Need New Tow Rig for the Ultimate ToyHauler

[FarmerMatt]

We went by Bill Wyrick's in Los Banos last spring & had him build us a Toy Hauler. It came out beautifully, but it's a heavy bitch. 31 foot bumper pull on air ride axles with 4 wheel disc brakes. We've been pulling it with the wifes bombed 7.3L X (Banks 6 gun, 4" exhaust, Tymar intake). I'm looking for a new work truck coming this fall. It's going to be 3/4 ton & diesel, but I wanted to see what pro's & cons you guys have that are running the various trucks (Chevy, Dodge, Ford). I need a crew cab & the dodge seems a little tight. I like the ford, but I'm leary of the 6.0L. I think the new Chevy is fugly, but is the durmax a good puller? Here's what I'm pulling...

http://home.earthlink.net/~pigie/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/toyhauler.jpg

[Po' riggity]

Go One ton.. If you need room the dodge is a LITTLE tight, but its not that bad.. I can fit 3 adults back there, and they all ride comfy usually. I like my 04.5 CTD 600 quad cab 2500, but for something like that, Id recommend just going one ton.
Scott

[ramv]

There is a larger cab Dodge (Mega Cab) for '06. The old Dodge cab is much tighter then the Chevy and Ford btu the Mega cab is actually bigger.

The new Dmax has 340hp/650 ft-lb torque, the old ones towed well, I'm sure the new ones will be better. Plus they have an extra overdrive (0.61:1).

The later Ford 6.0s seem to be doing okay, but you will want deep gears, as they aren't the pulling machines of the Dmax/CTD.

Any of the three is fine, but I would recommend SRW 1 ton at the least. Really no downside in the ford or the Dodge to get the upgraded truck, in the Chevy you get stuck with a long bed though.

The Ford has a 15k/1500lb hitch if you get the dually, the Chevy is 12000/1500lb and the Dodge is 12000/1200.

[TR]

actually from what i saw its going to have 360 hp and 650 ftlbs of torque with the 6 speed auto. Damn, i wonder what ford and dodge have up there sleeve to compete with this.

[u2slow]

The previous owner of my folks place had horses. He had a toy hauler type setup for shows, etc. He pulled with a Freightliner sport chassis crewcab. ;)

[SolidAxleDurango]

While youre deciding on a new truck... Howzabout some details (pics) of the hauler??!!

[ramv]

actually from what i saw its going to have 360 hp and 650 ftlbs of torque with the 6 speed auto. Damn, i wonder what ford and dodge have up there sleeve to compete with this.

My bad. 360 hp.

The 6spd is the same first 5 gears of the Allison + the .61.

[FarmerMatt]

Was in town just a bit ago & swung by the chevy place... The 06 d-max is listing 310hp & 605lbs torque? Either way it's more than my wifes 7.3 Excursion. The 6 speed Allison sounds very nice. The X pulled the trailer pretty well, but more power would be very nice. I did end up having to run air bags on the back even with running 1400lbs torsion bars. I'm not sure I'd want to bounce around my dirt roads all day long in a 1 ton. I'll probably just get a 3/4 ton & air bag it if needed (more than likely). Thanks for all the info on the trucks.

I couldn't find a toyhauler on the market that would handle my jeep. I ran across Automate & found out the guy was pretty much local to me. Gave him a call & met with him at their factory in Los Banos. We told him what we're wanting to haul & how big it was & he took it from there. They built the chasis & floor heavier with more cross members. We upgraded the suspension to ride leveling air bags & upgraded the brakes to 4 wheel disc. The air ride is really nice as we can level the trailer side to side after getting to camp with the flip of a switch. The axles are rated @ 8000lbs ea. & we went with load range "G" tires. We got to design the interior with a front queen master bedroom & corner shower. We ended up with 15' from the back door to the first counter top. We just eeked out the rear drop down bed although it's mounted higher than they usually mount them. It's got a 30gal fuel station along with a 5500 watt generator. It was very nice in the monsoon rains of last year down in the dessert... I don't have any good pics of the inside, but we built it to hold a full bodied XJ. I normally put my XJ buggy in it.

Matt
http://home.earthlink.net/~pigie/sitebuildercontent/sitebuilderpictures/catangleview.jpg

[ChiXJeff]

I can personally attest that FarmerMatt's toyhauler is pretty impressive.

Don't count the ride of the 1 ton pickups out. Dad's 99 Dodge 3500 DRW rides nicer empty than the older 3/4 ton Chevys he always had. At least take one out for a spin.

[joez]

Was in town just a bit ago & swung by the chevy place... The 06 d-max is listing 310hp & 605lbs torque? Either way it's more than my wifes 7.3 Excursion. The 6 speed Allison sounds very nice.

2006.5 is when the D-max gets the power increase, should be available shortly, 4th quarter of 2005 IIRC. Peak torque is also down to 1600 RPM's as well, the motor should tow great.

[baddaddy]

Hey FarmerMatt -We just bought a 2004 Toymate 31a this July. Fit & finish on these things are impeccable! I have only towed it 4 times so far with my 1996 F350 460/5sp, 4.10s, Banks Powerpack, MSD. It is a heavy trailer for sure but not enough to make me need a diesel -yet. I only load 2 big Kawasaki ATVs and my wifes supplies (you know what that weighs!). Not sure if I'll ever try to load the FJ40. I'd need a diesel for sure then. Did you get the aluminum frame? Do you know your actual dry weight on the Toymate? Just asking 'cause I can't find the RVIA sticker on mine.

[FarmerMatt]

Haven't weighed it, too lazy. My frame is 2x6 steel. Did you custom order or buy from a dealer? I just heard that he's gone chapter 11 bankrupt (reorganization). They've been around a long time, but maybe not much longer...

Thanks Jeff. I'll take one for a hot lap.

Matt

[baddaddy]

Bought it off a dealer in Martinez. Bigger than I wanted. They sold it as a used unit but apparently the original owner got sick before it was ever used. 15000 btu a/c, bigger fridge, aluminum frame, ramp room, 36 gal fuel station & other stuff for $20,500 otd. Couldn't pass it up! When I picked it up I had the tongue weighed and it was 1400 lbs. I also heard Automate was no longer in business and these Toymates were Wyrick and Gamels attempt to save the company. Also heard nothing but good things about Automate products. We camp alot at Lawson's Landing at the beach and always have people stopping by to check out the rig. We love it!

[Bill Collins]

dodge will have the megacab out this fall,the bed is a little short.but it looks like a nice truck...