Larry Gude

Thought about that and I would like that I am not double towing. But, I don't think it would offer enough room and storage. A 40' 5th wheel toy hauler loses 12-14' to the garage which is fine as my intention is to use it as an extra room when set up, park the bikes outside. A 40' C or A toy hauler loses the garage space plus the cab space. Plus, if the truck needs to be in the shop for a few days, the house has to go with it.

sounds like you'd be better off with a Conversion Truck / Garage Coach & flat towing the jeep.

Larry,

 

For what it is worth, I have a Weekend Warrior CR3905 (TH) and have a 2008 JK Wrangler. The Toyhauler handles the jeep with no problems, as long as you are aware of Gross Weight. Prior to undertaking this, I had the fortune of being able to talk to the former Lead Engineer that designed the Weekend Warrior later models and he said that most of the big name toy haulers can handle something like an average (2 Door) Wrangler, BUT, people tend to NOT take the time to get actual weights of all the items being loaded, in addition to something like a Jeep, and wind up overloading the trailer through a whole lot of guessing.

 

I have been hauling my TH with a F-350 Ford Super Duty 4x4 Dually Crew Cab and have a lot of experience owning and driving Class 8 trucks. Even though the F-350 still meets the criteria to handle the TH, on paper, I can tell you that I am in the process of selling the F-350 and buying something that will be total overkill for the job.

 

If you are going to be doing much in the way of off pavement driving and go for a Class 8 truck, I would recommend keeping the truck tandem and dualed out, as well as installing the widest practical steer tires.

 

John

Hi John,

Are you saying the WW (and most of the big name haulers) can handle a Jeep loaded inside or are strong enough to double tow? That seems like an awful lot to ask of the ones I have looked at, garaging inside. But, I have not looked at them in a comprehensive fashion so, I don't know.

The thing I keep going around in circles with my self is using the tow vehicle to get around in once the trailer is set up OR having that extra vehicle. Jack, and others, comfortably use their HDT to get get groceries, run errands, etc and I am fine with that. And I do like the idea of the truck being an overnighter 'mini' RV. And, of course, love the idea of having the power to climb any grade at speed AND stop it. And, frankly, it's just cool as all get out to be riding long miles in a big, comfortable truck.

However, I also like the idea of having a dually 4 wd pick up as the tow vehicle where I can throw some dirt bikes in the back and get out in the bush where the HDT ain't gonna be able to go, to go riding, day trips which I could not do with a jeep. Unless I had a trailer for the Jeep. Which then adds another substantial piece of gear to consider.

My intent is to set up shop for 3-6 months at a time and live and explore areas, thoroughly, before moving on so, I am thinking that perhaps the day to day plus's of having a dually pickup for non towing purposes might make up for it's shortcomings as a tow vehicle vs. the HDT. I would absolutely lean the other way if I was moving every other week and intending on putting many thousands of miles on per year.

Now, that said, I would also like to spend some time 'following' events. For instance, if I was escaped right now, I would be following the motorcross circuit from track to track. Last week, they were in SoCal, this past weekend, NorCal and next week off to Colorado, then Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Upstate New York, Maryland, then ending in Utah. THAT would virtually demand an HDT.

So, that brings me back, again, to an HDT, have the dirt bikes on the deck along with a lot of the tools, etc, 5th wheel toy hauler, carrying/towing a jeep plus the street bike (another 800 pounds), figuring out how to store a small trailer that could handle a couple of dirt bikes OR, perhaps, look at a garaging a, say, Tacoma or even a F150 pick up. A Jeep is damn near 5,000 pounds. a full size 4wd pickup isn't much more and a Tacoma looks like it is a little less and certainly weighs no more than a Jeep.

Double towing presents it's own set of challenges which brought about the idea of garaging that vehicle, be what it may so, it's good to know that, potentially, it might not be a cu$tom thing to be able to garage it if WW and other major 5th wheel toy haulers could handle the weight.

I apologize for this endless meandering but, I need to get my plan set so I can narrow in and start piecing it together.

Thanks!

Thanks Rickeieio for the insight . DW & I got a good chuckle. Larry, I would use the Pete full time pulling freight and then pull 5th part time it summer and then take the 5th south for the winter and then go back to pulling freight box in the spring .Are their people doing this, and are they using the same 5th wheel or switching them out ?

That sounds like a reasonable way to make enough to work part of the year and play part of the year. How does what you can earn stack up against the costs of using your own truck?

Hi Folks

Iam a lurker also . Iam in a slightly different situation that most that I have read about here ,I already have a 2000 Peterbilt 379 long hood, 230 WB full tandem,that I have put on 1.2 million miles on since I bought it new. I am still using it on the highway but would like to start using it part time or to take long trips with . We do not have a trailer at this time,but have been looking and have found a 2002 Hitch Hiker Premier 38 FT that we like .My concern is will it be to long to move around a camp ground ? i know the Pete does not turn like a Volvo . Are there folks still using HDT for double purpose and how is it working for them? Is a 2002 (1 owner) trailer to old ? Any info would be great, Thanks John

Hi JD, are you talking about using your truck for work, towing someone elses cargo and also using it to pull your trailer? Being a full timer who makes ends meet as a truck driver, finding local work as you move about the country? That sounds like it might be a good idea, too.

Why not buy something like this.....plenty room for bike, jeep & more....lots of capacity w/ great power.

 

http://www.racingjunk.com/Toterhomes/182153810/2012-SHOWHAULER-AND-TRAILER-COMBO.html

 

Wow! Way outside my budget and I KNOW I ain't boondocking anywhere NOT on asphalt!

Taking several bikes AND a Jeep is always going to be problematic. With a truck/trailer you have to tow doubles or you have to be overlength - assuming you want a reasonable living space. I'd rather be overlength given the two options.

 

Another consideration is a DP towing an enclosed trailer with your "stuff". You may still be overlength, though, depending on the DP. OR, make that DP a truck conversion and tow a trailer. A stacker trailer may make you a bit shorter if the bikes will load above the Jeep.

DP = Diesel pusher?

The goal is to have a 'car', ideally a jeep, to get around locally OR the dually pick up. The Ford you mentioned, on paper, or the Dodge, seem like possibilities. Bikes in toy hauler.

Unless there is a clearance issue between the bed and fiver there is no reason to avoid a pickup bed if one is available on the truck you want.

Okay, thanks.

The larger the HDT (lengthwise) the less useful it is as a daily driver. ANYTHING can be done, but it becomes more annoying as you approach 30'. That is why my Volvo 610 was built as short as it was. I could carry ONE motorcylce on it, but nothing else. It was designed that way on purpose, and it turned well within an F350 dually. I would not do that today. Today, any truck I built would be able to carry a smart. Even if you have no intention of using a smart, resale will be much better. The current smart requires 70" of deck space. The new one will require 75", assuming the rumors on its size are true.

I thought about the jeep crosswise on the truck, as per the smart but, obviously, at 12 plus feet, that ain't gonna fly. Thus, the heavy duty garage as, per your comments on your site, I don't wanna tow double.

So, the issue at present; a dually p/u, daily driver, smaller (much smaller?) coach or the HDT, mega garage and put the bikes on the truck where the smart car would go.

Welcome to both eddiedjr and Larry Gude. Glad you stopped in.

 

Pull up a chair and we'll throw more info at you than you can absorb. Some of it might even be useful.

 

Larry, take the truck on days that are too nasty for the bikes. What type of bike(s)?

Street and dirt.

Presuming on off sight gig, I'd absolutely ride as much as possible to and from. Heck, I even grocery shop now, as much as is practical, with the big bike. Dog food days, not so much. LOL

And that's the thing; Mr. Mayer's site says they use their HDT (IIRC) for a daily driver and I have no real problem with that as long as my mind isn't wondering and I head into a drive through. But, a dually seems like much more practical assuming a pick up bed.

Which leads to my next question; for a larger 5th, is a pick up bed not the done thing?

Thanks for the welcome! I just got news today that may well put me on the road within a year so, I intend to be a pest!

A nice HDT is going to be a lot less money than an MDT and I just don't think you are going to get any fiver on a 4x4 MDT I've seen unless you are willing to shave a couple feet off the bedroom height. Dig into the IH numbers and get a good idea of frame rail heights, even with a fully recessed hitch and no truck bed you do not want less than 6" between frame rails and gooseneck bottom for street use. Off level pavement I can tell you from learning the hard way 8" IS NOT enough, crinked my pickup bed and fiver just making a U-turn on a slope that the 2wd truck had no issues with.

 

On off-road use with the trailer you will be surprised at the amount of drag six wheels carrying 15,000 plus has when the soil turns soft. We had an MDT and two pickups harnessed together to snake out a much lighter two axle fiver from the flat but soft desert outside Q. I watched some folks dig a 10x15 foot hole two to three feet deep on a hillside once, it was tougher than you'd think because all but the outside edge was under their rig holding the wheels off the ground. Took them a few days but they seemed to have gotten it off, the tracks went from the pit directly to the closest road. Measure your front and rear fiver ground clearance and calculate your approach angles very carefully as repairs once you have dug out are expensive and fiver bellies are very vulnerable.

 

Personally I'd scout a route to a campsite in something smaller but heavy enough to give you an idea of the ground's weight bearing ability, pay particular attention to getting turned around, more than one driver has gotten into a spot that getting back out of was very difficult. Another issue is rain, it isn't uncommon to find your dry spot under the fiver and truck are the only places that will support their weight, stay parked until it dries out or with for it to dry and then start digging. Think about the size hole you'll need under the fiver to get it back to firm ground and out of the truck's ruts.

 

I haven't driven a modern 4x4 MDT but on an older generation the rear drive ones were much easier on the spine and arms, you might want to check that out too. Make sure to throw in some low speed sharp turns going forward and back as well as normal street driving.

Good lord! So, basically, I need to hire you as my project manager.

You are not going very far offroad with a large New Horizons toyhauler...one large enough to carry a new Jeep. So do not expect to boondock way out in the desert because if the ground is at all rough, you are not going there. Also, make sure whoever you are working with at New Horizons knows the REAL weight of the Jeep you intend. It will be in excess of 4500lbs. Probably more like 5500 if it is a new 4-door set up for offroad.

Thanks.

What might I consider the limit, trailer wise, for toy hauler boon docking in a non jeep mother ship model? This is my dilemma; I KNOW I wanna do some boon docking, good sized garage (12 foot+) but, maybe that's just not realistic with a 4wd dually pick up?

The Jeep would not be a 4 door nor new. From some Jeep forums, I got 4,000# as a decent ball park for a basic rag top jeep with moderate size tires and not outfitted for Mad Max.

Thanks! (love your site, by the way. TONS of good info!)

Hi folks,

Lurking to try and piece together my plan.

Intend to get into full timing in the not too distant future, spending 3-6 months in a place at a time, move with the season, the mood or work. Plan on doing camp work or whatever I can find that is interesting and fun and ZERO stress. I need a lifestyle change and think I am ready for it.

Plan 1 was a toy hauler (motorcycles) for the extra room and pull it with a 350 4wd dually to be used as work truck/grocery getter when weather or need wouldn't allow bike riding.

Plan 1.1 became something bigger when I learned that a 350 (3500) what have you, simply ain't enough truck for a good sized 5th wheel.

So, now, I am trying to evaluate MDT v HDT and having a stout enough garage (New Horizons says they can do it, easy) to carry a jeep or similar as 'the car' and put the bikes on the truck as per the smart car's I have seen.

I don't want fancy. Just durable and reliable. Plan on boondocking at times which was part of the reason for a 350/dually 4wd pick up but, again, unless I seriously down size, that does not sound like it is remotely feasible.

In any event, hello all and trying to read y'alls every word!