I'm looking for some feedback regarding toy haulers.  Specifically, what manufacturer/model is the best value for the money?  

I'm particularly interested in higher quality toy haulers that are 30 ft or larger.

To get started here are my initial thoughts for the top 3:

1. Keystone Raptor
2. Holiday Rambler Next Level
3. Fleetwood Gearbox

I'm looking for some feedback regarding toy haulers.  Specifically, what manufacturer/model is the best value for the money?  

I'm particularly interested in higher quality toy haulers that are 30 ft or larger.

To get started, here are my initial thoughts for the top 3:

1. Keystone Raptor
2. Holiday Rambler Next Level
3. Fleetwood Gearbox

asuscott said:

Alfa makes a huge one with 2 loading models. 1 has barn doors with adjustable ramps or a drop down ramp...I was told I could buy one at cost (someone that worked for them) which at that time was $65,000:eek: Don't know how much it would be now, that was 5 years ago. and I don't know what they cost retail!!!

If we were to upgrade we'd go with the Raptor. Nice floor plans, etc.

I don't own one yet but I have decided on an Eclipse product when I am ready. I built Fleetwood products years ago and I still would not own one.

They are all built like poop ......by  poop heads.... with poopie materials....


Have you found RV.net ??


If I were to buy another, I would seriously look into a custom build one.  


Also, look at the Work and Play trailers ..... alot of people really like those.

fcr said:

Not much pride in your workmanship or ???

rezrider said:

Actually I have and always had pride in my workmanship. it was a job to help me earn enough money for college. That being said, the quality control and design of their products was terrible. Some of the flaws that were let through were amazing. That and the overall design and how they were put together. Not very high quality. I was looking at one of their TH's and the salesman leaned on a counter corner. The facade fell off under that pressure. It was held in with staples. Just lots of design flaws. Maybe they have improved but that is typical of what I built (Prowler,Terry,Southwind). The first 13 Southwind products all came back in. 6 or 7 burned down. By the way the founder John Crean was a great guy. He lived near me and was a great neighbor. He recently passed away. The product works but in that industry they are known to be put together cheaply.

go to www.rv.net and ask that question.  Many owners of all types of TH.

Be ready to hear that a Weeekend Warrior product will be at the top of some lists.

damone said:

Exactly...may want to read up on WW before purchasing if you had them in mind!

Work and Play, made by Forest River

boss just bought a 39ft? fuzion by keystone, a little nicer than the raptor, but very similar.

oldmanx said:

We have a 28 foot work and play, its a great trailer. Has held up great.

We are thinking about selling if anyone is interested. The only reason we are selling it is becuase racing has become more of a family afair and we spend alot more time in it then we used to, just looking for something a little bigger. If we get anything else though we are sticking with the forest river brand. Probably get one of the new XLR 5th wheels.

rezrider said:

Weekend Warrior is now out of business!

Thanks to everyone who contributed useful information.

A quick scan of the web shows that the Work and Play, made by Forest River is difficult to find, at least here in AZ.  I took a look at the manufacturer's website and I don't think my wife will like their floorplans.  

I talked to several owners of WW's and it's a mixed bag, though more negative than positive.  I don't understand why these trailers are so popular when almost everything I read on the web about WW is negative.

I'll post a message on RV.net to see what feedback I can get.  There seems to be a real lack of objective information available to potential buyers of toy haulers, which is difficult to understand given their costs.  

4 friends have 5th wheel toy haulers. Tons of fun once they are sorted out.

Just realize that these things are a kit... the manufacturer gives you the shell and you basically have to finish building it. Glue and screw where they missed, finish the plumbing, in one case even move and re-weld the axle perches.

American labor / quality control at it's best

I own a 36ft Raptor 5th wheel TH and we love it. When we were looking we fell in love with the Ragen but could not afford it at the time. In Ca. they are practically giving away Motorhomes and Trailers because gas is so high and people can no longer afford them. I heard Giant RV is going BK now that WW is gone. Now is a great time to get a deal on a new or used trailer.

Fast Forward said:

Yep! They fell fast and they fell hard:eek: You  might be able to pick one up cheap though:excuseme: Just dont count on the lifetime warranty:p

afla, blazin, and ragin are also done from what i understand

We have the New fuzion 39 ft fifth wheel with three slides, nice trailer.  But it is for sure a younger generation trailer with the bar and the styling but it is very useful and works perfectly.

We had a Next Level 31 foot bumper pull.  A great trailer, never a problem.  Next level made a great trailer.  We considered it, but at the time they didn't have the set up we wanted haha now they do... or will soon go figure

We looked at gear box's and raptors as well

Raptors are nice, but if you go to the desert and in the dust we just didn't see it to be a good trailer to get dirty.   This was a few years ago.

But the Gear box is a nice trailer, its much more practical.  But still a nice trailer.  But at the time the 31 foot next level won because we needed the longer parking for bikes and with four or five people and a dog it was just easier.

Weekend warriors are interesting trailers.  Some of them can be a POS.  We rented one back in 2006 and it was by far junk and it was only three months old.  The rental place gave us an extra generator cuz sometimes the normal one didn't work right....

But hey thats a rental place.  And of course both of the generators didn't work when we took it to utah haha

But our friends now have a 33 warrior they picked it up about 4 or 5 months ago.  It is a very nice built trailer.  Warrior is the brand that they build so many so of course you will hear horror stories, and they build (built) either very nice custom fifth wheels or trailer pulls or POS trailers as well

desertracer_brian said:

What truck are you using to pull the 39 footer? How does it tow compared to the 31 foot bumper pull?