I was thinking of getting a toy hauler to use for 4-wheeling and camping in the summer. I was wondering if anyone uses a toy hauler in the winter for sledding. Is there any issues with camping at a trail head? I was looking at the Work and Play toy haulers, which are like an enclosed trailer. Any thoughts?
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Anyone use a Toy Hauler for sledding?
- Thread starter mn_mxz
- Start date
fusionfool
New member
We had a Dutchman toy hauler a few years back. I would not suggest using it on the salty roads during the winter. Too expensive of a trailer to get soaked with road salt, the frame will start to rust within the first year. We had the enclosed underbelly but that would not stop the spray from entering to the frame. I ended up selling after a lot of sanding, and re-painting.
I would never do it again.
I would never do it again.
I have a few buds whose kids race snocross and they all have the toy haulers they all have rusty frames they are nice to have to camp in the pits all weekend. but with the cost of lodging not being that expensive in most northern small towns don't know if it is worth the gas hauling a extra 3500lbs or more.I think about it if some one is building a alloy one though.they are great at places like hay days my bud has the whole back done with screen for summer and plexiglass that opens big enough to bring a sled in so you can watch races and action from the warmth of the trailer
fusionfool
New member
A couple of other items that are worth mentioning.
Be sure you have a good vehicle to pull with. If you get a fifth wheel I suggest a full size 3/4 ton or larger. You want as long of wheel base as possible for good control on ice.
I would not recommend a travel trailer style, as they are not as stable as the fifth wheel to begin with. Keep in mind all the weight is going to be toward the rear. This makes towing different than the normal trailer.
Once you get used to it, no problem, but be careful on ice until you know the way it pulls, and how it will stop. The biggest scare was the first time the trailer brakes locked up on ice, on a downward hill, with an intersection at the bottom of the hill. You would think the trailer would keep you going straight, but it didn't. The trailer was starting to come around. Thankfully it hit the loose plowed snow on the shoulder and helped me stop.
Best of luck however you decide to go, drive safe.
Be sure you have a good vehicle to pull with. If you get a fifth wheel I suggest a full size 3/4 ton or larger. You want as long of wheel base as possible for good control on ice.
I would not recommend a travel trailer style, as they are not as stable as the fifth wheel to begin with. Keep in mind all the weight is going to be toward the rear. This makes towing different than the normal trailer.
Once you get used to it, no problem, but be careful on ice until you know the way it pulls, and how it will stop. The biggest scare was the first time the trailer brakes locked up on ice, on a downward hill, with an intersection at the bottom of the hill. You would think the trailer would keep you going straight, but it didn't. The trailer was starting to come around. Thankfully it hit the loose plowed snow on the shoulder and helped me stop.
Best of luck however you decide to go, drive safe.
Thanks for the feedback. The model that I was considering is more like an enclosed trailer with living quarters rather than the normal RV style. So I was not thinking about the rusty frame issue.
Fusionfool, you bring up a good point about the right tow vehicle. It is amazing to see what size trucks people pull the fifth wheels with. My parents used to full time RV and their F350 was to small for their fifth wheel, they pulled it a couple of times and then bought an F550 hauler, much safer.
My thinking on this is that we would like to get an enclosed trailer and also a camper, that's why I was asking about the toy hauler. The more I think about it maybe I should get a pick-up camper and an enclosed trailer. We would more than likely not camp much during the winter so that might be the best option. Ezra you point on lodging cost is right and the extra fuel costs would make everything a wash. Besides it is kind of nice to ride to a nice warm hotel.
Fusionfool, you bring up a good point about the right tow vehicle. It is amazing to see what size trucks people pull the fifth wheels with. My parents used to full time RV and their F350 was to small for their fifth wheel, they pulled it a couple of times and then bought an F550 hauler, much safer.
My thinking on this is that we would like to get an enclosed trailer and also a camper, that's why I was asking about the toy hauler. The more I think about it maybe I should get a pick-up camper and an enclosed trailer. We would more than likely not camp much during the winter so that might be the best option. Ezra you point on lodging cost is right and the extra fuel costs would make everything a wash. Besides it is kind of nice to ride to a nice warm hotel.
tilltheend
New member
Like someone else said most of these are not set-up for salt so some extra protection is required. Second go over to snowest there is some good info on extra heat taping, tank, window insulation ect to keep the plumbing flowing, remember you'll have to keep the heat tape running there and back. And remember the sled melt off issue if you using one with out a seperate compartment and even then stuff a towel under the door or something to protect your carpet up front.
fusionfool
New member
The floor in the garage was diamond plate and we did not get the garage with heated floor. You could break up the ice with a few hits with you boot, the diamond plate would give a bit breaking up the ice on the surface, then it was pretty easy to sweep out with a broom.Just curious what you do when you pull your sleds in and they melt all over the place?
As for the comment about winter packaging, yes we had heated tanks, heat tape wrapped water lines, R12 insulation, heated floors, and as stated above enclosed underbelly. There are many extra's put into a unit like this for full season camping. When done properly winter camping can be quite enjoyable. We used it in temps down to about 15° below and did have some freeze's on the septic. The tank heaters only keep the tank bottom warm. To properly prepare after that incident, we always used one full gal antifreeze in the septic before setting out, then would add another as it would get fuller.
Regardless of how well the unit is built or prepared, they are not for full winter camping, although we did use it for that purpose. The furnace may last one season if you are lucky, we replaced the furnace by the end of February. Found out we could have rebuilt it with a blower motor, and new jets but they had already tore it out, and had already placed the new furnace in.
fusionfool
New member
Our unit a lower level in the garage, and diamond plate up about one foot on the walls. I had to wait and extra 6 months for ours to be built because the company was battling a patent issue with the stepped garage, and drop beaver tail design for less steep ramp.And remember the sled melt off issue if you using one with out a seperate compartment and even then stuff a towel under the door or something to protect your carpet up front.
I have a fifth wheel toy hauler, we camp all winter in the same place, Sturgeon River camp ground in Wolverin Michigan. If you do a search you can find other camp grounds with heated bath house's.
I leave the trailer winterized as they have a heated bath house. I don't use the garage for snowmobile storage , I have a four place enclosed trailer for that. We use the garage as a entry and change point, that way we don't drag snow into the main living area.
If you have an emergency there's a bucket in the bathroom.
I've been doing this for three years and realy enjoy not having to pull a trailer for five hours. also I save a ton of money driving my car up. If I'm going to the U.P. I drive the truck.
I don't have a problem with salt, I keep it there till spring then use it for the atv, then bring it back in the fall for more atv time.
I leave the trailer winterized as they have a heated bath house. I don't use the garage for snowmobile storage , I have a four place enclosed trailer for that. We use the garage as a entry and change point, that way we don't drag snow into the main living area.
If you have an emergency there's a bucket in the bathroom.
I've been doing this for three years and realy enjoy not having to pull a trailer for five hours. also I save a ton of money driving my car up. If I'm going to the U.P. I drive the truck.
I don't have a problem with salt, I keep it there till spring then use it for the atv, then bring it back in the fall for more atv time.