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[RedDevil]

Definitely under $100K.  In fact, with my post above, when I mentioned $100K, that was for a brand new Top of the Line Jayco decked out, and a Chevy LT dually, both with the expected discounts, etc.

If you look at used, say just a couple of year old, you could probably cut the total by another 25% to 40% for the whole package, if you shop carefully and are willing to travel a bit.

I have a 38ft Keystone Raptor (the number one selling Toyhauler in the US), and pull it with a Dodge 2500 Cummins diesel.  I did a lot of research and visiting RV dealerships and look at all the major brand toyhaulers; Jayco, Weekend Warrior, Forrest River etc., and, IMO, the best quality and value for the dollar, was the Keystone Raptor and Keystone Fuzion.  I bought my rig brand new and paid just over $100K for both a new 5th wheel and truck.  I love traveling with them and like TC said, you have more flexibility with a 5th wheel/truck combo than an RV.  Plus when I put the 5th wheel in storage for the winter, I still have the truck to drive.

[porthole]

I also looked at the big toy hauler builders. When we were looking I flew to Elkhart and did factory tours of the four big names, Heartland, KZ, Sunnybrook and Keystone. Any of the others were not in consideration after doing my initial research.

Fit, finish, construction, value etc taken into consideration the Heartland Cyclone came out on top.
At the time I had a GMC 2500HD, so I did not want to change trucks. That dictated a trailer that my truck would handle.

Something I learned, all builders will tell you the trailers can be pulled by 3/4 ton trucks.

What they don't tell you is that you can and most likely will quickly exceed the capacity or at least the comfort level of 3/4 tons.
My trailer (5th wheel 2 axle toy hauler) had a cargo capacity of 1400 pounds when it rolled off the factory floor.

That is quickly used up with supplies & water, not leaving much weight capacity for the garage. Add a bike or two or maybe a bike and cart and you are approaching 18K pounds, more then a 3/4 will handle.

Now I have a 1 ton DRW.

As to buying used versus new. All the brands have made a lot of improvements in just the last couple of years, something to consider. You may also find, if you shop enough (e.g. internet dealers) that used prices are very close to new.

Plus, if you order new you can "have it your way".

I would suggest and recommend the Heartland Cyclone's and Road Warrior's.
And if possible - a trip to Elkhart to see the nitty gritty of the trailers.

They are not out yet with a toy hauler, by the Redwood line looks very promising. The TH model should be out soon.

[mrmagloo]

I did the same thing, and you really should do yourself a favor and look at the Jayco's. I have no vested interest, nor do I own one, but the quality was in a whole nother league, imho.  A little more money for sure, but if you're planning to keep it for a few years, it's money well spent. And yes, I wouldn't dream of pulling any of the larger 5th wheels with anything south of a one-ton dually.

[Midnight Rider]

Is it possible to get a one ton truck that is not a dually?  I'm not sure one would fit in my garage, with regards to width...I have a standard garage single garage door.

[porthole]

F-350, GM 3500 and whatever the Dodge is called are 1 ton SRW. DRW is an option.

Something I didn't consider until after I ordered my truck was that the F-450 is only slightly more money and/or different the then the F-350. The biggest difference is that with the wider front axle it can almost turn a circle inside my 350.

3/4 - 1 ton - really a play on words I think. My "1 ton" has a 6K payload capacity - must be the new math.
The new 3/4's from Ford and GM have a lot of capacity, towing I think is 17K this year.
Problem with toy haulers is that most of the 3 axle 5th wheels are rated at 18-22.5K GVW.
In order to utilize that you need a DRW.

But - that is not to say that the 3/4's can't do it. Even way over weighted for my truck the truck pulled and handled fairly well. Although, I do have hydraulic disc brakes on the trailer and I did a bunch of stuff to the GMC to handle the extra weight.

Really need to decide what you really want to do Terry. Since my wife can't handle the bike riding more then an hour or so at the max, this is how we now both can travel and use the bike. And as a bonus I get to bring my animals.

Everything is a tradeoff though. Big trailer = big truck. I get 9-11 MPG's pulling the box. But we can stop just about anywhere eat, hit the head or just get a drink.

Look at the 2011-12 new trucks, the specs are pretty amazing considering what they were a few years ago. BTW, 1 ton DRW's are big, and sometimes a pain, and you can forget about the car wash.

look at the Jayco's. I have no vested interest, nor do I own one, but the quality was in a whole nother league, imho.  

I agree, but not in the same as the 3 I mentioned in the same price class.

[Midnight Rider]

Thanks, Duane...the reason I ask is that I have found a nice, 2008 Chevy LT diesel/allison.  From the research I've done, it rated to tow up to 17K.  Used diesel trucks with low miles are hard to find around here.

You also hit on another reason we are looking at toy haulers...we currently have 6 dogs since joining "families", and though 5 of them are small, and one of them is really old, it would be nice to take with instead of boarding or getting a pet sitter, especially on extended trips.  I figure, weather permitting, that you could put three crates and the bike in the back of most TH I've seen...all of our dogs are crate trained and prefer sleeping in them.  In the process of downsizing in the next couple of years, we are exploring our options...Judi, has done a lot of RV'ing in the past, and loves it, plus my best friend and his wife just bought a 36' 5th wheel (non TH...he doesn't ride any more), so it would be nice to do some joint adventures.  This is still "in the works", but I like to gather a lot of information before doing things.

[porthole]

The D/A combo is a good one.
In both my GMC and now the Ford I made a bed for the pups (and previously our parrot) in the back seat. The dogs always travel in the truck. The cat always in the trailer.

[Midnight Rider]

The D/A combo is a good one.
In both my GMC and now the Ford I made a bed for the pups (and previously our parrot) in the back seat. The dogs always travel in the truck. The cat always in the trailer.

Mine would likely ride in the crew cab section as well...the garage area would be nice for the nightime crates and for letting them have a little unsupervised freedom without fear of hurting anything if they have an "accident".  I have a male Australaian Terrier (neutered) that will mark a bump in the rug...it's just in his nature and I've never been able to break him from doing it in strange places.

I've got a Conure too...how did you rig that up to carry him/her along.  Toby would probably like traveling...he is seriously bonded to me.

This Chevy LT is an '08 with 41K on the odometer.  100K warranty.  Bed liner, step rails, new tires, XM, and nice wheels.  Asking 30K which seems like a fair price.  The only thing holding me back is that it's white, and I'm tired of white vehicles.  They used it to pull a small, 20' Puma TH when they raced bikes...I'm assuming Motocross, so it hasn't seen any heavy duty service.

[porthole]

Mine would likely ride in the crew cab section as well...the garage area would be nice for the nightime crates and for letting them have a little unsupervised freedom without fear of hurting anything if they have an "accident".  I have a male Australaian Terrier (neutered) that will mark a bump in the rug...it's just in his nature and I've never been able to break him from doing it in strange places.

I've got a Conure too...how did you rig that up to carry him/her along.  Toby would probably like traveling...he is seriously bonded to me.

This Chevy LT is an '08 with 41K on the odometer.  100K warranty.  Bed liner, step rails, new tires, XM, and nice wheels.  Asking 30K which seems like a fair price.  The only thing holding me back is that it's white, and I'm tired of white vehicles.  They used it to pull a small, 20' Puma TH when they raced bikes...I'm assuming Motocross, so it hasn't seen any heavy duty service.

Most TH's have a separate entrance door, works great for when the pups are wet. We use an X-pen around the rear door. Once the bike and cart are out the dog beds go down, but they never use the beds.
For the bird (a Blue & Gold Macaw) I used a large dog carrier, added a wooden dowel for a perch near the front. He would sit there with no problem and loved going camping.
Once stopped, I used a "bird cage" that wasn't a cage at all, all plastic. Custom built and I found it at a bird store, have never seen another like it.

Unfortunately we lost the Macaw last August. He became ill while down at the New River GTG, recovered and 2 weeks later ill again. Vet couldn't do anything to save him.
And we just lost our older Golden to lung Cancer 09/08/11 (the pup towards the rear in this picture.

There was plenty of room in the back.

[porthole]

The xpen is a metal cage like enclosure. They are 4' square, but you can add as many as you please. We use two, gives the dogs an 8x8 area outside, contained.
In this picture I have blankets on it. We don't use the blankets anymore.

And as you can see, an EG will fit under the nose most of the time. Actually, an EG and RK will fit.