TOTIN' TOY STORY

TAKE YOUR NEXT VACATION IN A ROLLING HOME WITH A SINGLE-CAR GARAGE

They're just about everywhere you look, from rodeos to race tracks, from swap meets to flea markets, from rod runs to bike fests, from national parks to off-road parks. Sport-Utility RVs (SURVs), which are the RV equivalent of a home with a single-car garage, are the hot ticket these days for those who like to have the comforts of home when they travel, without leaving their toys or wares behind.

Instead of sleeping in a tent or motel room and leaving the toys outside, it's poss lble to take Harleys, mountain bikes, dune buggies, ATVs, personal watercraft, a race car, snowmobiles or other motorized toys along in travel trailers and fifth-wheel trailers and, in some cases, in a motorhome such as Four Winds' Fun Mover, the Renegade K lbbi or Travel Supreme's mid-engine coach.

"People buying SURVs are graduating from open trailers to enclosed units with living quarters," says one manufacturer. "The dramatic increase in the acceptance of expensive tow rigs has also lead to a growing number of people getting rid of the ugly, open utility trailer and buying an SURV that looks good."

What makes these dual-purpose travel trailers so popular among the active outdoor crowd is their rear door that folds down to create a ramp on which to drive toys inside the garage or cargo area that adjoins the forward living quarters. security at intermediate stops and weather protection are big pluses as well.

TYPES OF SURVs

SURVs come in two basic configurations: with or without a hard wall between the garage and the living area. We found SURVs ranging from those that have garages with lightweight tie-down anchors and relatively thin floors to those built so stout they could seemingIy haul a tank. Some are sparsely equipped, while others sport built-in punderfloor tu el tanks for the toys, garage floors with non-skid coatings, overhead lights and cabinets securely anchored to both side wall and ceiling.

The layouts of the living quarters, level of overall craftsmanship, costs and options also vary considerably. SlJRVs range in size from 18-foot travel trailers with little more than a front foldout bed and a toilet to 40-foot fifth-wheels that feature a wall separating residential-style living quarters that have all the comforts of home. Equipment and options run the full gamut available in conventional RVs, and many SURVs are also available with electrically powered fuel stations to feed the motorized toys.

SURVs that feature a hard wall between the garage and living quarters are called "garage models." They are the most popular because the hard wall between the garage and the living quarters helps keep gas fumes, flammable liquids and other items out. of the living area. Some manufacturers offer units with divider walls between living quarters and SUV storage bays, while others do not. Construction codes do not require the use of a divider walls, so it's up to the buyer to weigh the pros and cons-better livability without divider walls against better isolation of gasoline-fueled motorized vehicles in units that have such walls.

CONSTRUCTION AND WEIGHT

Floor construction can be a big issue. SURVs are typically being used in off-pavement situations over rougher roads while carrying a lot more weight than the conventional trailer. Consequently, flexing trailer frames and heavy loads poss lbly anchored off-center, such as full-dress motorcycles, can cause buckling floor seams. That seems to be why the trend in well-built SURVs is the use of thick, one-piece floors instead of multi-panel floors in the garage area.

"SURVs are subjected to a lot more stress than the conventional trailer," says Brandon Alexander, marketing manager of Thor California.

"They are being pulled over rough roads and hauling heavier items that are anchored to small areas of the floor. This puts a tremendous load at those anchor points, especially for consumers who plan on hauling around 700-pound Harley-Davidsons. SURVs constructed with one-piece floors don't have a problem with seam separation."

The higher-quality SURVs also feature strong framing and quality materials to help keep the trailer from flexing. Floor covering is also an area to examine closely. Spilled fuels and water will be a factor. Linoleum is a good covering as long as the edges of the garage floor are sealed with silicone caulking to prevent fluids from seeping in under the flooring and its covering. Carpeting is not allowed by code, even if it's removable.

There are other factors a buyer moving up from a conventional trailer to an SURV should closely consider. The cargo carrying capacity (ccc) of the trailer and loaded-trailer weight should be the primary ones, because they dictate the size of trailer that can be safely pulled by the tow vehicle.

To determine the amount of weight you'll be dealing with, add the weight of the toys, fuel, food, water, gear and other supplies to the base weight of the trailer and compare that number to the maximum tow rating of the towvehicle, or the trailer's gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR); make sure the combination does not exceed the truck's gross combination weight rating (GCWR). If it does, you have two choices: Buy a bigger tow vehicle or a smaller SURV

Other factors that demand close attention are trailer design and load balance. The pin weight of a fifth-wheel trailer should be 15 to 20 percent of its gross weight with all loads aboard. When the toy parking bay is empty, the pin weight will be higher. Likewise, the hitch weight of a travel trailer should be 10 to 12 percent of its gross weight with toys aboard, but will be higher with the storage bay empty. A stout hitch will be required if the trailer will be towed substantial distances with the storage bay empty, which creates higher hitch weight; the increase should not violate the weight rating of the hitch.

Single-, tandem-, and triple-axle designs also play a role. The more axles, the more stable the trailer because the weight is distr lbuted more evenly on the frame. SURVs are easy to unbalance, as they frequently place heavy loads on the hitch if they are full of fluids but have nothing in the garage, so plan on using the highest-rated hitch assembly available and paying attention to loading.

Fifth-wheel SURVs, like any fifth-wheel trailer, are more stable at highway speeds, although travel trailers handle well when properly balanced. Fivers are also capable of providing for a potentially tighter turning circle. The downside of fifth-wheel-style trailers, besides generally costing a bit more than a comparably sized travel trailer, is they take away most of the cargo area in the bed of the truck.

So, if an SURV is on your list this year, take a close look at what you plan on carrying in the "garage" today (and a few years from now), what you plan on using as your tow vehicle, how comfortable you want to live once you reach your destination and what you're willing to spend.

Now you can browse through our SURV directory and find a suitable match that places you on the road to new adventures - toys and all.

Copyright T L Enterprises, Inc. May 2004
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved