Looking at buyin either an RV or a work and play type trailer. Any help on the pros and cons would be appreciated. it will be used for races and family trips. As far as trailers go I am looking for ideas on what I can pull with a 1/2 ton pick up...Need to get a new truck, but dont want to spend on the 3/4 ton....Any input helpful.....needs to sleep 5 in some form and haul at least 3 bikes...TIA

your options are:
1. motorhome with bike trailer, no vehicle once you arrive. can use toilet and kitchen, beds on the road.
2. toy hauler, can't pull with 1/2 ton truck, bikes will be outside when you need to use rv. gas cans stored inside your trailer and bikes have gas in trailer with refrigerator, stove, water heater and associated flames and fire dangers.
3. Small rv with bikes in back of the truck, bikes uncovered when towing but you can still use rv without unloading bikes etc...
4. Larger RV with small 3 rail behind rv. Hard to back without unhooking 2nd trailer but, extra gear storage in back of truck.
5. Pickup with bikes in back and popup trailer
6. Tent, truck, trailer for bikes, likely already doing this. NO AC.

I've done option 6, and right now I do option 5. Looking to move up to option 3 soon...

Hey Tom,

We are looking into getting a popup before long. Since you have some experience with one what suggestions, advice would you give when looking for a used one.

Thanks,
Brad

Make sure the wood in the top is not rotten. Check the bearings and repack them before you take it too far. The a/c unit with the heater option is nice. Other than that just realize that it will be hot in the summer even if you have a/c, and most likely you won't be able to shower. We bought ours from a consignment place that checked it over before it was resold. (i.e. they checked all the gas lines, and other important items) We might be looking to sell soon.

I would think you could find a small toy hauler that you could pull behind a 1/2 ton truck but not sure ...

if you got an equalizer type hitch with sway protection, that might help with off loading tongue weight but if you get a regular travel trailer (non hauler type), remember with 3 bikes (full size) you will already have about 750 lbs in the bed before hooking on to a trailer and most travel trailers have a pretty heavy tongue weight (equalizer hitch would help). you need to check the GVW on the truck and towing capacity before deciding on what you buy trailerwise. I wouldn't think a 3/4 ton wouldn't be all that much more expensive over a 1/2 ton (relatively speaking) and you get much more heavy duty towing capacity.

either way you go, your fuel consumption while pulling a trailer will be pretty poor unless you opt for a diesel (then you pay more for the vehicle up front and more per gallon for the fuel but should last you much longer with fewer repairs).

while my son was riding the enduro circuit, we opt'd for the bikes in the truck and a tent for the majority of the races since they ranged from 150 to 600 miles from home (80+mph with a RV in tow for 5-8 hours not a good idea). now that he isn't racing for points, and we make family outings, we got a bumper pull 28' travel trailer with slide that says it will sleep 6 (but they better be really friendly in the table and couch converted to beds, so 4 adults comfortably) and can get 3 full size bikes in the truck bed (dodge diesel quadcab longbed 3/4 ton), take the whole family and still average about 14 mpg unless bucking a head wind. we haven't tried 3 bikes and generator yet, but 2 work fine. likewise, for shorter trips, I don't even worry about the equalizer/sway hitch on my 3/4 ton but do use for longer trips. now the wife doesn't mind going with us since she has a traveling conveniences of home (almost).

the toy haulers are a great idea but there are some draw backs as stated earlier, but some do have onboard fuel stations built in, so no gas cans for the bikes needed (so just fumes off the bikes). also onboard generator would be nice too.

likewise, be very leary of tandem towing two trailers and I would only do if the front trailer was a gooseneck/5th wheel. I recall someone posted a year or so back about tandem towing two bumper pull trailers was illegal in TX but I can't find the law on that anywhere.

let us know which route you decide on going...

I have a 28' rv with a motorcycle carrier on the back and i put my 4 wheeler in the pickup. I pull this with my 1/2 ton Z71 with no problems.

What type of motorcycle carrier do you have on the trailer?

I do not remember the braand name but is the type that goes into a receiver hitch and it is mad of alluminim. I had a receiver built for my trailer so i could put my bike on the back. It really works great.

Actually there are several Toy Haulers that work behind a 1/2 ton. I just bought a FK2100 Superlite by Weekend Warrior (04 model) Ragen (owned by WW) makes the same models.

I have pulled it now about 2000 miles. 5.3 and 5.7 liter engines

It has a gvw of 7650, and a Unloaded Veichel weight of 4150 (according to the brochure) I figure it is more like 4500.

My tahoe, and my truck are both rated at 7900 (one driver no gear)

PUt a couple thousand lbs in the trailer, it is 6500, (I figure 4 bikes, water riding gear, and fuel)

and you still have 1000 for the truck (4 overweight guys) or my family at about 600 lbs.

It has a fuel station tank built in that means no gas in the trailer (other than the bikes)

We have pulled it from California empt (no toys, just camping), and last weekend went loaded to a riding park. the Truck strained a bit in the 40 mph head wind, but it also has 180,000 miles on it:)

The Tahoe with the 5.3 pulled it great. I will probably buy a 1/2 ton HD chevy with a 6.0 for the next vehicle, but it works with what I have right now.

Jim