looking at getting this built custom...

28 foot bumper pull, 2 6000 pound axles.... 16' flat deck, 12' living quarters I figure my buggy will be 120" wb, with 49's so 14 feet outside tire to tire. Should fit nice and snug on there...

looks good to me :) does your tow rig prohibit making the trailer a gooseneck?

a GN will be easier to manuver,not to mention you could get some extra sleeping quarters above the tongue

Looks good, but your door will have to open inward if you want to be able to access the inside with the rig on the trailer :D

Grant

looks good, personally I would go with 8,000lb axles - but hey, that's just me I like overkill. :laughing:

One consideration on the wall seperating the two areas. Ask them how much it would weigh if they made it strong enough to hold back the rig in the back. So in the event it got loose and tried rolling forward/backward a little bit it won't come in to your living space at least.

going 6000 pound axles b/c i figure the rig will weigh 5500, the cabin/trailer 5500. so 11000 which is my towing limit anyways.... maybe going to 7000 pound axles would not hurt.... i have a diesel excursion so goose neck is not an option, but believe me i wish it was... as far as the tires going through the wall. the wall will not be strong enough to stop the rig, but i think what i am going to do is weld/bolt a wheel bar on there once i get it. I want to finish building the rig before I do it though, so I can make sure I have it on there the way I want. If I have them put that in, I might end up with the buggy off the back of the trailer, or I might end up with it a little more forward than I want...

looks good to me, gooseneck would be much better, think about how much tongue weight you will have without the buggy on the back I would add some tool boxes under the frame for tie downs,etc two 6000 lb axles seems a little light go with two 8000 lb or three 6000 lb might sound like overkill but by the time everthing is done and loaded with water tanks coolers etc the weight always ends up more than you planed overkill is good to have if you end up in a hurry to get somewere and are driveing a little to fast at max load

No kidding on the weight.

We loaded up a jeep on a trailer on my 1/2 ton truck, plus a bunch of spares, tires, etc. Now, it didn't look like much, but when we got done, even with the 2,500lb overloads the truck was sagging good.

We started adding up the weights and figured that GCVW was in the neighborhood of 15,000lbs.

For that size I believe your trailer will be over 5500lbs. For a 28ft deck what size frame are you going to use? My 20ft deckover with two 14K axles weighs in over 5k, but I did over-build it a bit.

For that size I believe your trailer will be over 5500lbs. For a 28ft deck what size frame are you going to use? My 20ft deckover with two 14K axles weighs in over 5k, but I did over-build it a bit.

I meant two 7K axles (dexter torsion)

The trailer company makes a 28 foot enclosed with that kitchen on the front and the entire thing weighs 5250, and is rated for 15000 total with load. The trailer is built stong enough for 15000 pounds, and I am using less than half the enclosed space, so I figure I will weight NO more than the 5250, and maybe less....

I added a set of Firestone airbags to my Excursion. It helps with the extra load.

Looks good. Be carefulthough how wide your rig is that is the only thing that I am having a problem with. Running Dana 60's and tires makes it a tight fit. I am trying to avoid putting smaller tires on to haul and then putting the regular tires back on when we get to the location. How much to custom build?

Looks really nice.. wonder if I could get the wife to let me take out a loan for one?? :D :D
Scott

the buggy will be 99-101" wide I think running mog U1300's and 49" iroks....

How much to custom build?


i will let you know, they are working on the quote now

looks good to me, gooseneck would be much better, think about how much tongue weight you will have without the buggy on the back I would add some tool boxes under the frame for tie downs,etc

I think you missed the part where he said he has an Excursion.


Cool build, looking foward to seeing it done:)

the buggy will be 99-101" wide I think running mog U1300's and 49" iroks....
legal width is 102" without and over sized load permit. at 101" wide, it would be kind of a bitch loading that thing on a legal width trailer.

the trailer will be 102. The tires are 49" iroks, so they are 21 inches wide. I tried to get my backspacing to land me right arround 98-100" wide... Which I hope makes it easy to load onto the trailer. Just lean out the driver seat, if I can see the trailer I need to go a little left, if I cant, go a little right... :-)

Just out of curiosity how big are the fresh water, grey water, and black water tanks?

somewhere between 40/20/20 and 50/27/27

RV loans are tax deductible ;)

Looks really nice.. wonder if I could get the wife to let me take out a loan for one?? :D :D
Scott

loans suck, pay cash even tax deductable loans cost you more than no loan

Loans suck? Depends how good you are at math and you're sack size on the risk meter. :D

Say ya had $10,000 you planned to spend on ye ol' RV.

You could:

1. Pay cash for it... resulting in a cash asset reduction of the $10k, an increase in a depreciating property asset which will instantly become worth less than the 10k new price, and you get no income tax benefit. You do get to play worry free though... no debt... just some cost.

2. Get a loan for $10k at oh... say... 7% and use someone elses money to obtain said RV of which the interest is decuctible on your income tax as a second home, take the $10k and drop it in a reasonably proven low risk mutual fund of your choice... there's a only a kajillion of them out there that will earn 10% or better over the life of your RV note. When it's all said and done, you've borrowed money at a cost of 7% while earning on the same amount borrowed at 10% or better while getting a little tax relief at the same time. This assumes you have the cash flow to cover the note and don't need to use the $10k... plus you have to suck it up and worry about covering debt and monitoring the investment.

EDIT: Even if you didn't have the cash flow and had to use sip off the 10k invested to cover the note... you'd still be ahead in the end.

At the end of the loan period.

Option 1. You'd have an RV worth probably less than the 10K you paid for it.

Option 2. You'd have the same plus the 3% plus worth of earnings difference between the note cost and the investment less any adjustment for using the 10k overtime... PLUS the tax benefit.


My free financial advice of the day.:flipoff2:

Being the financial analytical nerd that I am... I ran the numbers.
10k note at 7% for 36 months would cost about $1,115 in interest.
10k earning 10% for the same period with a depletion of $308 each month to cover the loan would earn about $1,696.

Therefore... if your investment was wise and achieved a 10% return over the 3 years... you would have $580-ish increase in cash less some tax on that income plus the benefit of deducting the $1,115 of interest cost on your income taxes over the 3 years. The risk is it's a short period of time which might have market dips preventing a 10% return. But think of this way... if your investement only achieved 7%, you'd still be ahead.

A minimal but measurable advantage to consider. Not much in this example... but when I show people who think they need to pay off their houses in 15 years verses 30... it's an eye opener for them :eek: .

somewhere between 40/20/20 and 50/27/27


How many days do they say that will last for?

I understand your logic on the loan thing. And your math is right, but it is all based on the assumption that you will make 10% in the market. If we go to war with Iran, or north korea, or another major terrorist attack is conducted against the US, the market will not be kind. If things get works in IRAQ or afganistan, the market will not be kind. There are a lot of variables in the world today that make "investing the money in the market" not a safe thing. The times are not what they used to be.... I do invest in the market, I am also moving in 9 months and buying a house. I have made money and lost money in the market. There is NO investment that gaurentees 10% return. If there was, everyone would jump on board. And if over the 3 years, the market corrects or dips, I loose out twice as bad as if I just paid cash.... My parents were the kind of people that were risk adverse, they paid thier home off AS FAST AS POSSIBLE, and they dont regret it. They could have made more money if the had invested it in the late 80's early 90's, but at the same time, if they invested it in early 2000-2001 they would have gotten rocked.... Slow and steady wins the race, a balace of risk and save investments might not give the biggest return, but it wont be the biggest loss... It is a nice feeling to not have a monthly bill. Who knows, maybe I will borrow for it, doubt it, but maybe

How many days do they say that will last for?


who knows, depends on how many 6 gallon showers I take, and how many times I take a crap.

going 6000 pound axles b/c i figure the rig will weigh 5500, the cabin/trailer 5500. so 11000 which is my towing limit anyways.... maybe going to 7000 pound axles would not hurt.... i have a diesel excursion so goose neck is not an option, but believe me i wish it was... as far as the tires going through the wall. the wall will not be strong enough to stop the rig, but i think what i am going to do is weld/bolt a wheel bar on there once i get it. I want to finish building the rig before I do it though, so I can make sure I have it on there the way I want. If I have them put that in, I might end up with the buggy off the back of the trailer, or I might end up with it a little more forward than I want...

Have you replaced the factory hitch? I would seriously look into Reunel Mfg for a replacement rear bumper/hitch which is rated for 15k,....far superior to the vehicles wieght ratings. The stock hitch is only rated for 10k with load distribution. Load distribution doesnt work on the gravel switchbacks I tow up with my Dodge now let alone the Excursion I used to have. I went with the Ruenel bumper on my 20' 12k trailer with 5k rig. You're going to have alot of tongue weight with that sketch unless you get an engineer to figure out where to put the axles to minimize tongue wieght. Trailer and trail rig wieghed in at 9350 loaded up,....so plan on more with a 28' with sleeping quaters.

I am planning on 11000 pounds total trailer weight. The factory diesel excursion hitch is not removable according to the service manual, and is rated for 11000 pounds with a WD hitch, which I will get.... The 28 foot enclosed (15000 rated) fully enclosed weighs 5200 empty... I am going to have less than have the enclosed space, so I am guessing the weight will be a little less, but close.. Add 40 gallons of water, 320 pounds, 2 propane tanks 40 pounds my 5000-5500 pound buggy, and you are right at 11000. Maybe a a little more.... depending on how much stuff I stick in it.... You got me thinking though.... I checked with trailer guy, and he said no one makes a hitch for the excursion

a quick search of the internet shows no upgraded hitches for the excursion. I will run a WD hitch and get airbags if I need too...

as far as the tongue weight, you are right, I am a little worried. The only way I can see making it work is to get the tounge weight arround 1200 or so with no buggy, and have the center of the axle pair right at 8 feet from the back of the deck, which would allow the buggy to straddle the axles, holding all its weight and keeping the tongue weight constant regardless of if the buggy is onboard or not...

a quick search of the internet shows no upgraded hitches for the excursion. I will run a WD hitch and get airbags if I need too...

as far as the tongue weight, you are right, I am a little worried. The only way I can see making it work is to get the tounge weight arround 1200 or so with no buggy, and have the center of the axle pair right at 8 feet from the back of the deck, which would allow the buggy to straddle the axles, holding all its weight and keeping the tongue weight constant regardless of if the buggy is onboard or not...

Here is a BADASS hitch and bumper combo that is rated for 15k. The hitch on the excursion is removeable,...just requires a grinder for 2 of the 6 bolts as they grind off the head to prevent you from removing it. Something to do with it acting as a crossmember for a passenger vehicle (regulatory shit) Drill or grind out the two bolts with no head and remove the other 4 and you're good to go with the Ruenel bumper these guys make >>>> http://www.reunel.com/

here's a pic on my old Ex

well, originally I was told in the 10-12k price range. Turned out they wanted 17500 before taxes or anything, so wife said fock no. So I ordered a 20 foot 102" wide flat deck from Aaron Aka Trailer Guy today... 6000 pound axles, bull dog coupler, 12x2 brakes on all 4 wheels, led lights, ramps, box on the front, reverse lights, bull dog side winder jack with the pin to release and drop down the leg... sooooo, no living quarters, but it will be enough to yank this buggy all over the country....