and there where the big guys won't fit. The A/S seems to bring a smile wherever it goes too and I guess that helps.

It's all part of the adventure. If you are near Daytona or St. Augustine, there is a beautiful place right on the ocean called Gamble Rogers. They just opened up more sites on the Intracoastal side. Wide open last week when we went through to check it out, ocean side was pretty full though.

That said, ALL FLA campgrounds are Beauty-ous !

 

Maybe some input on two trailers. The two we are looking at are the Starcraft 17xth vs the Gulf Stream track & trail 17rthse.

Starcraft 17xth

• Single axle
• Bunkbeds upfront
• Pop out bed on drivers side
• Smaller fridge
• A/c is on the side rather than the roof

 

My wife and I got a travel trailer last year. It's a Rockwoood A122S that we use. It's a collapsible hard side pop up meaning there is no canvas. Just hard sided walls that pop up into a triangle shape. Literally takes 30 seconds to put up. We got that so it helps with the mpgs. I get an average about 15mpg when towing it. It weighs about 2100-2200lbs when dry. It has a microwave, 3 way fridge (electric, battery, or gas) solar panel ready, hot water heater, sink, cable hookups, outside shower, ac/heat pump, gas furnace for nights that are too cold for heat pump, fresh water storage, trailer brakes, the whole works.

You mention generator which would be nice but this doesn't require one for shorter trips. It has a single battery but has room for dual setup. It charges when it's plugged into the truck plus the heat and fridge can run off of gas. In warmer days you can open the windows for a breeze plus the fan on top. Worse case you can plug in a solar panel to keep the battery charged. It doesn't require a WDH, but I may consider one as it is a little tongue heavy. It doesn't sway too bad but there is a little sag on the truck. Insurance costs about $125/year for full coverage on it through Progressive. For two people with dogs, it works. Heated queen size bed on one end, dinner table in the other that converts into a full size. We've had four people with two dogs in it with no problem.

We generally use state parks and KOA campgrounds that are all over the US and Cananda. We normally book them ahead of time but only by a few days or that same week. State parks are usually cheaper but the KOA is fair priced. Here is what it looks like. Let me know if this is something you would consider and have any questions:


Here it is hooked up to my old 2011. I pull it with a 2016 now with zero problems.