While visiting RV show, I poked around in a 5th Wheel Toy Hauler or two. WOW! If your idea of camping is staying at the Ritz, this is the Toy Hauler for you. These bad boys use the 18-wheeler hitch known as a 5th wheel, which mounts in the center of a pick up bed. Up to three axles are needed to support weights up to, and exceeding, 17,000 pounds.
While smaller 5th Wheel Toy Haulers are available, most people own them for their massive roominess and unrivaled luxury. They are the most expensive of the conventional Toy Haulers.
First the good news: The 5th Wheel Toy Haulers I saw had fabulous kitchens, snack bars, full size pantries, and impressive woodwork and flooring. The kitchens were well lit and housed a full-sized microwave, refrigerator, range and oven. I was very much taken back by all of the counter space and ample cabinets. These certainly do provide a dream kitchen for the open road. A 5th wheel can come equipped with up to three slide-outs and a raised forward master bedroom making this the undisputed king of spaciousness. The overstuffed king-size bed and plush sofa quickly invite you to sit back and fire up the home entertainment center. Now someone, please make another Margarita.
What really sets the 5th Wheel apart in the Toy Hauler world is the availability of a totally enclosed cargo area, or as they are often referred to, the garage. Larger units have a solid wall and sealed door separating the toys from the living space. I even found some with a separate outside door to the garage. This feature is two-fold. One is for keeping the mud out of the living room, and the other for keeping the wife happy. If you are like me, and carry way-to-many tools, you’ll appreciate having all of those garage cabinets.
Now the other news: A 5th Wheel Toy Hauler can be really heavy; up to and exceeding, 17,000 pounds. You guessed it, that means a g big powerful tow rig. I’m not a huge fan of diesel pickups. However, I’ve found that if you want pulling power and something vaguely resembling decent mileage, then a diesel is definitely the way to go. Fortunately diesels have long lives, and there are plenty to be found in the used market.
Towing these very large barn doors can be challenging in high winds or when an 18-wheeler passes by. The 5th wheel hitch will help to maintain control and minimize white knuckles in what might be a hairy situation with a travel trailer. It also can be helpful when maneuvering these monsters into tight RV spaces and through downtown traffic.
Unless you have big rig experience, you will no doubt find towing one of these a little different from your basic rear hitch type of trailer. Because they are so large and tall, and so close behind the driver, they will keep you on your toes, especially driving though town. If you are not careful, to your dismay, you could look in your rear-view mirror just in time to witness the trailer laying a stop sign flat! I’ve been there, and done that.
Finding the right Toy Hauler for you is ultimately a personal decision. But if you require lavish accommodations with a separate toy garage, the 5th Wheel Toy Hauler may be exactly what you are looking for.
Archive for July, 2011
Date: Tuesday July 26, 4:07 am
Date: Tuesday July 26, 1:06 am
Having worked in retail for many years I came to a truthful realization that people come in all different heights and sizes and this can really impact the type of furniture that is available for them. Something many sales people can take for granted. The challenge always is finding manufacturers who will make custom sizes that can be of benefit to the customer. This article hopes to provide some options available in bedroom furniture that are available for folks shopping that are over 6′ tall and are just having a rough time finding that bed that fits.
Many of us may have a teenager or spouse who are rather tall. Buying furniture can be tough as most furniture manufacturers stick to conventional sizes rather than making custom sizes. There was one such instance in a store that I worked in where a rather tall gentleman about 6′ 6″ tall was just having an awful time trying to find furniture that would fit him. I remember his frustration not towards me but just in general about how difficult it was to find furniture that would fit. We spent a good hour going through the different pieces of furniture in the showroom. The store I worked in at the time didn’t offer XL sizes or custom sizes in the beds or furniture and the customer thanked me for showing him around and understandably moved on in his search for furniture.
I remember that day well and came to a realization that many furniture manufacturers were not taking every customer into consideration when designing their furniture. Over time though these manufacturers began to catch on and living room furniture began being offered with adjustable headrests, dining room furniture would often be featured or available in high back chairs and the bedding industry began developing a series of sizes that could be implemented into bedroom furniture.
The three extra long sizes that are most used today in bedroom furniture and are considered somewhat standard when it comes to extra long are Twin XL 39″x 80″, Full XL 54″ x 80″ and California King 72″x 85″. The reason twin extra long and full extra long beds became so popular is that they were a very good size for growing teenagers who were too tall for standard twin or full size beds. Twin & Full extra long beds are 80″ long or 6′ 8″ long. Queen size would have been just too wide for these young adult’s rooms just like king sizes which would have taken up the entire room or dorm. XL sizes made a lot of sense in that they could save valuable wall space as the width stays the same but the length of the bed would be long enough to help make the bed more comfortable.
California king beds could be considered extra long beds for adults as they are 85″ long or a little over 7′ long. These are less wide than standard king beds and width-wise fall in between a queen and king bed. The length however is great for adults up to 7′ tall and this is what makes them a great alternative to shorter length beds. California king is a special size that not all manufacturers make but surprisingly more of these beds are becoming available.
In this article we’ve taken a look at some alternative sizes of beds that are available for taller teenagers and adults who have had trouble finding beds that fit and are comfortable for normal sleeping. For teenagers or young adults Twin XL and Full XL beds are available which will offer better bed length than their standard counterparts but won’t add additional width which can be in short supply in some dorms and smaller bedrooms. California King is considered an extra long size for adults and measures just over 7′ long. If you have family or friends who are tall and just can’t find a standard size bed that fits, try suggesting the extra long beds mentioned in this article and I’m sure you’ll be assisting them in finding that good nights sleep.
Title: Bed Sizes
Date: Monday July 25, 5:29 pm
What bed sizes are available in the UK?
When looking to purchase a bed the first determining factor is size. Standard bed sizes in the UK are; singles, which are three foot wide by six foot three inches long, doubles which are four foot six inches wide by six foot three inches long, king-size which is five foot wide by six foot six inches long or super king-size which is six foot wide by six foot six inches long. Bed sizes are very flexible in the UK and manufacturers will often specify beds in a variety of additional widths and lengths which are available. In addition to this there are the “bespoke” manufacturers who will make a bed to the size and shape of your need.
Table of bed sizes:
3’0″ x 6’3″ (90cm x 190cm) – Single
4’0″ x 6’3″ (120cm x 190cm) – Small Double
4’6″ x 6’3″ (135cm x 190cm) – Double
5’0″ x 6’6″ (150cm x 200cm) – Kingsize
6’0″ x 6’6″ (180cm x 200cm) – Super Kingsize
Why size matters?
In 1988 sleep expert Dr Chris Idzikowski, director of the Edinburgh Sleep Centre found that swapping an old bed for a new one could account for on average 42 minutes’ extra sleep per night. Simply put, sleeping on the right bed is one of the most important things you need to do to ensure you’re getting a good night’s sleep. It is recommended that a bed should allow for six inches more than the height of the tallest person whom sleeps in a bed.
That means that at just over 6 foot I need a Kingsize mattress at the very least!
King-size is King
It’s equally important to consider the width of your bed, when a standard double is only four foot six inches wide. Sharing a bed of this size effectively means two foot three inches each. Today the majority of the double bed market is for guest or spare rooms where space can be at a premium and for teenagers who like having the additional sleeping space, moving up from a three foot.
Today, King-size has the largest slice of the UK bed size market pie with the frequency of Super King-size and bespoke purchases increasing year on year, the demands and needs of people today have shifted from the 4’6″ double days of the 20th Century.