Floorplan question...

[cadman_ks]

My wife and I have been exploring the possiblity of getting a toy hauler. Partly for toys, but also for more "space" when we have the grandkids, granddogs, and space in general. We work remotely some as well, and a big office would be nice.

But, we have one requirement that keeps us from getting any toy hauler. We have a shed that is only 42' 6" deep, and so we have to have a TH shorter than that.

In looking at plans, mist plans have a bathroom off the toy box. We would rather have the living space than an additional bathroom. While that would be nice when we had someone staying in there, that is less frequent than we would rather have the "main" space.

So, why doesn't anyone make a floorplan that mashes something like a 37MDQS and a Luxury Seismic 3512 with a smaller 11.5' garage. I did the layout on my phone, and it worked . The drawing is rough, but I think it gets the idea across...

[Grumpy]

Originally Posted by cadman_ks

So, why doesn't anyone make a floorplan that mashes something like a 37MDQS and a Luxury Seismic 3512 with a smaller 11.5' garage. I did the layout on my phone, and it worked . The drawing is rough, but I think it gets the idea across...

They build what is usually in demand. Not sure if it still applies, but JAYCO use to have a dealer council that would bring the customer wants and requests to the design team.

[Scott_Trailer_Newbe]

Most folks who purchase tow haulers buy them for toys, therefore the living floor plan is secondary. The manufactures are making what is popular and what sells. There is a custom toy hauler market where they will make whatever you want. Obviously the price would be many times that of a production tow hauler.

[cadman_ks]

Originally Posted by Scott_Trailer_Newbe

Most folks who purchase tow haulers buy them for toys, therefore the living floor plan is secondary. The manufactures are making what is popular and what sells. There is a custom toy hauler market where they will make whatever you want. Obviously the price would be many times that of a production tow hauler.

Who are the manufacturers that are doing this custom market?

[cadman_ks]

Originally Posted by Grumpy

They build what is usually in demand. ...

Originally Posted by Scott_Trailer_Newbe

Most folks who purchase tow haulers buy them for toys, therefore the living floor plan is secondary. The manufactures are making what is popular and what sells. ...

While I agree with both of these comments about they are building what sells, I can't imagine a situation if I had toys (and I do that I could put in there) that I would WANT that rear bathroom. I also can't believe the masses want that. But then again, I guess that the masses want two bathrooms, because those plans appear to be popular across all FP's and manufacturers.

We have on suite bathroom in our stick house, I have to walk further to the bathroom than someone would from the back room to the midbath. The concept seems silly to me, and I'm surprised many people want it...

C'est la vie...

[cadman_ks]

Just saw the Riverstine 45BATH. While that doesn't meet the length requirement, it does NOT have that rear bath, but they took that one step further. They made that toy box wall removable so the living space becomes huge!!!

This actually seems and feels like a GREAT plan to me. But, they are not going to sell a ton of those, though, because they are only catering to the high end lux market, and that can't be the majority of the toy market. Maybe someone will take this concept and run with it in smaller units. That's where the real benefit is.

Not everyone can have, or even wants a 45' toy hauler...

[Grumpy]

Originally Posted by cadman_ks

While I agree with both of these comments about they are building what sells, I can't imagine a situation if I had toys (and I do that I could put in there) that I would WANT that rear bathroom. .

Because that way you don't have to drag, mud, dirt etc through the whole trailer to get to the bathroom when using the toys....

[cadman_ks]

Originally Posted by Grumpy

Because that way you don't have to drag, mud, dirt etc through the whole trailer to get to the bathroom when using the toys....

Fair enough. But, if I'm dirty, what I really need is the shower, and that's only up front. I could still take my shoes and socks off in the toy box, and then go to the shower.

We don't have a UTV (yet), but when I'm dirt biking, we take all those outer clothes off outside the tent (when we've tented), and that would be the equivalent of the toy box, in my mind...

[cadman_ks]

Well, after more in depth conversations with SWMBO, I found out that I was totally wrong about the rear bathroom. It IS something that we need!, so that we can be using two bathrooms at the same time, SMH.

I tried explaining that I would rather have the space than the very occasional time that we need two bathrooms. I can't win!!!

[Grumpy]

Originally Posted by cadman_ks

Fair enough. But, if I'm dirty, what I really need is the shower, and that's only up front. I could still take my shoes and socks off in the toy box, and then go to the shower.

But there are also times you can't always be like a bear and "g- in the woods".

[cadman_ks]

Originally Posted by Grumpy

But there are also times you can't always be like a bear and "s--- in the woods".

LOL!

When we are dirt biking we actually have under clothes on that strip down to. All skin is still covered, but I could see how that might not always be the case...

[spoon059]

I really think that manufacturers could have a market for a 5th wheel with a smaller garage. A 9' garage would accomdate bicycles, motorcycles and regular size golf carts. I'm looking for a family friendly 5th wheel toyhauler, and anything with enough living room space is 45' long and they usually have an 11' or 13' garage.

I need the garage to transport some bicycles and a bedroom for the girls. I don't want a 13' space that is generally unused...

Also, so many toy haulers have a full wall between the garage and the main space. Why not a large sliding door (half the width of the camper) or accordian style door so that once you are set up at camp and have your motorcycle or golf cart out of the garage, you can have a large open space rather than 2 smaller confined spaces...

All the manufacturers have the same basic floorplan, none of which meet my wants/needs.

[cadman_ks]

Originally Posted by spoon059

I really think that manufacturers could have a market for a 5th wheel with a smaller garage. A 9' garage would accomdate bicycles, motorcycles and regular size golf carts. I'm looking for a family friendly 5th wheel toyhauler, and anything with enough living room space is 45' long and they usually have an 11' or 13' garage.

I need the garage to transport some bicycles and a bedroom for the girls. I don't want a 13' space that is generally unused...

Also, so many toy haulers have a full wall between the garage and the main space. Why not a large sliding door (half the width of the camper) or accordian style door so that once you are set up at camp and have your motorcycle or golf cart out of the garage, you can have a large open space rather than 2 smaller confined spaces...

All the manufacturers have the same basic floorplan, none of which meet my wants/needs.

While I want an 11' garage, you are correct that al.ost all the toy hauler plans are the same, and there's not many options, and those options get less when you want to 42' and under.

Did you see my post about the Riverstone 45BATH? While it's 45' long, which isn't what I can use, it does NOT have a bathroom back there, and it has the wall you're talking about, which opens up that whole space. Ironically, the open wall concept like you're talking about is something that I would think lends itself well to shorter 5th wheels, not longer!

[norty1]

After 7 weeks in our rig in a cg with no bath facilities, I'm with your wife. A couple of times on our last trip, I threatened to use the dog bowl!

If I ever buy another camper, that will be #1 on my list.

[cadman_ks]

Originally Posted by norty1

After 7 weeks in our rig in a cg with no bath facilities, I'm with your wife. A couple of times on our last trip, I threatened to use the dog bowl!

If I ever buy another camper, that will be #1 on my list.

LOL!! I'm still not convinced...

[cadman_ks]

I somehow missed the Keystone Raptor floorplans. They have several (like a 1/3) of their floorplans that do not have the bathroom in the back. The Raptor floorplans, however, only have dual slides when they install the bathroom. Do dual slides and punt the bathroom, and the living space is huge!

I think the next hurdle to get over is the wall between the living and garage. I have only seen a few that have the ability to make that a truly wide open space...

[Eric H.]

Originally Posted by cadman_ks

Who are the manufacturers that are doing this custom market?

Dune Sport is a custom TH manufacture and they are known to be good quality. I don't believe they are much more expensive than the other big name brands and they build them just the way you want. A friend has one about 15 years old that was built for someone with in a wheel chair and it is holding up well. It is set up with a spring under axle suspension so it was closer to the ground and it has a wheel chair accessible shower. Not that you need those things, just using as an example of what can be done.

One thing to consider in regards to whether or not you need or want a second bath is with the second bath you also get a second 40 gallon black tank. It makes dry camping go a lot further.

From what I have seen, the majority of the 39' TH floor plans do not include the second bath but I haven't looked at the newest models either. I do believe that the market is shifting towards TH's being used as a second bedroom or home office every bit as much as for toys. I know Best RV in Nor Cal sells a lot of Wolf Pack and Voltage TH's and they advertise them as being the latest thing in extra bedroom/living space.

[cadman_ks]

Originally Posted by Eric H.

Dune Sport is a custom TH manufacture and they are known to be good quality. I don't believe they are much more expensive than the other big name brands and they build them just the way you want. A friend has one about 15 years old that was built for someone with in a wheel chair and it is holding up well. It is set up with a spring under axle suspension so it was closer to the ground and it has a wheel chair accessible shower. Not that you need those things, just using as an example of what can be done.

...

Thank you for that! I don't think I've seen them previously, but I have looked at a LOT of plans!

Originally Posted by Eric H.

...

From what I have seen, the majority of the 39' TH floor plans do not include the second bath but I haven't looked at the newest models either. I do believe that the market is shifting towards TH's being used as a second bedroom or home office every bit as much as for toys. I know Best RV in Nor Cal sells a lot of Wolf Pack and Voltage TH's and they advertise them as being the latest thing in extra bedroom/living space.

From what I've seen, I'd say it's more than half, maybe as high as 75% of units 40' and under have that 2nd bath. And I don't know that I've seen any "luxury" brands in the 40' and under range that do not have the 2nd bath.

But, I believe that you are also correct I that the TH concept is moving more towards a multipurpose/ bedroom concept as opposed to something you store toys in.

Even with that being said, my contention still remains , that in my house, the distance between my on suite toilet and my bed is the same as it is from the TH box to the main. The second bath "as a convenience" for the back room seems like a total unnecessary luxury.

Could extend dry camping, but you can't come anywhere close with most of these plans for carrying enough freshwater to make that a viable statement either...

[cadman_ks]

Originally Posted by cadman_ks

Thank you for that! I don't think I've seen them previously, but I have looked at a LOT of plans!

...

I did see them previously.

I don't see that they have any slideouts, which is what really makes the inside looks and feel.mich bigger...

[Eric H.]

Originally Posted by cadman_ks

Thank you for that! I don't think I've seen them previously, but I have looked at a LOT of plans!



From what I've seen, I'd say it's more than half, maybe as high as 75% of units 40' and under have that 2nd bath. And I don't know that I've seen any "luxury" brands in the 40' and under range that do not have the 2nd bath.

But, I believe that you are also correct I that the TH concept is moving more towards a multipurpose/ bedroom concept as opposed to something you store toys in.

Even with that being said, my contention still remains , that in my house, the distance between my on suite toilet and my bed is the same as it is from the TH box to the main. The second bath "as a convenience" for the back room seems like a total unnecessary luxury.

Could extend dry camping, but you can't come anywhere close with most of these plans for carrying enough freshwater to make that a viable statement either...

Really? Most the TH's have 120 gallon fresh tanks, at least on the 2nd bathroom models. We dry camp for a full 2 weeks with just me and the wife. I bring along an extra 55 gallon water tank that I fill up once we get to where we're going and use it in the back of my truck for hand and dish washing.