[Roady]

The down sides are... it sucks gas like crazy. 6 mpg to 10 mpg. Depending
on load, conditions and how you drive...it cost $65K new....you have to
take it everwhere as opposed to unhitching the pickup and driving into
town. It's another big engine you'll have to maintain that's dedicated
to the RV.. unlike the pickup you can use for work, etc.

Don't forget insurance ... just paid the insurance for my travel trailer of $120 for the year ... guessing a motorhome is a bit more for tags, insurance and maintenance.

[nowazzu]

You'll hear 2 sides of the 1/2 ton truck argument. The fact is, a 1/2 ton truck can tow a lot of trailers. The real question is: How long will it tow it before you trash a tranny, chew through brakes and basically wear the thing out. I went the 1/2 ton route, up to a 3/4 ton and finally a 1 ton before I "got it". Hell, I'm thinking I may need to upgrade to a MDT just to tow my current trailer for a long time.

[Mr Smith]

My rig. It can be a bit cramped if we have to stay inside but I only have one kid left whos 15...Then its all ours. And like whats been said earlier...Its a helluva lot better then camping in a tent... WW FK1900

[KevinM]

The down sides are... it sucks gas like crazy. 6 mpg to 10 mpg. Depending
on load, conditions and how you drive...it cost $65K new....you have to
take it everwhere as opposed to unhitching the pickup and driving into
town. It's another big engine you'll have to maintain that's dedicated
to the RV.. unlike the pickup you can use for work, etc.

Don't forget insurance ... just paid the insurance for my travel trailer of $120 for the year ... guessing a motorhome is a bit more for tags, insurance and maintenance.

I think the insurance on the RV is about $500 per year. It's lower than a typical vehicle because they estimate the annual milage to be low... about 5000 miles per year.

One other nice thing about some of the Toy Haulers.. even the Ultra-light ones.. is the built-in fuel station and air compressor. Forget which one offered those options.

So far I'm liking the Class RV path. Though I wish I had more driveway space for it.

[palmrider230]

Cant you use a trailer as a income tax write-off,thats what the RV dealers were telling me?

[KevinM]

Cant you use a trailer as a income tax write-off,thats what the RV dealers were telling me?

Yes. If you finance it, the interest is like that of a second mortgage, being that it's a Home... of a sort.

pics of our RV from an old thread.

[Mr Smith]

Yes, its like your home.

[Asmith]

Yes, its like your home.

Especially if you live in a mobile home...

[palmrider230]

If I live in my car is that the same?

[hawkster]

We didn't get the toy hauler but got a 24 ft tow trailer. Two bikes in the truck. Bought a nice set of ramps so I can ride on/off the bed. About 7500 lbs with bikes so towable by 1/2 ton I guess. But I got the Dodge Cummins diesel since I am thinking about upgrading the trailer in, er, retirement.

[Roady]

But I got the Dodge Cummins diesel since I am thinking about upgrading the trailer in, er, retirement.

Good call ... you can't get too much truck but you can get too little.

[bmtz14]

With an unmodified 1/2 ton truck, you'll be limited on the size of toybox to something around 21 feet. You can probably go to about about a 25-26ft with air bags and lower gearing. Aluminum sided trailers weigh less than fiberglass anywhere from 300 to 700 pounds depending on trailer length. Unfortunately, toybox manufacturers weigh the trailer as a bare box, before installing beds, cabinets, appliances, etc. They do this to get a lower declared weight so that they can sell bigger trailers to those with 1/2 ton trucks and SUV's. Prior to buying a trailer, take it to a certified truck scale and compare the actual weight with the declared weight to insure that the trailer will not overload the vehicle's tow capacity.

[Mr Smith]

Prior to buying a trailer, take it to a certified truck scale and compare the actual weight with the declared weight to insure that the trailer will not overload the vehicle's tow capacity.

This is good advice and all but what dealer really lets you hook up to a trailer you havent signed papers on and tow it to a scale? Im thinking thats highly unlikely.

[2wheel-lee]

Although it doesn't sound like an issue on this board, many guys on some of the other boards (for the Dodge Turbo Diesel) run overloaded.

If you're considering risking your life and others by running overloaded, please read a bit of this thread on another board; you may think otherwise. http://www.glamisdunes.com/invision/ind ... opic=24262

I used to pull a 4000 pound trailer behind a '98 Dodge Ram 1500 with 500 pounds in the bed, and I didn't care for it. It pulled it ok, and when the trailer brakes worked, it stopped ok, but I think it wasn't so great. I couldn't imagine having another 4k back there. That's why I stepped it up to a 2500 with the CTD.

[new2crf]

I have a 24 foot Ragen and is about 5,500 dry. I pull it with a 2500 chevy 6.0L . The only problem is it sucks the gas. I have used my 1/2 ton it pull it around town it did ok. Just wish I had the chevy 2500 with the DM.